Unlocking Research Potential: How to Leverage External Scholarships & Funding at the University of Warwick for Data Analysis

Pursuing postgraduate research, particularly in a data-rich field, can be one of the most intellectually rewarding and career-boosting experiences. However, it often comes with financial considerations. Fortunately, for those studying at the University of Warwick, a range of external scholarships and funding opportunities—like those offered by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Leverhulme Trust—can help ease the financial burden while supporting high-quality, data-driven research.

In this post, we’ll guide you through how to identify, apply for, and make the most of these funding sources, with a special focus on data analysis projects.

Why Seek External Funding?

While Warwick offers several internal scholarships, external funding bodies often provide more tailored support, including interdisciplinary research collaborations, access to national networks, training grants, and even overseas fieldwork funding.

Key Benefits Include:

• Tuition and maintenance coverage
• Access to exclusive training and research workshops
• Broader academic exposure
• Support for travel and fieldwork expenses

Major External Funding Opportunities

1. ESRC Studentships (via the Midlands Graduate School DTP)

The ESRC is a key UK funding body supporting social science research. Warwick is part of the Midlands Graduate School (MGS) Doctoral Training Partnership, a consortium that offers fully funded PhDs.

Why ESRC for Data Analysis?

• Focuses on social science projects using quantitative and mixed methods.
• Offers advanced methods training—perfect for researchers in data analysis.
• Funding includes tuition fees, a stipend (~£18,622 for 2024–25), and additional allowances for research expenses or overseas fieldwork.

How to Apply:

1. Identify a relevant Pathway (e.g., Data Science, Quantitative Methods).
2. Connect with a Warwick academic supervisor in your research area.
3. Submit both a Warwick PhD application and an ESRC-specific application through MGS.

➡️ Tip: Use Warwick’s Data Science and AI research groups to find cutting-edge supervisors.

2. Leverhulme Trust Scholarships and Grants

The Leverhulme Trust funds a broad spectrum of research, often interdisciplinary and innovative.

Why Leverhulme?

• Supports unconventional and high-risk, high-reward research.
• Ideal for cross-disciplinary data analysis projects (e.g., combining machine learning with humanities or policy).
• Less rigid structure—offers flexibility in topics and methods.

How to Apply:

• Some funding (like Doctoral Scholarships) is routed through Warwick departments.
• Other grants (e.g., Early Career Fellowships or Research Project Grants) require applying directly with the support of your department.

➡️ Tip: Talk to your department early—many Leverhulme projects are internally nominated.

Steps to Maximise Your Chances

1. Start Early
   Funding bodies have early deadlines—start planning your project at least 6–12 months in advance.
2. Align with Strategic Priorities
   Both ESRC and Leverhulme are drawn to projects addressing societal challenges, digital transformation, or interdisciplinary innovation.
3. Find the Right Supervisor
   Warwick has globally recognized faculty in data analysis, statistics, and computational social sciences. A strong supervisory team strengthens your application.
4. Make the Methodology Shine
   For data-focused research, a clear, well-articulated quantitative or computational methodology is crucial. Show how your skills and tools (e.g., R, Python, machine learning, econometrics) are central to the project.
5. Use Warwick’s Research Support
   Tap into the Warwick Doctoral College, the Careers & Skills team, and your department’s postgraduate coordinator for application support, mock interviews, and proposal feedback.

Final Thoughts

Securing external funding like the ESRC or Leverhulme is not just about financial support—it’s about being part of a vibrant academic network that pushes your research forward. Whether you’re exploring big data in economics, AI in healthcare, or quantitative models in sociology, these scholarships can help you turn your vision into impactful, well-supported research.

Start early, think big, and let Warwick’s research environment and external funding fuel your journey.