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PhD studentships

If you're looking to get PhD funding for a specific research project or field of study, Doctoral studentships can provide you with either a partially or fully-funded PhD

Who awards PhD studentships?

PhD studentships are most commonly awarded by the UK's seven Research Councils in the form of Research Council grants , with research funding overseen by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) .

Individual UK universities also offer scholarships and bursaries to PhD students, while many professional bodies fund Doctoral research in collaboration with these academic institutions.

For instance, research awards are offered by the following engineering organisations:

• Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) - QUEST scholarships
• Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
• The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
• Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng)

Additionally, CASE studentships (formerly known as Cooperative Awards in Science and Engineering) can be part-funded by any non-academic body in partnership with the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) . These four-year PhDs require the student to work at the organisation for at least three months.

You can also apply for funded PhD opportunities through many charities, foundations and trusts, including:

• Action Medical Research
• Alzheimer's Society
• British Federation of Women Graduates (BFWG)
• British Heart Foundation (BHF)
• Cancer Research UK
• Diabetes UK
• Rosetrees Trust - PhD Plus
• The Leverhulme Trust
• Wellcome Trust

Before you start applying for a funded PhD, it's always a good idea to discuss this with a prospective supervisor first, as they're often able to provide tips on maximising the likelihood of receiving financial support.

How much can I receive?

Many PhD studentships, including those offered by universities, professional bodies, or charities, foundations and trusts, provide three years' funding paid at a similar rate to the Research Council grant:

• Fees-only studentship - These cover a student's tuition fees, plus any associated project and training costs (a minimum of £4,786 per year in 2024/25).
• Full studentship - These add a non-repayable, tax-free maintenance grant known as a 'stipend'. In 2024/25, this is worth a minimum of £19,237 and it can be used towards living costs - see UKRI - Find studentships and Doctoral training .

For example, at The University of Manchester, the School of Social Sciences PhD studentship includes tuition fees for three-and-a-half years and a maintenance grant of £18,622 (2023/24 rate) per year for living expenses, plus associated research costs - such as fieldwork and attending conferences - from the Research Training Support Grant.

However, you should be aware that some PhD studentship recipients are required to teach undergraduates. While this provides an excellent opportunity to gain vital employability skills, it can also be hugely time-consuming. You must be satisfied that tutoring won't negatively affect the quality of your research before accepting your place.

Is my programme eligible for a PhD studentship?

PhD studentships can start at any time of the year, but most begin in September, October or January.

Certain types of PhD, for example professional Doctorates, may not be eligible for a PhD studentship. The same applies to part-time or distance learning options.

Am I eligible?

PhD studentships typically demand that applicants have a Bachelors degree at 2:1 or above, plus a relevant Masters degree or professional experience at that level of study.

Those who already possess a PhD are often ineligible, while some PhD studentships are limited to students fitting certain criteria - for example, those from a disadvantaged background, from a certain country or of a certain ethnicity.

If you're a European Union (EU) national, you'll need to have settled or pre-settled status under the government's EU Settlement Scheme to be eligible for student finance in this country - and this includes PhD studentships.

How do I apply for a PhD studentship?

The application process can be lengthy, and competition is fierce.

Some PhD students will be automatically considered for financial support once they've been accepted by an institution, but many are required to make separate PhD funding applications. These are usually made directly to the university - even for those studentships from Research Councils, professional bodies, or charities, foundations and trusts.

You'll typically be asked for your PhD application form, a research proposal , a cover letter and your references. After the institution has reviewed your application, you may be invited to interview.

Throughout this process, the university will scrutinise what you'll bring to the institution. Applicants at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), for example, are judged on:

• the quality of their research project and how it connects with research currently being undertaken at the institution
• how appropriate the supervisory team is
• their calibre, academic qualifications and academic/research experience
• whether the research can contribute towards the Research Excellence Framework (REF), meaning that interdisciplinary research will be preferred.

How do I increase my chances of getting a PhD studentship?

You can improve your chances of success by:

• asking a friend or family member to proofread your application
• carefully choosing your referees, ensuring that they'll speak positively of you
• discussing your draft application with a relevant academic
• explaining how your work will be unique and innovative
• following the funding body's guidance regarding word counts and formatting.

What other PhD funding is available?

If you're unsuccessful with your PhD studentship application, you could consider:

• crowdfunding
• employer sponsorship
• PhD loans .

Find out more

• Explore 5 routes to getting a Doctorate .
• Read about 5 challenges faced by PhD students .
• Consider what to do next after completing a PhD .

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Find the latest PhD scholarships available at universities across the UK and globally. We regularly advertise new fully-funded PhD studentships and PhD scholarships in STEM, the humanities, business and management studies and the social sciences plus many more.

Find your ideal funded PhD opportunity in Engineering and Technology, Physical Sciences, Mathematics, Languages and Literature or Biological sciences here. Updated regularly with new PhD opportunities across all disciplines.

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Welcome to jobs.ac.uk’s PhD Studentship section. Here you can find the latest PhD scholarships available at universities across the UK and globally. We regularly advertise new fully-funded PhD studentships and PhD scholarships in STEM, the humanities, business and management studies and the social sciences plus many more. Find your ideal funded PhD opportunity in Engineering and Technology, Physical Sciences, Mathematics, Languages and Literature or Biological sciences here. Updated regularly with new PhD opportunities across all disciplines.

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Wondering if a PhD is right for you? What is it like to take on a PhD? What can you do with a PhD once you’ve finished? We have lots of advice on all these topics in our career advice section.

What Can You Do With a PhD?:

Are you thinking about a PhD as the next stage in your educational and professional development? It’s an exciting road to travel with many potential benefits and opportunities. But you have to earn it first so considering what’s involved is important.

What is it really like to do a PhD?

Watch our vlog series, where real PhD students from all walks of life and various levels of study recorded themselves to showcase what undertaking a PhD is actually like.

PhD Funding – A Checklist of Possible Sources

Funding bodies support PhD students in different ways. Some pay course fees only, some include a stipend (maintenance costs) or travel expenses, and others offer a one-off award to ease the financial burden of academic study.

Make sure you never miss out on the perfect PhD opportunity by signing up to our jobs by email service , and for more helpful articles head to our career advice site .

Targeted PhDs

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• Postgraduate research degrees
• Funding and studentships
• Funded PhD programmes 2024 UK

Funded PhD research programmes 2025 UK

The University of Brighton regularly invites applicants for fully-funded PhD studentships across all its disciplines. 

These allow motivated, high-calibre applicants for research degrees to join our thriving academic community and contribute to our rich and innovative research environment. 

Our processes also often allow us to support promising candidates for applications to external funders and we regularly welcome self-funded applicants to programmes across all disciplines.

We will be advertising University of Brighton studentships later in the year. Meanwhile, please visit our PhD funding advice page  for current offers or see below for further general advice about applying for a funded PhD in the UK. 

Visit our PhD disciplinary programme lists

What UK PhD studentships are available ?

Depending on the discipline area, applicants for postgraduate research study may be:

• applying to work on specific, defined research projects
• applying to work with an academic department or individual with specific interests
• or applying with a self-identified research topic proposal.

When available, studentships are open to home and international students and will be given to candidates who best fulfil the promise outlined by these academic departments.

Students may like to review the funding opportunities listed at the foot of the page or visit our  PhD funding advice page  . 

Please enable targeting cookies in order to view this video content on our website, or you can watch the video on YouTube .

Can you be a researcher? Professor Bhavik Patel reassures applicants of all backgrounds that they can study for a PhD and aim for a research career. 

How do I apply for a PhD studentship?

The application for financing schemes will usually involve:  

• submitting a full application through the university's PhD application portal, our University of Brighton portal is accessible from the  PhD funded projects webpages . You will upload your research proposal as part of this process.
• The submission must include two letters of reference, academic qualifications, a proposed project approach, a personal statement and your CV (resumé).
• Shortlisted applicants are likely to be invited for interview.

