The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has launched its Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme for 2026. These nine-month Fellowships (eighteen months if part-time) aim to provide a development opportunity for those at the immediate postdoctoral stage of their career, giving applicants the opportunity to consolidate their PhD through developing publications, expanding their networks, as well as their research and professional skills.
These ESRC Fellowships are only available to universities that are part of a Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP). UWE Bristol is a member of the South West DTP (SWDPT), which allows us to submit up to four applications for consideration by the SWDTP. The SWDTP will assess approximately 38 applications from its partners and select five candidates for approval by the ESRC: SWDTP ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowships process.
This is a great opportunity to have an ESRC-funded postdoc fellowship at UWE Bristol, and we will offer full support in the application development process for up to four candidates successful at EOI stage.
Eligibility
The Postdoctoral Fellowship is open to all who:
- undertook their PhD at a UK university or research organisation, and
- have been awarded a PhD or have passed their viva voce with minor amendments by the 1 June 2026 and have been awarded their PhD by the fellowship start date of 1 October 2026.
All those who have been awarded their PhD and are on a fixed-term contract are also eligible to apply provided they have no more than 15 months’ full-time equivalent active postdoctoral experience, measured from their viva pass date to the closing date for the competition.
Activity
The fellowship will start on 1 October 2026 and last for 9 months full-time, or 18 months if part-time. Funding will cover the fellow’s salary (£38,783 – £46,049), indirect and estate costs, and up to £7,500 for all other costs.
Fellowships undertaken at UWE Bristol must be in 1 of the 6 Pathways hosted at UWE Bristol:
- Climate Change, Sustainability and Society
- Health, Wellbeing and Society
- Sociotechnical Futures & Digital Methods
- Education
- Management and Business
- Social Policy
The deadline to send your Expression for Interest (EOI) to UWE Bristol is 13 April 2026, 17:00 BST
Applicants selected at EOI stage will receive support from UWE Bristol’s Research and External Engagement team as well as their mentor to help develop their full application. Note that only one application to a single DTP is permitted.
If selected at the EOI stage, the deadline to send your full application to SWDTP through UWE Bristol is 1 June 2026, 23:59 BST
Next steps for applicants
- Check that your project compliments one of the 6 Pathways held by UWE Bristol.
- Check your eligibility
- Watch the ESRC webinar and familiarise yourself with the application process [SWDTP Postdoctoral Fellowship Applications – Online Information Session Tickets, Monday, Mar 30, 2026 from 1 pm to 2 pm GMT+1 | Eventbrite]
- Do you have a mentor? Applicants need to have a Fellowship mentor to support them in developing the Full Stage application. If you do not already have a mentor, please consider who is working in the Pathway at UWE Bristol and may be appropriate to support you.
The SWDTP also provides a supervisor database if needed.
If you need help finding an appropriate mentor, please contact research@uwe.ac.uk at the earliest opportunity so you can discuss your potential project with them.
Timelines are short, and therefore we suggest that you only apply if you can work on the Full Stage application during May 2026.
Application form and attachments required
EOI Application Form:
Attachments required:
- Completed EoI application form
- 2-page CV, including a list of your publications, minimum font size 11
- Reference list for any citations in the Case for Support (optional).
Please send your application form and all attachments to Research@uwe.ac.uk. In the email subject please use the protocol “ESRC SWDTP Fellowship FIRST NAME & SURNAME” before the deadline on 13 April 2026, 17:00 BST.
Documents and links
Appreciating this is a very tight deadline, we recommend you familiarise yourself with familiarise with the ESRC Full Stage application form in advance:
UWE ESRC SWDTP PDF EOI application form 2026:
UWE ESRC SWDTP PDF EOI guidance:
SWDTP PDF Call Specification 2026:
ESRC SWDTP PDF Full Stage Application form 2026:
ESRC PDF FAQs:
Contact Research@uwe.ac.uk if you have any further questions.