The largest centre in England for social science postgraduate training has been established at the Universities of Liverpool, Manchester and Lancaster.

The North West Doctoral Training Centre (NWDTC) is one of 21 in the UK, created by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and will provide PhD students with access to quality research training in social science disciplines. Liverpool, Manchester and Lancaster are now guaranteed a total of 63 new postgraduate studentships per year to support research and training at doctoral level each year. This will amount to more than £15 million of investment over the next five years.

Studentships will be available across the full range of social science disciplines. The ESRC has also identified particular areas of study that would benefit from further development across the UK. These include subjects such as Language Based Area Studies, Economics, and Management and Business Studies. A number of studentships will be set aside for these particular areas to help ensure that social sciences continue to contribute to the development of society and the economy.

Students will have access to research expertise across Liverpool, Manchester and Lancaster, allowing them to take advantage of a variety of study in social sciences, as well as in subjects where scientists are collaborating with colleagues from other disciplines such as medicine and the arts.

The DTC studentships are available to postgraduate students living in the UK and European Union, but there are also opportunities for international students to apply for study in economic and social statistics.  Courses included in the new scheme are listed here.

Professor Jon Saunders, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Liverpool, said: "The new Centre is an acknowledgement of the quality of social sciences research and expertise at Liverpool, Manchester and Lancaster. The partnership will provide a vibrant and exciting research environment for postgraduate students who want access to world class training provision. With this Centre we aim to support the next generation of social scientists, allowing them to contribute knowledge that will further develop UK society and the economy."

Professor Bertrand Taithe, Associate Dean of Postgraduate Research at the University of Manchester's Faculty of Humanities, said: "The North West Doctoral Training Centre is the largest in England, and thanks to the success of this bid we have increased the numbers of studentships across the three Universities. Doctoral students will have access to excellent research facilities across all social science disciplines."

Professor Geraint Johnes, Lancaster University's Dean of Graduate Studies, said: "The studentships that the Centre will make available are wide-ranging and will fund research across social sciences disciplines at each of the partner institutions. Doctoral students at Lancaster will now be able to enjoy not only the fantastic research facilities that we have, but also the best offerings at Liverpool and Manchester."