What does PhD funding include?

The funding for the PhD usually covers the full fee and a stipend at the UKRI rate plus an allowance of £1,500 per year for researcher training for three years (or part-time equivalent). 

Successful candidates benefit from expert supervisory teams, a programme of postgraduate researcher development workshops and membership of specialist, interdisciplinary research centres and groups. There will be introductions to a network of relevant researchers, careers advice and opportunities for interaction within and beyond the university. Through this, our PhD students have the best start possible towards ambitious careers that make use of their research degrees.

The University of Brighton fosters research careers and will provide doctoral training, attentive and expert supervision and access to world-class laboratories and equipment. 

We are renowned as a leading applied university, with pioneer academics in disciplines from sport science to design history and applied science research that translates efficiently to the global challenge of worldwide health and wellbeing. Our strategy of 'practical wisdom' leads to real-world partnerships and beneficiaries across all disciplines while the development of community-university partnership practices have placed us among the best universities for many aspects of co-produced research and innovation.

We pride ourselves on the ways we work in partnership with those outside higher education, across the European Union and internationally. Through our research collaborations we work with a wide range of universities, both internationally and with universities in the UK. We are also founding members of two UKRI Doctoral Training Partnerships which, this year, are dealt with outside our University of Brighton studentship offer. We learn constantly from our involvement in these, and our rich resources are offered across all doctoral research programmes.

Recently the University of Brighton celebrated its performance in the Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) and the Knowledge and Exchange Framework (KEF2023). Over 87 per cent of our submitted impact case studies in REF2021 were rated as having 'outstanding' or 'very considerable' impact beyond academia. We are dedicated to developing this quality work with new students. Read more about the review of our research and knowledge exchange performance in REF2021 . Also, read more about our KEF2023 results, which placed Brighton in the top tier for economic and social benefits .

How will you build a relationship with your supervisor? Professor Annebella Pollen and Dr Tom Ainsworth are among those offering advice. This film was made by the University of Brighton for UKRI and also features academics from other institutions.

How do I increase my chances of getting a PhD studentship?

You must be able to show your suitability for a UK research degree if you wish to apply for fully-funded studentships.

This includes evidence either of a relevant and successful academic background or equivalent relevant professional/expert background in the applied subject area. Applicants from overseas will also have to fulfil any English language and visa requirements.

This will be true for studentships in the UK across most of the UK universities. It is usual for applicants either to have completed (or be about to complete) a masters degree, have an exceptional undergraduate record and references, or demonstrate the equivalent scholarly potential.  

Supervisory staff and research students at the University of Brighton consider how important diverse thinking and inclusive practice are to their doctoral studies.

Can I get PhD funding at the University of Brighton?

We have a long-standing annual programme of funded PhD opportunities across all our disciplines, including several rooted in research council (UKRI) partnerships .

The initiatives allow postgraduate study for UK-based students as well as study in the UK for international students (depending on the PhD programme). 

We are also keen to encourage students who might be able to self-fund their doctoral studies. Studying part-time, for example, is likely to prove more affordable and more easily balanced with professional life than you'd imagine. 

We are dedicated to providing a welcoming and supportive atmosphere and structure for your studies. Show us your own qualities and your suitability for programmes as they become available and we will look forward to receiving your application. 

Insitutions and funding bodies for PhD study

On the Funding pages of our website we post advice as to the regular and specific funding opportunities available through the University of Brighton, its partners and networks. 

These include  Doctoral Training Partnership  and University of Brighton PhD studentship calls,  individual studentship projects , University of Brighton  international research scholarships  and our  alumni scholarships  for current and past students. 

We also include below some of the major funding options for international students wanting to do a PhD with us, each of which may support all or part of your studies.

Worldwide international funding schemes for PhD research

The british council.

The British Council offers a search engine for UK courses, institutions (including the University of Brighton) and scholarships.

Find out more about scholarships and funding through The British Council.

The Gen Foundation

The Gen Foundation considers applicants living in all countries. It is a charitable trust which principally provides grants to students/researchers in natural sciences, in particular food sciences/technology.

Find out more about grants to students and researchers from The Gen Foundation .

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN)

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is dedicated to improving the quality of life of those in need, mainly in Asia and Africa, irrespective of their origin, faith, or gender. Our multifaceted development approach aims to help communities and individuals become self-reliant.

Find out more about research funding through the Aga Khan development network .

The Open Society Foundations

The Open Society Foundations are active in more than 120 countries around the world, using grant-giving, research, advocacy, impact investment, and strategic litigation to support the growth of inclusive and vibrant democracies. The four main themes of the Open Society Foundations are climate justice, equity, expression, and justice and they will award grants and fellowships throughout the year to organisations and individuals who share those values. The Open Society Foundations look for grantees who have a vision and whose efforts will lead to lasting social change.

Find out more about postgraduate funding through The Open Society Foundations .

International Education and Financial Aid

The International Education and Financial Aid (IEFA) provides students from all over the world comprehensive information on financial aid for studying abroad. Using the IEFA website, you can easily search the IEFA database for scholarships, grants, loan programs, and other options available to help finance your international education.

Find out more about international PhD research funding through the IEFA .

The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds 

The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF) awards PhD fellowships of two to three-and-a-half years to outstanding junior scientists worldwide who wish to pursue an ambitious PhD project in basic biomedical research in an internationally leading laboratory.

Find out more about the Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds fellowships .

Resource sites for international PhD research funding

Internationalstudent.com.

InternationalStudent.com is a leading online resource for international students around the world providing advice pages for studying in the USA, UK and Australia for international students, plus a dedicated study abroad center for US students who want to travel abroad.

Find out more about international study through InternationalStudent.com .

ScholarshipTab

ScholarshipTab is an online portal that connects international students to available scholarship opportunities round the world.

Find out more about the Scholarship Tab resource .

International Education and Financial Aid (IEFA)

The IEFA provides students from all over the world comprehensive information on financial aid for studying abroad. Search the IEFA database for scholarships, grants, loan programs, and other options available to help finance your international education.

Find out more from the International Education and Financial Aid website .

The European Funding Guide 

Scholarships and grants for students from the European Union

Find out more through the European Funding Guide  

The Americas: Postgraduate doctorate funding from institutions and bodies to study in the UK

• Marshall Scholarship:  Provides for United States students to study abroad.
• Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship provides for United States students to study abroad.
• American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid
• Global Affairs Canada International Scholarships Program
• Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund
• Canada's Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
• The Bolsas Lideres Estudar Program provides for Brazilian students studying in the UK .

Asia: Postgraduate doctorate funding from Asian institutions and bodies to study in the UK

The Charles Wallace Bangladesh Trust

The Charles Wallace Burma Trust

China and Hong Kong

Great Britain – China Educational Trust is a charity that promotes mutual understanding between the UK and China and aims to build long-term connections between the two countries. It delivers awards contributing towards university tuition fees and living expenses for Chinese nationality students studying for a PhD in any subject at a UK university.

Great Britain China Centre Chinese Student Awards  offers scholarships of up to £3,000 for citizens of China and Hong Kong studying for a PhD in any subject at a UK university

The Hong Kong People Association (HKPA)  aims to provide financial aids for further university education to students from Hong Kong who are not able to afford international tuition fees. 

The Charles Wallace India Trust  offers PhD funding for study in the arts, heritage conservation or the humanities.

The Inlaks India Foundation

The JN Tata Endowment award funds 90 to 100 scholars across disciplines ranging from the sciences to management, law and commerce and the fine arts.

The KC Mahindra Education Trust

The Persia Educational Foundation Abdolreza Ansari Scholarship   is designed to support the education of students of Iranian descent enrolled in a Master or Doctorate programme in human rights or public service in the UK.

Momeni Iranian Financial Assistance Scholarships  offer partial funding scholarships for international students of Iranian descent towards a PhD in any subject.

