How to apply for your Research in Practice Placement

You can apply for your placement at any time within your candidature, with the following caveats:

• You should not do your Research in Practice placement within the masters year or first few months of your PhD, and you would normally need to have passed your first progression review.
• You will need to complete your Research in Practice placement at least 3 months before the end of your candidature (or 6 months if you are part-time).

You should discuss the most appropriate time for you to do your placement with your supervisory team.

A note about international placements

Following updated guidance from the ESRC in March 2026, in which they emphasised their preference that placements are undertaken in the UK, the following key criteria will need to be met if you are considering setting up an international placement using your own or your supervisor’s networks:

• the proposed placement clearly meets the requirements of your DNA;
• there is clear evidence that you cannot develop equivalent skills / experience / networks, which will be central to your development as a social scientist and your future career goals, in the UK; and
• the cost to the SCDTP does not exceed £1,000.

Guidance for International RiP Applications provides further information on how the criteria are judged and proposals should be discussed with the Research in Practice team at an early stage.

Organising your Research in Practice Placement is a 5 step process

Step 1 Identify a suitable placement host

• You can find a placement host either through your own networks, your supervisory team’s networks or the placement opportunities regularly presented by the Research in Practice team.
• Speak to both your supervisory team and the Research in Practice team about the suitability of the placement.
• If you approach an organisation directly about a placement opportunity, ask them to submit an Expression of Interest Form to register their details with the Research in Practice team.
• If you are applying for an advertised opportunity submit your application as directed – note that it is possible that opportunities may close earlier than the published deadline if a significant number of applications are received – don’t leave your application to the last minute.
• Some organisations may ask for a completed ESRC Placement funding permission form as part of your application.
• Negotiate the finer details of the placement project with your host to ensure that it aligns with Research in Practice requirements and your expectations.
• Confirm any financial contribution your placement host is able to make.

Step 2 Apply to South Coast DTP for Placement approval and any funding if required

• You will need to go through your placement host’s application process first (if they have a formal process), and if you are successful you will then need to apply to SCDTP for final approval.
• Use the Research in Practice Placement and Funding application form to apply.
• The form will need to be completed by you, with the support of your placement host and supervisor.
• Include a budget for any funding you wish to apply for (up to £1,000) to cover your expenses whilst on placement.
• Once complete, email the form to The Research in Practice team using email scdtp@soton.ac.uk

Step 3 The South Coast DTP Senior Management Team will review your application

• The SCDTP Senior Management Team (SMT) will review your application. This is a supportive process to confirm your application meets ESRC placement criteria, the expectations from your placement host are appropriate and the placement aligns with your ongoing professional development needs.
• The SCDTP SMT will either approve your application, or ask for some revisions and give you guidance on what changes or adaptions need to be made.
• The SCDTP SMT will review any funding requested. They will check the funds requested meet the ESRC criteria and whether the host should be responsible for providing more funding towards the placement.
• Once your application has been approved, you will receive an email from the Research in Practice team confirming this. The email will also copy in your Graduate School administration.

Step 4 Preparing to go on placement

• International students need to inform their awarding university’s Visa Team of the dates and details of the placement to meet Home Office guidelines. If specific dates are not known, students can inform their awarding university’s Visa Team of their intention to go on placement with specific date to be confirmed.
• You will need to ask your Graduate School for a Travel Risk Assessment and complete this documentation.
• Any travel and/or accommodation will need to be booked through your awarding university’s Travel Management Company.
• Please refer to the SCDTP Finance Guide for further guidance.

Step 5 Reflective Practice

• On return from your placement, you will need to complete your on-going reflective practice and submit your Assignment for Research in Practice to the Research in Practice team for assessment within six weeks.
• Please email your completed assignment to scdtp@soton.ac.uk.
• Once your assignment has been assessed and approved by the Research in Practice team, you will receive an email confirmation.