The South East Network for Social Sciences (SeNSS) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)

The South East Network for Social Sciences (SeNSS) is training the next generation of social scientists across eight universities in southern England. Why this matters: The UK needs skilled researchers who can tackle complex social and economic challenges—from inequality and public health to digital transformation and climate adaptation. Without coordinated doctoral training, individual universities may struggle to offer the breadth of expertise, interdisciplinary collaboration, and industry connections that modern social science demands. SeNSS fills this gap by pooling resources and expertise across institutions. Potential impact: If successful, this partnership will produce PhD graduates equipped with advanced analytical skills, real-world research experience, and networks spanning academia, government, and business. These researchers will go on to shape policy, improve public services, and inform decisions in areas like education, housing, and economic development. The public rarely sees this training infrastructure, but it quietly determines the quality of evidence behind the policies that affect millions of lives. The project is primarily about building human capital and research capacity—not a single discovery—but the long-term payoff is a more robust, responsive social science community in the UK.