The Kenneth Lindsay Scholarship Trust

The Anglo-Jewish Association (AJA)  provides funding for Jewish students to study a Masters or PhD in the UK.

The Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies  funds students of macroeconomics with a view to them working at the International Monetary Fund.

The Charles Wallace Pakistan Trust

Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan . The HEC offers government scholarships for Pakistani students to study abroad in various countries, including the UK.

Saudi Arabia

The Cultural Bureau of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia (SACB)  offers scope for full tuition fees and supporting fees for PhD level study.

Agency for Science, Technology and Research

The Thai Office of Educational Affairs 

Europe: Postgraduate doctorate funding from European institutions and bodies to study in the UK

The European Funding Guide  - Scholarships and grants in the EU.

France -  Entente Cordiale scholarships for postgraduate studies  provide funding to help students enrolling for a Masters or a PhD qualification in the UK or in France.

Italy -  Il Circolo Italian Cultural Association is a UK-registered charity based in London with the mission to support deserving students with awards and scholarships.

Norway - Lanekassen  - The Norwegian student loans and grants awarding body supports Norwegian students studying overseas.

Scandinavia - Fundraising.how  - article database offering funding advice for Scandinavian students.

Sweden - CSN -  loans and grants for Swedish students studying overseas.

Australia: funding for PhD study in the UK

The Australia Day Foundation  offers grants to young Australians for fees and course materials.

Africa: funding for PhD study in the UK

Sudan -  The Gordon Memorial College Trust Fund (GMCTF)

• Postgraduate
• PhD and Professional Doctorates

PhD opportunities

Fully funded phd studentships.

Our mission is to create lasting, meaningful change throughout the world, and with our funded PhD studentships, your research can be a key part of us achieving that goal.

What is a studentship?

A studentship is like a scholarship but for a research degree at the university, helping to fund your research project. Finance shouldn’t be a barrier to delivering world-leading research, that's why we run an annual fully funded PhD studentship competition, to recruit talented researchers from across the world.

Doctoral research that encourages change and produces real-world impacts is more important than ever. A doctoral degree is more than just a thesis: it is an opportunity to realise your potential as a researcher, to develop your passion and knowledge in a community that values progress. Get support for your research with a NTU Studentship.

Applications for our 2024 studentships have now closed. The scheme usually opens in October. Sign up for emails to be notified of the next release and to keep up to date with research funding.

Discover our PhD opportunities that drive innovation and delivers real-world impact. Browse our PhD projects, or submit your own proposal.

Professional Doctorates

Make an impact with world-leading and award-winning research at Nottingham Trent University.

PhD fees and funding

Find out more about the fees and funding options available for research study at Nottingham Trent University.

How to apply for a PhD

Everything you need to know about applying to study at the NTU Doctoral School.

Re:shaping re:search - why join NTU?

With world-class facilities, dedicated doctoral support, and a growing portfolio of interdisciplinary and collaborative research programmes — all delivered alongside our worldwide family of academic and industry partners — NTU is the place to truly re:alise your potential.

We offer a unique Doctoral Education, Training and Development programme to support the growth of all our doctoral candidates, in everything from academic writing and academic software to healthy research practices. We support our candidates throughout their doctoral journey, enabling them to reach their potential as experts in their field.

As a two-time recipient of the Queens Anniversary Prize — the most prestigious national award for research outputs — 86% of our work has been judged as ‘world-leading’or ‘internationally excellent.’* We want to continue building this reputation for research excellence by taking a themed approach to addressing the world’s most pressing problems — the key questions that span business, the arts, science, sustainability, healthcare, politics, and the environment. We’re calling this new approach Re:search Re:imagined

* Latest data, Research Excellence Framework 2021

A diverse community

"I chose to pursue a PhD because I've always been intellectually curious". Hear about Richards's doctoral experience.

We’re committed to removing barriers to doctoral education — an ambition reflected in the award of joint funding to improve access and participation for black, Asian and minority ethnic groups in PGR study. Our Doctoral School is a diverse and highly inclusive community; it enables its members to become confident, skilled researchers, regardless of their backgrounds.

Join us to help fulfil our boldest ambitions — to value ideas, create opportunities, embrace sustainability, empower people, enrich society, and connect on a global scale. We believe in applied, meaningful research that delivers better answers. Be part of a community that champions your voice and experience.

By breaking down the financial barriers to PhD study, our fully funded studentships ensure you’ll have the freedom and confidence to deliver the kind of research that truly matters.

Re:searchers Re:vealed

Here at NTU, our researchers come from a variety of backgrounds, and they all have a powerful story to tell. In this series, we share their stories.

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PhD Studentships

Coventry University are currently offering a number of funded PhD opportunities for prospective candidates, beginning in 2024.

All of our PhD studentships have been put together by leading researchers across the institution, covering a breadth of disciplines and research areas.

With just under 600 academics working in our challenge-led, interdisciplinary Research Centres, each excelling in its own specialist areas, our ambition is focused on delivering 'excellence with impact'. This means our research goes beyond just enhancing academic knowledge and effects real change in the wider world.

From autonomous vehicles and digital culture to sustainability and data sciences, Coventry University has a wide range of PhD opportunities that will stimulate and inspire.

Browse current opportunities

Trailblazers

These fully-funded PhD projects have been devised and developed by leading early-career researchers at Coventry University. The scheme provides PhD candidates with an innovative and dynamic intellectual space in which to undertake transformative research.

Cotutelle PhD Programmes

The Cotutelle PhD programme enables postgraduate research candidates to benefit from enrolment, supervisory support and awards from Coventry University and one of our international partner institutions.

Midlands4Cities

Coventry University is proud to be one of eight universities in the Midlands4Cities (M4C) Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded Doctoral Training Partnership.

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is a leading research organisation in Singapore that works to nurture and develop talent for the research community in Singapore and beyond.

All PhD studentships

View all current funded and self-funded PhD opportunities across our interdisciplinary research centres.

  Coventry University

Priory Street Coventry CV1 5FB United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)24 7765 7688

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PhD studentships

Funding for PhD applicants is available from a range of sources on a competitive basis.

Follow the links in the table to find full details regarding eligibility, available finance, application methods and closing dates. Follow us on X and Facebook to hear when we have added new studentship opportunities. 

Download our comprehensive guide to PhD study

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• How to apply

Funded PhD & MRes studentships

The perfect way to expand your horizons

Funded PhD & MRes studentships

Embarking upon a research degree at Bournemouth University is one of the most exciting stages of your academic career. It’s a voyage of discovery – so we want to make sure you have as much support as possible during what promises to be a life-changing experience.

We are proud to be offering a broad range of funded studentship opportunities, strongly aligned to our BU2025 vision and values , the  areas of strength in which our research makes the greatest impact, and our strategic investment areas: Assistive Technology, Animation, Simulation & Visualisation, Sustainability & Low Carbon Technology and Medical Science.

This commitment to greater expansion of our research work demonstrates BU’s significant investment in our Doctoral College, supporting growth in innovation and developing future talent and expertise in our PhD & MRes students.

We offer you the opportunity to work with external organisations on many of our matched-funded research projects, recognising that partnering with outside companies and charities will broaden your knowledge and experience beyond academia. Many of these projects allow you to participate in cutting-edge applied research areas, generating immediate and tangible societal impacts.

Be assured you will joining a world-leading research community, with the support of a team of dedicated, enthusiastic academic and professional support staff who will ensure your work is efficient, enjoyable and, most of all, successful. All of this within a fabulous location, with seven miles of award-winning sandy beaches amongst the many delights of Bournemouth , attracting a vibrant and creative community.

For questions about our PhD Studentship offering please contact the team on [email protected]  

Browse our funded studentships by faculty

Faculty of health & social sciences.

