Ninth Call for Proposals: STEG PhD Research Grants 2025 – CEPR | Fully Funded Research Grant for PhD Students

The Structural Transformation and Economic Growth (STEG) programme, hosted by the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), has formally opened its Ninth Call for Proposals for PhD Research Grants. This aggressive funding alternative helps superior doctoral analysis associated to structural transformation in low- and middle-income international locations, with a robust give attention to Sub-Saharan Africa.

Applications are actually open, and the deadline for submission is Monday, 1 December 2025 (23:59 GMT). PhD candidates worldwide are invited to apply for analysis funding of as much as £15,000, supporting fieldwork, information assortment, analysis help, and stipends.

Because the STEG web site is present process upkeep, full particulars for this spherical are additionally accessible through CEPR’s web site.

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About the STEG PhD Research Grants

The STEG PhD Research Grant is designed to help high-quality doctoral analysis that advances understanding of structural transformation in low- and middle-income international locations. These grants goal to broaden the sector of growth economics by funding early-career researchers and strengthening world participation, together with candidates from low-income international locations (LICs).

PhD Research Grants mirror STEG’s Small Research Grants (SRGs) however with a smaller price range cap, making use of the identical proposal construction, standards, and funding rules.

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The grant helps analysis aligned with STEG’s six main analysis themes, which embody:

1. Data, measurement, and conceptual framing
2. Firms, frictions, spillovers, and industrial coverage
3. Labour, home manufacturing, and household-level structural transformation
4. Agricultural productiveness and sectoral gaps
5. Trade and spatial frictions
6. The function of the general public sector

Cross-cutting themes related to all proposals embody:

• Gender
• Climate change and the setting
• Inequality and inclusion

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Eligibility Criteria

To apply for a STEG PhD Research Grant, candidates should meet all of the next standards:

1. PhD enrolment requirement

• Applicants should be at present enrolled in a PhD programme on the time of submission.
• A letter of help from the PhD supervisor is required and should be emailed on to the STEG Team (Mail to) no later than two weeks after the application deadline.

2. Global eligibility

• Applications are welcome from researchers everywhere in the world.
• STEG notably encourages functions from:
  • Students from low-income international locations (LICs)
  • Students primarily based at establishments in LICs
  • Research specializing in insurance policies related to LICs, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa

3. Key exclusions

• Due to worldwide sanctions, STEG can’t settle for proposals involving researchers or establishments primarily based in Russia.

4. Research necessities

• Research should reveal clear coverage relevance for low-income international locations.
• Projects specializing in middle- or high-income international locations should justify the relevance for particular LICs.
• All proposals should use English for all paperwork; translations should be verified when wanted.
• All price range data should be offered in GBP.

5. Funding limits

• Maximum award: £15,000
• Stipend limits:
  • Up to £12,000 for college students primarily based in high-income international locations
  • PPP-equivalent stipends for college students in low- and middle-income international locations
• Stipends should liberate time usually spent on educating or administrative duties.

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Program Details

Grant Amount

• Up to £15,000 per award
• Supports:
  • Research help
  • Data assortment or buy
  • Fieldwork journey
  • Stipends (inside capped limits)

Duration

• Grants are supposed to be accomplished inside 12 months.
• Contract signing: inside one month of ultimate resolution
• Project begin date: instantly after contract signature

Funding Priorities

STEG strongly prioritizes:

• Research related to Sub-Saharan Africa
• Policy-relevant analysis for low-income international locations
• Field visits and engagement with policymakers
• Cost-effectiveness and adherence to STEG Budget Guidelines

Acceptance Rate

• Historically, fewer than 5% of functions are funded.
• STEG can’t present suggestions on unsuccessful proposals resulting from excessive quantity.

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Application Process

All PhD Research Grant functions should be submitted via the SRG Application Form on the STEG/CEPR Hub.

Step 1: Prepare required paperwork

Applicants should put together the next earlier than coming into the portal:

1. Project title
2. Abstract
3. CVs for all investigators
4. Proposal utilizing the official template, together with:
   • Introduction
   • Methodology
   • Policy relevance and nation focus
   • Relevance to STEG themes
   • Detailed work plan
   • Expected outputs
   • Contributions to the sector
   • Budget narrative
   • Ethics concerns
   • Privacy
   • Intellectual property rights
   • Open entry and enhanced entry commitments
5. Budget utilizing STEG’s price range template
6. List of key phrases
7. Supervisor’s help letter (submitted individually inside two weeks after the deadline)

Templates can be found on the backside of the official SRG & PhD Funding web page.

Step 2: Review insurance policies

Before submitting, candidates should learn and adjust to:

• STEG Code of Conduct for Researchers
• CEPR Conflict of Interest Policy
• CEPR Fraud, Bribery, and Corruption Policy
• CEPR Privacy Policy

Step 3: Submit through on-line portal

• Applications should be submitted via the SRG Application Form on the Hub.
• All supplies should be submitted in English.
• Only GBP values ought to be utilized in budgets.
• Late functions (after 23:59 GMT, 1 December 2025) will not be thought of.

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Helpful sources listed on the decision for functions

• How to Apply for an SRG (PhD RGs observe identical course of)
• How to Apply Online Guide
• SRG Frequently Asked Questions

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Important Dates

• Call Opened: 3 November 2025
• Submission Deadline: 1 December 2025, 23:59 GMT
• Supervisor Letter Deadline: 15 December 2025 (two weeks later)
• Funding Decisions: Expected inside three months of the deadline
• Contract Signature: Within one month after resolution
• Project Duration: Up to 12 months

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Official Links

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A Competitive Opportunity for Policy-Relevant PhD Research

The Ninth Call for STEG PhD Research Grants 2025 affords a novel and aggressive alternative for doctoral college students conducting analysis on structural transformation, financial growth, and coverage challenges in low-income international locations. With funding of as much as £15,000, world eligibility, and powerful emphasis on real-world coverage influence—particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa—this programme stays one of the revered analysis grants for PhD candidates in growth economics.

Applicants are inspired to arrange completely, observe all required templates, and submit nicely earlier than the 1 December 2025 deadline.

Ninth Call for Proposals for STEG PhD Research Grants|STEG

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