The grant supports research aligned with STEG’s six primary research themes, which include:

1. Data, measurement, and conceptual framing
2. Firms, frictions, spillovers, and industrial policy
3. Labour, home production, and household-level structural transformation
4. Agricultural productivity and sectoral gaps
5. Trade and spatial frictions
6. The role of the public sector

Cross-cutting themes relevant to all proposals include:

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

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for a STEG PhD Research Grant, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

1. PhD enrolment requirement

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

2. Global eligibility

• Applications are welcome from researchers all over the world.
• STEG particularly encourages applications from:
  • Students from low-income countries (LICs)
  • Students based at institutions in LICs
  • Research focusing on policies relevant to LICs, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa

3. Key exclusions

• Due to international sanctions, STEG cannot accept proposals involving researchers or institutions based in Russia.

4. Research requirements

• Research must demonstrate clear policy relevance for low-income countries.
• Projects focusing on middle- or high-income countries must justify the relevance for specific LICs.
• All proposals must use English for all documents; translations must be verified when needed.
• All budget information must be provided in GBP.

5. Funding limits

• Maximum award: £15,000
• Stipend limits:
  • Up to £12,000 for students based in high-income countries
  • PPP-equivalent stipends for students in low- and middle-income countries
• Stipends must free up time normally spent on teaching or administrative duties.

Grant Amount

• Up to £15,000 per award
• Supports:
  • Research assistance
  • Data collection or purchase
  • Fieldwork travel
  • Stipends (within capped limits)

Duration

• Grants are intended to be completed within 12 months.
• Contract signing: within one month of final decision
• Project start date: immediately after contract signature

Funding Priorities

STEG strongly prioritizes:

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

Acceptance Rate

• Historically, fewer than 5% of applications are funded.
• STEG cannot provide feedback on unsuccessful proposals due to high volume.

Application Process

All PhD Research Grant applications must be submitted through the SRG Application Form on the STEG/CEPR Hub.

Step 1: Prepare required documents

Applicants must prepare the following before entering the portal:

1. Project title
2. Abstract
3. CVs for all investigators
4. Proposal using the official template, including:
   • Introduction
   • Methodology
   • Policy relevance and country focus
   • Relevance to STEG themes
   • Detailed work plan
   • Expected outputs
   • Contributions to the field
   • Budget narrative
   • Ethics considerations
   • Privacy
   • Intellectual property rights
   • Open access and enhanced access commitments
5. Budget using STEG’s budget template
6. List of keywords
7. Supervisor’s support letter (submitted separately within two weeks after the deadline)

Templates are available at the bottom of the official SRG & PhD Funding page.

Step 2: Review policies

Before submitting, applicants must read and comply with:

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

Step 3: Submit via online portal

• Applications must be submitted through the SRG Application Form on the Hub.
• All materials must be submitted in English.
• Only GBP values should be used in budgets.