NIHR INSIGHT South West Central Collaboration (SWCC) Programme – Full-time

NIHR INSIGHT South West Central Collaboration (SWCC) Programme – Part-time

Find out how our research helps people live better, for longer

Bournemouth University Business School

Find out how BU acts as a catalyst for growth, boosting skills and advancing the region

Faculty of Media & Communication

Find out how our research helps creative and cultural industries to thrive

Faculty of Science & Technology

Predicting the roles of anadromy and freshwater carry-over effects in the sustainability of threatened brown trout Salmo trutta populations

Creation of a new tidal energy station in Poole Harbour to utilise potential energy available within this natural resource

Sustainable product life cycle and avoidance of hazardous materials for electrical motors and gears

Find out how our research helps to protect and preserve a sustainable environment

Doctoral Training Centre (DTC)

There are currently no studentships within the DTC.  Please check back at a later date.

Who is eligible to apply for a funded BU PhD & MRes Studentship?

The BU PhD and MRes Studentships are open to UK and International students.

Candidates for a PhD Studentship should demonstrate outstanding qualities and be motivated to complete a PhD in 4 years and must demonstrate:

• Outstanding academic potential as measured normally by either a 1st class honours degree (or equivalent Grade Point Average (GPA) or a Master’s degree with distinction or equivalent
• An IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 minimum (with a minimum 6.0 in each component, or equivalent) for candidates for whom English is not their first language and this must be evidenced at point of application.

Candidates for an MRes Studentship should demonstrate outstanding qualities and be motivated to complete a MRes in 18 months and must demonstrate:

• Outstanding academic potential as measured normally by an upper second class honours degree (or equivalent Grade Point Average (GPA)

In addition to satisfying minimum entry criteria, BU will look closely at the qualities, skills and background of each candidate and what they can bring to their chosen research project in order to ensure successful completion.

Applicants will be asked to submit an online application form and a proposal (approximately 1500 words) outlining their understanding of the project for which they are applying, the approach they would envisage taking and what qualities they will bring to the research community.

Please note:

• Current BU doctoral students are not eligible to apply for a funded PhD Studentship
• Current MRes/MPhil students can apply, subject to satisfactory completion of their Research Degree prior to being able to take up the award
• PhD Studentships cannot be used to support BU staff to complete doctoral programmes

What else will BU look for in successful candidates?

Each funded PhD & MRes Studentship has specific criteria that candidates need to fulfil, in terms of knowledge and/or expertise. In addition, we will look closely at your qualities, skills and background to determine what you could bring to a specific research project.

How can I apply for a funded BU Studentship?

There are individual application deadlines for each funded PhD & MRes Studentship, which are detailed on the relevant page. To apply, click the green Apply Now button and complete our online application form. More information can be found on our  How to apply  pages. You can also read our proposal guidance document here .   

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• PhD Studentships
• Funding a PhD
• Studentships are scholarships awarded to PhD students, with funding provided by either a Research Council , university , private body or research charity .
• Most studentships are linked to a specific research project or a field of study .
• Can either be partially funded (covering fees only) or fully funded (covering fees and providing an allowance for living costs – the stipend).
• Universities commonly require candidates to have a 2:1 or 1st class honours degree; a relevant Masters degree may be useful for a successful applicant but not essential.
• Most studentships don’t allow other sources of funding e.g. bursaries or PhD loans.

What Are PhD Studentships?

A studentship is a non-repayable scholarship available to PhD students to support their doctoral studies. At a minimum, all studentships will cover a student’s tuition fee, however they may also cover the student’s living expenses (referred to as a stipend or maintenance grant) depending on the specific type of studentship awarded.

Who Are They Awarded By?

The most common source of PhD funding is through a Research Council, in which a studentship is awarded in the form of a Research Council Grant . In the UK, there are seven Research Councils as listed below:

• Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
• Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
• Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
• Medical Research Council (MRC)
• Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
• Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

Collectively, these councils form part of a government body known as UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) which provide funding to PhD students to advance research. UKRI aims to provide the best environment for research and innovation to thrive by working in collaboration with universities, research organisations, companies, charities and governments.

The second most common source of studentships is directly from universities in the form of scholarships and bursaries . Although not always the case, studentships provided by universities are often linked to a specific project title or field of study and may also be linked at least in part to Research Council funding. This means that you must undertake a PhD project in a specific pre-determined subject area in order to meet the eligibility criteria for funding.

The other source of studentships is through professional bodies (e.g. Institution of Mechanical Engineers) and research charities (e.g. Wellcome Trust and Cancer Research UK). These studentships are known as Cooperative Awards in Science and Engineering (CASE). In nearly all cases, CASE studentships are also linked to a specific project title or field of study.

How Much Funding Can I Receive?

A successful applicant may receive two types of studentships: partially funded and fully funded . Partially funded studentships typically cover the cost of a student’s tuition fees and possibly any associated project costs. This can include aspects such as training courses and travelling for meetings and conferences, though the exact scope of what’s included differs for each studentship.

Although tuition fees vary depending on university, the indicative fee is £4,500/year as stated by the UKRI for UK students.

A fully funded studentship covers the same aspects of a partially funded studentship, however, in addition to this, it also provides a tax-free  maintenance grant to cover the student’s cost of living . This maintenance grant is more commonly referred to as an annual stipend  and looks to provide enough additional funding that the student need not look for part-time work to pay for their living costs whilst undertaking their PhD. It should be noted stipends provided by Research Councils will need to meet a nationally agreed minimum level; for 2021/22, this minimum level has been set as £15,609 . Living costs do of course vary between cities and it’s something you should factor in when planning your budget. Most universities do offer students the opportunity to earn a little extra money (e.g. by teaching undergraduates) to supplement your stipend.

Am I Eligible for a PhD Studentship?

The eligibility requirements differ between studentships, however, most will require the following in order to be eligible for financial support:

• A Bachelors degree with a 2:1 or above
• A relevant Masters degree

There may also be some restrictions which deem you non-eligible for a studentship. These are commonly:

• If you already hold a doctoral degree
• If you receive funding from another source e.g. a doctoral loan

As the requirements differ for each studentship, there may be some further requirements or restrictions in addition to the above. For example, some studentships restrict how many hours of paid employment you can undertake alongside your PhD and some are limited to students fitting certain criteria e.g. coming from a low-income household or being of a certain ethnicity.

Therefore, make sure you read the descriptions of any studentship carefully and in full before making any decisions.

Note: Being eligible for a PhD studentship does not guarantee you one. With exception to a few, all studentships are awarded based on ability, therefore, funding will be awarded to the best PhD applicants applying for the studentships.

UK PhD studentships are now typically only open to UK students , with fewer being available to EU and international students. One of the key reasons for this are the higher tuition fees that students outside the UK will need to pay. Some universities may offer EU/international students studentships if they are able to cover the additional fee costs themselves. However, even if you are an EU student, you still may be limited to only a partially funded studentship meaning only your fees will be covered, so it is important to be clear on what you’re eligible for and the deadline for applications. For further clarification, see the table below:

How Do I Apply for a PhD Studentship?

The application process can be initiated in one of two ways. First, some universities will automatically consider you for a studentship when they receive your application to undertake a PhD. For example, Nottingham Trent University specifies the below as their arrangements:

The NTU Doctoral School will treat your online form as an application form for a place to study for an MPhil/PhD doctoral research degree at Nottingham Trent University, as well as a funding application for the 2020 Nottingham Trent University PhD Studentship Scheme.

Second, some universities will require you to submit a separate funding application form. If you are required to submit a separate application, these are usually made directly to university regardless of the source of the funding body i.e. a Research Council or professional body. This is because although the studentship funding may be provided from a non-academic body, as the academic institute hosting the PhD project, the university will be responsible for assessing candidates and selecting the most suitable one. Be mindful that these may come with a strict application deadline.

If you are required to submit a separate application, you will typically be asked for:

• Your PhD application form
• A research proposal
• A cover letter
• Your references

Upon receiving your application, the PhD supervisor will likely have an informal discussion with you, either by email, over the phone or in person. In some cases, you may be invited in for a formal interview .

