Placements
Host a placement with SENSS: partner with future social science leaders
The South and East Network for Social Sciences (SENSS) connects outstanding ESRC-funded doctoral researchers with organisations across industry, government, the public and third sectors. By hosting a SENSS placement, your organisation will benefit from fresh perspectives, specialist skills, and high-quality research expertise while helping to shape the next generation of social science leaders.
What are SENSS placements?
SENSS placements provide doctoral researchers with the opportunity to gain valuable experience outside academia while applying their research skills in real-world settings.
Placements must:
Focus on a specific project, challenge or research question which will enable doctoral researchers to build on the skills they acquire through their doctoral studies.
Comply with ESRC guidelines on placement length and structure.
Be a genuine learning opportunity, offering meaningful work aligned with developing the researcher’s skills.
Duration and timing
Placements last for three months and can be undertaken either full-time or part-time. They take place during the doctoral researcher’s PhD studies, with timing agreed between the researcher, SENSS, and the host organisation.
Location
Placements can be in-person, hybrid, or remote, depending on the nature of the work and host capacity.
Who can host a placement?
We are interested in hearing from organisations across the UK and across a wide range of sectors, including:
Industry – policy, consultancy, data analytics, innovation, research and development.
Public sector – local and national government, health, education, justice, and beyond.
Third sector and charities – organisations working in social justice, community development, sustainability, equality, and other areas of public good.
If your organisation values evidence-based insights and wants to work with motivated doctoral researchers, SENSS would love to hear from you.
What’s expected of placement hosts
Placement hosts are asked to:
Provide a clear project plan and defined learning objectives.
Offer appropriate supervision and mentoring during the placement.
Supply workspace, IT access, and facilities (as relevant to the placement).
Contribute to expenses or co-funding, where possible, though this is not mandatory.
Support the doctoral researcher’s integration into your organisation and team culture.
SENSS and the doctoral researcher’s university will continue provide academic supervision and administrative support throughout the placement.
Useful links
Interested in hosting a placement?
We welcome informal discussions with potential hosts. If you are interested, please contact Jenny Wilders, SENSS Training & Development Manager (trainingmanager@senss-dtp.ac.uk) - we can discuss your ideas, answer any questions, and support you in developing a placement proposal.
Examples of previous placements
Our doctoral researchers have worked with a range of placement partners who have offered diverse and impactful opportunities, from policy research to community engagement.
Rachel Claydon - 3-month placement at the Food Foundation - read her report here
Adele Wylie - placement with Ätbart, an NGO in Sweden - read her report here
FAQs
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SENSS placements are fully funded by the ESRC. However, we would expect hosts to contribute additional support such as travel or accommodation expenses where at all possible. It is also possible for hosts to provide a salary if this is how placements are run at your organisation.
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Any project where a doctoral researcher can apply and develop their social science skills — from data analysis to community research, policy evaluation, or organisational strategy.
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Yes. SENSS supports flexible placement models, including remote and hybrid working arrangements.
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Placement planning typically takes a few months to finalise, allowing time for approval and alignment with the doctoral researcher’s research schedule.
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SENSS and the doctoral researcher’s home university will handle the contractual and funding arrangements, in discussion with the host.
Join our Partners’ Network
Hosting a SENSS placement is an opportunity to collaborate with leading social science researchers, benefit from their expertise, and contribute to building stronger connections between academia and society.