Regardless of which of the two situations occurs, the potential supervisor will use the discussion alongside your application to determine whether you should be awarded the PhD programme and studentship. Following their decision, they will get in touch with you to let you know the outcome.

It’s worth noting that in some cases, the potential supervisor may decide that you are suitable to undertake the PhD project but are not the strongest candidate who has applied across all PhDs within their department. If this is the case and the studentship is linked to a research topic as opposed to the specific project title you are applying for, you may be offered the PhD opportunity but not the studentship. If this occurs, you will need to consider your alternative PhD funding options, such as funding it yourself or obtaining a PhD loan, before making your decision.

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Latest PhDs and Research Studentships

Research studentships at a world-leading institution

We offer a wide range of postgraduate research opportunities which are listed as soon as they become available. If you can't find what you are looking for please contact us . 

We welcome enquiries from students who already have their own funding, or are applying for funding in one of our research areas .  

Our Research, School and Graduate School pages contain a wealth of information for prospective postgraduate students and research activity at UEA. You can also search our Course Finder pages for taught postgraduate courses, including Master's by Research courses.

We welcome applications throughout the year - find out more about how to apply .

Latest PhD Opportunities and Studentships

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Fees and funding

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Partnerships in Doctoral Training

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Funding for biomedical research and innovation

Phd studentships and doctoral fellowships.

A PhD is a postgraduate research degree, usually lasting three or four years, if undertaken full time. It involves independently conducting original and significant research in a specific field and is normally assessed by a written thesis and oral examination.

Funding options available

Alzheimer’s Research UK: PhD scholarships Funding to undertake a PhD involving biomedical research in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Applications are made by the prospective supervisor. Funding: Stipend plus tuition fees and research/travel costs Duration: 36 months

Alzheimer’s Society: PhD studentships Funding to undertake a PhD involving biomedical research in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Applications are made by the prospective supervisor. Funding: Up to £85,000 (£91,000 for London) Duration: Three years

British Heart Foundation: Non-clinical PhD studentships Funding to undertake a PhD in cardiovascular science. Applications are made by the prospective supervisor. Funding: Stipend, tuition fees, consumables Duration: Three years

British Heart Foundation: Four-year PhD programme Funding for research organisations to provide a PhD studentship programme in cardiovascular research. Career stage: Prospective students should apply to individual research institutions Funding: Student stipend, tuition fees, research consumables Duration: Four years

MRC: Studentships Find out more about how MRC funds and supports PhD students at universities and MRC units, institutes and centres.

National Centre for the Replacement Refinement & Reduction of Animals in Research: PhD studentships Funding to undertake a PhD studentship relevant to any area of medical, biological or veterinary research which supports the development and application of the 3Rs. Funding: Cash-limited award of £30,000 pa (£90,000 total over three years) Duration: 36 months

National Institute for Health Research: Doctoral fellowships Funding to undertake a PhD in an area of NIHR research. Funding: Fully funded including current salary Duration: 36 months with p/t options

Last updated: 6 July 2022

This is the website for UKRI: our seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Let us know if you have feedback or would like to help improve our online products and services .

• Schools & departments

Fully funded 4 Year PhD studentships in Biomedical Sciences

Applications are invited from outstanding students wishing to pursue a 4 Year PhD studentship in Biomedical Sciences from September 2024.

Based in the Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh you will have the opportunity to work with leading research groups while also developing your skills in transnational education. The studentships are fully funded for 4 Years including full fees (home or overseas), UKRI-level stipend and generous research costs. 

Alongside their PhD project, students will be supported in the development of their skills in TNE towards AFHEA accreditation. This will include short (typically 2 visits totalling 4-6 weeks per year) research and educational visits to our ZJE Joint Institute in China supported by their PhD supervisory team.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss projects with prospective supervisors before submitting their application.

Candidates must meet University of Edinburgh PhD requirements including English language proficiency and acceptance is conditional on award of 2:1 degree classification (or similar) in a Biomedical related undergraduate Honours degree programme.

How to apply

To apply, email a single PDF document to [email protected] by 12 noon on Friday 29th March 2024  that includes:

• a 1 page statement of why you wish to pursue a PhD, including a ranking of up to 3 projects you are interested in  f ollowing your discussion with prospective supervisor(s)
• a 1 page statement of how developing your transnational educational skills as part of your PhD will support your longer term career aspirations.  

Shortlisted candidates will have the opportunity to meet further with prospective PhD supervisors of their ranked projects at interview.

List of PhD projects

Defining the role of rna-binding protein pabpc4 in regulating gene expression to maintain lipid homeostasis (primary supervisor: dr matthew brook), project location .

QMRI, Bioquarter

[email protected]

Name, location and email of co-applicants (Supervisory Team)

Prof. Nicola Gray (CRH/IRR) Email: [email protected]

Prof. Robert Semple (CVS) Email: [email protected]

Project description

PABPC4 is a poorly characterised RNA-binding protein whose genetic locus is strongly associated in human genetic association studies to metabolic disease traits (e.g. cholesterol and triglyceride levels, type 2 diabetes), with some associations sexually dimorphic. Population genetic studies (gnomAD) moreover indicate clear selection against heterozygous loss of function in the wider population. PABPC4 is a close homologue of PABPC1, which binds to mRNA poly(A) tails and regulates multiple facets of mRNA translation and turnover, but PABPC4 molecular functions, RNA targets, and role in mammalian physiology remain to be determined.

Importantly, our (Brook/Gray) unpublished work has revealed sexually-dimorphic dysregulation of growth, body composition, and response to high-fat diet (HFD) of Pabp4-/- mice, with male, but not female, Pabpc4-/- mice being profoundly protected from HFD-induced obesity, insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Collectively these findings establish that genetic alteration of PABPC4 function and/or expression predisposes to the development of impaired lipid metabolism, obesity and associated pathologies in response to HFD. 

We hypothesise that PABPC4 is a master post-transcriptional regulator of sexually dimorphic metabolic gene expression programs. We will take advantage of complementary expertise in the new collaborative team to test this hypothesis via 3 major aims:

Aim 1: Elucidate the metabolic/physiological mechanisms and tissue aetiology of the obesity resistant/dyslipidaemic phenotype of Pabpc4-/- mice. Aim 2: Identify cell types and cellular pathways underlying the PABP4-dependent regulation of lipid/lipoprotein profiles and metabolic traits in mice. Aim 3: Identify functionally relevant PABPC4 mRNA targets and characterise their dysregulation in Pabpc4-/- mice.

Approaches used in project

The student will receive training in cutting-edge methods to study mouse in vivo metabolism (e.g. Sable Promethion indirect calorimetry/behaviour system) and ex vivo/in vitro cell metabolism (e.g. cellular respiration). The identification of PABP4 targets and regulated pathways will require combinations of transcriptomics, proteomics (proteome regulation, protein interactome mapping) and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression studies (e.g. RNA-binding protein function, RNA target identification).

The supervisory team encompasses all the required expertise and will fully support method training and deployment. In addition, training will be provided in bioinformatics approaches to data handling/analysis and use of human genetic association data, as required.

Relevant references for project background

1.    J. Wu, R. X. Yin, T. Guo, Q. Z. Lin, S. W. Shen, J. Q. Sun, et al. (2015) Gender-specific association between the cytoplasmic poly(A) binding protein 4 rs4660293 single nucleotide polymorphism and serum lipid levels. Mol Med Rep. 12: 3476-3486 [PMID:26005159]

2.    L. A. Passmore and J. Coller (2022) Roles of mRNA poly(A) tails in regulation of eukaryotic gene expression. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 23(2): 93-106. [PMID:34594027]

3.    Fátima Gebauer, Thomas Schwarzl, Juan Valcárcel & Matthias W. Hentze (2021) RNA-binding proteins in human genetic disease. Nature Reviews Genetics. 22:185–198 [PMID: 33235359]

4.    Kelaini S, Chan C, Cornelius VA, Margariti A. (2021) RNA-Binding Proteins Hold Key Roles in Function, Dysfunction, and Disease. Biology (Basel). 10(5):366. [PMID: 33923168]

5.    Van Nostrand EL, Pratt GA, et al. (2020) Principles of RNA processing from analysis of enhanced CLIP maps for 150 RNA binding proteins. Genome Biology. 21(1):90. [PMID: 32252787]

Mechanistic characterisation of regulation of PABPC1 by post-translational modification in response to nutrient availability (Primary Supervisor: Dr Matthew Brook)

Dr. Di Chen (ZJE) Email: [email protected]

PABPC1 is central to normal regulation of mRNA translation and decay. By binding mRNA poly(A) tails and interacting with a suite of partner proteins, PABPC1 confers disparate regulatory outcomes to mRNAs. However, despite many protein partners binding at overlapping or shared sites, the regulation of PABPC1-partner interactions is very poorly understood.

We have previously demonstrated PABPC1 to be extensively post-translational modified (PTM); ranging from S/T/Y phosphorylation and R methylation to more unusual K acetylation/methylation switches and Q/D methylation. To date, the functional relevance, regulatory mechanism, and upstream signalling pathways of almost all these PTMs remains unknown.

However, we have determined that PABPC1 is subject to regulation in response to nutrient status, cell cycle stage, and viral infection, indicating that full understanding of PABPC1 PTM-mediated regulation may uncover novel pathways of gene expression regulation.

To reveal novel systems of post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression that underpin nutrient responsiveness and metabolic homeostasis, we will quantitatively determine PABPC1 PTM responses to nutrient availability and perform mechanistic studies of PTM effects on (for e.g.) protein partner binding, mRNA target selection/mRNA binding, and utilisation/fate of target mRNAs (e.g. translation, poly(A) tail status, decay), and we will delineate upstream signalling pathways of nutrient-responsive PTMs.

Aim 1: PTM-omics analysis of PABPC1 to fully characterise its post-translational regulation in response to nutrient availability. Aim 2: Mechanistic characterisation of the effects of nutrient-responsive PTMs on PABPC1 protein partner and/or mRNA interactions. Aim 3: Mapping of upstream regulatory signalling pathways that modulate nutrient-responsive PABPC1 PTMs to affect metabolic gene expression.

The student will receive training in cutting-edge methods to study: The identification of PABPC1 PTMs and regulated outcomes, interactions and upstream pathways will require combinations of proteomics/PTMomics, biophysical and structural studies (e.g. SPR, crystallography/NMR), transcriptomics, post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression studies (e.g. RNA-binding protein function, RNA target identification) and in vitro cell metabolism methods (e.g. cellular respiration).

The supervisory team encompasses all the required expertise and will fully support method training and deployment. In addition, training will be provided in bioinformatics approaches to data handling/analysis, as required

1.    Brook M, McCracken L, Reddington JP, Lu ZL, Morrice NA, Gray NK. (2012) Biochem J. 441(3):803-12. The multifunctional poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) 1 is subject to extensive dynamic post-translational modification, which molecular modelling suggests plays an important role in co-ordinating its activities. [PMID: 22004688]

2.    Friend K, Brook M, Bezirci FB, Sheets MD, Gray NK, Seli E. (2012) Embryonic poly(A)-binding protein (ePAB) phosphorylation is required for Xenopus oocyte maturation. Biochem J. 445(1):93-100. [PMID: 22497250]

3.    Shan P, Fan G, Sun L, Liu J, Wang W, Hu C, Zhang X, Zhai Q, Song X, Cao L, Cui Y, Zhang S, Wang C. (2017) SIRT1 Functions as a Negative Regulator of Eukaryotic Poly(A)RNA Transport. Curr Biol. 27(15):2271-2284.e5. [PMID: 28756945]

4.    Passmore LA, Coller J. (2022) Roles of mRNA poly(A) tails in regulation of eukaryotic gene expression. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 23(2):93-106. [PMID: 34594027]

Investigating a role for the placenta in signalling maternal stress to the fetus and programming the fetal brain. (Primary Supervisor: Dr Paula Brunton)

Hugh Robson Building, George Square.

[email protected]

Prof. Ruth Andrew (Centre for Cardiovascular Science) Email: [email protected]

Maternal stress during pregnancy ‘programs’ long-lasting neuroendocrine and behavioural changes in the offspring[1,2]. Often this ‘programming’ is maladaptive and sex-specific[1,2]. How the effects of maternal stress are transmitted from the mother to the fetuses is not known. Direct transfer of maternal glucocorticoids to the fetuses is often proposed to mediate the programming effects. However, we have shown that although corticosterone secretion is significantly greater in stressed dams compared with controls, there is no impact on corticosterone concentrations in the fetal circulation or brain[3].

In addition, maternal stress upregulates placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 (the enzyme that inactivates glucocorticoids, limiting mother-to-fetus glucocorticoid transfer), suggesting this protective mechanism is intact[3]. These findings suggest a factor(s) other than glucocorticoids mediate fetal programming.

The aim of this project is to investigate the factor(s) that signal maternal stress to the fetus. The placenta has several functions that make it a likely central player in mediating the effects of maternal stress[4]. As well as nutrient transport, the placenta also actively produces and secretes factors (e.g. steroids, monoamines, growth factors, cytokines) that can influence fetal brain development. We will perform a metabolomic screen of secretions from male and female placentae from stressed and non-stressed pregnancies.

We will test whether identified candidate factors can mimic changes in gene expression observed in the prenatally stressed offspring brain. We will also investigate sex-dependent changes in placental gene expression induced by maternal stress, (in particular those involved in nutrient transport and allocation) and investigate whether these contribute to the programmed offspring phenotype. 

Behavioural observations will be used to monitor social stress induction in pregnant rats. Blood samples will be collected and immunoassays used to determine plasma hormone concentrations (primarily corticosterone). Mass spectrometry will be used for metabolomic profiling of placental secretions. Neuronal cell culture will be used to screen whether candidate placental factors can mimic changes in gene expression observed in the fetal/offspring brain.

Altered gene expression in the fetal brain, placentae neuronal cultures induced by maternal stress will be quantified by RNAscope/qPCR, while changes in protein expression will be assessed using immunocytochemistry/Western blotting.

1.    Brunton, P. J. & Russell, J. A. 2010. Prenatal social stress in the rat programmes neuroendocrine and behavioural responses to stress in the adult offspring: Sex specific effects. J Neuroendocrinol, 22, 258-271. 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2010.01969.x

2.    Maccari, S., Krugers, H. J., Morley-Fletcher, S., Szyf, M. & Brunton, P. J. 2014. The consequences of early-life adversity: Neurobiological, behavioural and epigenetic adaptations. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 26, 707-23. 10.1111/jne.12175

3.    Sze, Y., Fernandes, J., Kołodziejczyk, Z. M. & Brunton, P. J. 2022. Maternal glucocorticoids do not directly mediate the effects of maternal social stress on the fetus. J Endocrinol, 255, 143-158. 10.1530/JOE-22-0226

4.    Bronson, S. L. & Bale, T. L. 2016. The placenta as a mediator of stress effects on neurodevelopmental reprogramming. Neuropsychopharmacology, 41, 207-18. 10.1038/npp.2015.231

Investigating neurocomputational mechanisms and modulatory factors of decision making in ecological settings (Primary Supervisor: Dr Gedi Luksys )

Project location.

CDBS, 1 George Square.

[email protected]

Robin Hill (Edinburgh Informatics) Email: [email protected]

In today's society, people often find it difficult to receive information outside their social circle or comfort zone. The questions of whether limited availability or active avoidance of such information determines its limited reach and which neurocognitive factors contribute to this outcome are of huge importance, but they have not been sufficiently studied, especially at the basic level. MyNewsScan.eu is a news aggregator platform that we developed to tackle this problem.

We also developed the Paintings/Quotes experiment to investigate the role of schemas (prior information) and modulatory factors (e.g. risk, novelty) in decision making as well as the associated computational models that use error-based learning, motivation, and drift-diffusion model components. The PhD will build upon preliminary findings from both experiments that also included collection of biometrics such as eye movements, heart rates and emotional expressions.

The core doctoral research will employ a newly upgraded version of the website as a community-driven platform for large-scale collection of data, with some Edinburgh-based participants recruited for biometric, EEG and/or fMRI studies. We will also employ computational modelling, neuroeconomics and/or natural language processing methods, depending on student’s expertise and interests.

The ultimate aim is to understand factors affecting decision making at different levels: e.g. how biometric and neuroimaging data relate to behavioural metrics and questionnaire-based data, whether participant decisions and attitudes may be predicted by such information (including factors like stress, motivation and sleep), and whether easily collected online digital markers could be predictive of neuropsychiatric conditions that require lengthy and costly clinical assessments.

Depending on the expertise and interests of the student, the project will include (but is not limited to) a number of the following methods: behavioural/cognitive experiments in humans, both online and in laboratory, collection and analysis of biometrics and/or neuroimaging data, management and further development of MyNewsScan platform and its user community, computational modelling of learning and decision making (e.g. reinforcement learning, drift diffusion, motivation models) and their parameter estimation, advanced statistics (e.g. mixed effects models), machine learning and natural language processing, questionnaire-based and clinical characterisation of neuropsychiatric disorders.

1. Vosoughi et al., “The spread of true and false news online”, Science 2018; Huckvale et al., “Toward clinical digital phenotyping: a timely opportunity to consider purpose, quality, and safety”, npj Digital Medicine 2019;

2. Strasser et al., “Glutamine-to-glutamate ratio in the nucleus accumbens predicts effort-based motivated performance in humans”, Neuropsychopharmacology 2020;

3. Shinn et al., “A flexible framework for simulating and fitting generalized drift-diffusion models”, eLife 2020;

4. Luksys et al., “Stress, genotype and norepinephrine in the prediction of mouse behavior using reinforcement learning”, Nature Neuroscience 2009

How does the human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans, exploit its metabolic flexibility to acquire antifungal resistance? (Primary Supervisor: Dr Vasso Makrantoni )

IRR, Bioquarter

[email protected]

Dr Mikael Bjorklund (ZJE, China) Email: [email protected]

Dr Richard Sloan (CIR-IRR, UoE/ZJE) Email: [email protected] ;  

Dr Arno Alpi (Institute for Cell Biology, UoE) Email: [email protected]

Fungal pathogens kill over a million people every year. The most common human fungal pathogen is Candida albicans, a WHO-priority target. With only three classes of antifungal drugs available and increasing drug-resistant infections in clinical settings, understanding the mechanisms of resistance is a priority. Candida’s survival in the complex and dynamic host environment depends on the ability to efficiently control its metabolism, which involves the production and breakdown of numerous different small biological chemicals collectively called "metabolites". Candida is known to assimilate glucose and alternative carbon sources simultaneously, thereby providing growth advantages [1]. However, how this remarkable metabolic flexibility is regulated during infection, remains largely unknown.

Cellular responses to metabolic stress stimuli are mediated through gene regulatory networks and post-translational modifications. One such network, the Ubiquitin-Proteasome-System (UPS), is known to be responsible for eliminating unwanted proteins that would otherwise damage Candida cells. Molecular machines, called E3 ubiquitin ligases, ensure that the UPS destroys only those proteins whose functions should be terminated, and spares the majority of those required for ongoing cellular functions. One of the first UPS-dependent mechanisms identified in metabolic regulation is mediated by the budding yeast GID E3 ligase complex, which targets superfluous metabolic enzymes for proteasomal degradation upon changes in carbon sources [2,3]. Evidence from the Makrantoni lab suggests that Candida employs the GID E3 complex during host infection to rewire metabolic pathways in order to enhance its virulence. This project aims to uncover the molecular mechanism by which GID E3 ligase regulates metabolic flexibility in Candida.

This interdisciplinary PhD project is supported by cross-institutional collaborations between the Institutes for Regeneration and Repair and of Cell Biology in Edinburgh, and the ZJE Institute in China, providing state-of-the-art technologies.

Approaches used include:  

(1) Sophisticated genetics (CRISPR-Cas9 editing) to generate Candida mutants to assess functional links between viability and metabolome changes upon stress (in collaboration with Bjorklund lab, ZJE);

(2) Mass spectrometry-based proteomics to identify GID E3 substrates, and biochemical approaches utilizing reconstituted GID-substrate ubiquitylation systems (in collaboration with Alpi lab, UoE);

(3) Use of human macrophages to reconstitute in vitro host-pathogen systems for assessing virulence (in collaboration with Sloan lab, UoE).

[1] Childers DS et al. (2016). The Rewiring of Ubiquitination Targets in a Pathogenic Yeast Promotes Metabolic Flexibility, Host Colonization and Virulence. PLOS Pathogens.  DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005566;

[2] Shuai Qiao et al. (2020). Interconversion between Anticipatory and Active GID E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Conformations via Metabolically Driven Substrate Receptor Assembly. Molecular Cell 77: 150–163;

[3] Langlois CR et al (2022). A GID E3 ligase assembly ubiquitinates an Rsp5 E3 adaptor and regulates plasma membrane transporters. EMBO Reports, 23: e53835

Systems-approach computational modelling and experimental investigation of food reward-based appetite regulation and energy homeostasis (Primary Supervisor: Dr Duncan MacGregor)

CDBS, Hugh Robson Building, George Square.

[email protected]

Weiwei Qiu (Zhejiang) Email: [email protected]

We will use computational modelling in tandem with in vivo approaches to explore how the brain integrates sensory, gut, and energy homeostasis signals to regulate feeding behaviour and maintain energy stores. Our computational model will take a systems approach, combining knowledge of brain-body mechanisms to better define mechanistic interactions within a whole-body system. The performance of this brain-body model will be tested in simulations of published behavioural experiments. The model will be kept simple, adding complexity only as necessary to match the data being tested against, but using a modular structure that will also allow the integration and testing of more detailed model components. Critically, this approach facilitates the interpretation of existing data and the generation of new, quantitative predictions for behavioural and physiological parameters such as body weight, blood glucose, and gut signalling that can be tested in the Qiu lab. 

We have already developed a basic version of the model to study how appetite is regulated by competition between sensory and physiological signals, with model output closely aligned with published behavioural data. Modelling of appetite regulation is a competitive field, but most models represent a limited, single paradigm for the relationship between eating behaviour and energy stores. Our modular approach will build on a skeleton of essential components (energy stores, digestion, metabolism, etc) that is ‘control paradigm neutral’ and therefore broadly adaptable to different experimental contexts. For example, investigations of the cognitive basis for decision-making are often based on foraging behaviour, for which our model would be an ideal partner. 

This will primarily be a computational modelling-based project but will also include in vivo experimental work, potentially in both Edinburgh and Zhejiang.

In particular, ongoing translational work exploring the endocrine and neural circuit signalling in the hypothalamus and brain stem that regulates eating behaviours and energy balance. The modelling will use our own software tools designed to make modelling rapid and accessible both for model development, and for dissemination and teaching.

1. Final Report Summary - NUDGE-IT (The Neurobiology of Decision-Making in Eating - Innovative Tools) https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/607310/reporting

2. Hume, Jachs, Menzies. Homeostatic responses to palatable food consumption in satiated rats. Obesity 2016 24(10):2126. doi: 10.1002/oby.21606

3. MacGregor, Leng. Modelling the hypothalamic control of growth hormone secretion. Journal of Neuroendocrinology 2005, 17 (12): 788-803. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2005.01370.x

4. MacGregor, Leng. Emergent decision-making behaviour and rhythm generation in a computational model of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus. PLoS Computational Biology 2019 15(6). doi: 10.1371/pcbi.1007092.

5. Qui, W., Hutch, C. R., Wang, Y., Rucker, R. A., Wloszek, J., Myers Jr, M. G., & Sandoval, D. (2022). Multiple NTS Neuron Populations Synergistically Suppress Physiologic Food Intake but are Dispensable for the Response to VSG. bioRxiv, 2022-12.

Undergraduate students' and teachers’ experiences of intercultural learning at a UK-China joint institute of biomedicine (Primary Supervisor: Dr John Menzies)

[email protected]

Dr Celine Caquineau (BMTO) Email: [email protected]

We anticipate this distinctive project will have wide-spread influence in the field of TNE research by providing key foundational evidence to better understand T&L practices at ZJE and across the many other UK-China TNE partnerships. Being exploratory in nature, we believe this project provides a unique, pioneering and potentially transformative opportunity for a PhD researcher to develop a strategic direction for research into intercultural learning. 

The supervisory team has extensive experience in T&L in both UK and China. Both supervisors have Advance HE accreditations and have supported numerous PhD researchers in the development of their teaching practices. The supervisory team has strong links with the Institute for Academic Development at the University of Edinburgh, which has international recognition in T&L research.

First, the student will carry out a systematic review of TNE research to identify knowledge gaps. Informed by the review and in alignment with ZJE’s research priorities, the student will then identify the focus of their investigation.

Their project will likely encompass mixed quantitative and qualitative methods to directly address specific research questions. The project will use different ways of generating and analysing data to provide an in-depth and inclusive understanding of the ZJE community, and thus to identify potential challenges and opportunities in enhancing student and staff experiences. 

1. www.ed.ac.uk/biomedical-sciences/connections-outreach/international-activities/zje-institute

2. www.britishcouncil.cn/en/programmes/education/higher/TNE

Understanding functional heterogeneity in corticotrophs – from transcription to output(Primary Supervisor: Dr Nicola Romano)

CDBS, Hugh Robson Building, George Square. 

[email protected]

Dr Duncan McGregor (UoE/ZJE) Email: [email protected] 

Dr Peter Duncan (UoE) Email: [email protected]

Recent technological advances enabled scientists to study biological processes at the single-cell level with unprecedented amount of detail. These techniques highlighted a previously unknown level of heterogeneity in several biological tissues, but whether and how this translates to altered function is still poorly understood. The idea that cell populations are much more heterogeneous than previously thought changes how we think about our body functions and questions the traditional definitions of what is a "cell type". This project will focus on the pituitary gland, a key organ in controlling critical hormonal responses in the body, and specifically on corticotrophs, which regulate stress responses. We and others have gathered evidence for a high level of heterogeneity in corticotrophs at the functional level (e.g. electrical activity, calcium responses) and at the level of the transcriptome. These results brought us to ask how such a heterogeneous group of cells works like a coherent population to drive stress responses and what would be the function of it. One hypothesis is that heterogeneity increases the dynamic range of the system, allowing it to respond to a variety of different types, lengths and magnitudes of stress. We have recently shown that corticotrophs exist in a variety of dynamic cell states, that might be contributing in different ways to stress responses. This project will investigate the link between transcriptional and functional heterogeneity using state-of-the-art techniques, ranging from mathematical modelling and bioinformatics approaches to "wet lab" techniques such as imaging and electrophysiology to map transcriptomic state to functional outcomes.

The laboratories of the Supervisory Team use a range of complementary approaches, from bioinformatics (e.g. scRNAseq), imaging (IHC, calcium imaging, in vivo), electrophysiology, optogenetics, and mathematical modelling which can be integrated at different stages of the project.

1. Romanò et al., 2017 - Heterogeneity of Calcium Responses to Secretagogues in Corticotrophs From Male Rats - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28323954/

2. Duncan et al., 2022 - Chronic stress facilitates bursting electrical activity in pituitary corticotrophs - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34855218/

3. Walker and Romanò, 2022 - Fast dynamics in the HPA axis: Insight from mathematical and experimental studies - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36632146/

4. MacGregor and Leng, 2013 - Spike triggered hormone secretion in vasopressin cells; a model investigation of mechanism and heterogeneous population function - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23966850/

5. Le Tissier et al., 2016 - An updated view of hypothalamic-vascular-pituitary unit function and plasticity - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27934864/

Encoding of secretory function by time (Primary Supervisor: Dr Nicola Romano)

[email protected]

Dr KuanYoow Chan (ZJE) Email: [email protected]

Paul Le Tissier (UoE/ZJE) Email: [email protected]

Most hormones are stored in vesicles, allowing release in large amounts in response to stimulation.  Differential release of vesicles dependent on the time stored thereby allowing release of different cargoes (both endocrine and potentially autocrine signalling molecules), has been shown in several non-pituitary endocrine cells.  

The aim of this project is to study the importance of this temporal encoding of secretory vesicles using the endocrine cells of the pituitary regulating stress and growth as model systems.     

As well as being storage organelles, dynamic modification can occur within vesicles (processing of cargo by intra-vesicle enzymes /recruitment of additional proteins) and on the organelle surface (directing cytosolic location).  We hypothesise that this allows encoding of vesicle function, allowing a readout of the history of secretion and/or differential effects by release of specific pools of vesicles.  Using TIMER, a fluorescent cargo protein that changes colour with age, individual secretory vesicles will be labelled to determine whether there is differential release of secretory vesicles dependent on their age or the pattern of secretagogue(s) stimulation. 

Secretory vesicles of different ages will be isolated from cells using FACs and mass spectroscopy to identify the proteins packaged within a vesicle and on its membrane, determining if vesicles change with time and/or the physiological state of the cells.  Manipulation of the cargo will then allow us to test the physiological regulation of vesicle release based on age, as well as the consequences for physiology.

These studies will be done in cell lines and in ex vivo pituitary slices.  

This project will allow extensive training in tissue culture, transfection, primary cell transduction, live cell confocal microscopy, FACs, proteomic analysis with mass spectroscopy, protein modification and physiological assays.  Initially, studies will be optimised in cell lines in vitro but once optimised ex vivo primary pituitary cells and tissue slices will allow analysis in a more physiologically relevant context.  

1.Duncan, R., Greaves, J., Wiegand, U. Matskevich, I.  Bodammer, G, Apps, D.K., Shipston, M.J., Chow, R.H.  (2003)  Functional and spatial segregation of secretory vesicle pools according to vesicle age. Nature 422, 176–180.   https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01389  

2. Yau, B., Hays, L., Liang, C., Laybutt, D.R., Thomas, H.E., Gunton, J.E., Williams, L., Hawthorne, W.J., Thorn, P., Rhodes, C.J., Kebede, M.A. (2020)  A fluorescent timer reporter enables sorting of insulin secretory granules by age.  Journal of Biological Chemistry 295, 8901-8911.   https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.RA120.012432

Population-specificity of disease susceptibility and drug response (Primary Supervisor: Dr Rob Young)

Hugh Robson Building, George Square. 

[email protected]

Dr Sara Macias Ribela, (Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, UoE) Email: [email protected]

Over 100,000 genetic variants have already been associated with various medical phenotypes by genome-wide association studies (GWAS). However, the majority of these studies have been performed in European populations. This bias limits the utility of these results and the ability to translate this knowledge into under-represented global populations. There is therefore an urgent need to understand population differentiation to inform the development of medical therapeutics for currently underserved populations. 

In this project, you will use bioinformatics to identify genome features that determine differential susceptibility to disease across European and Asian populations. You will then test their biological relevance in the laboratory. While most your time will be spent in Edinburgh, you will have the opportunity to spend time performing research at our international campus at Haining, China.

The project has three elements: 1) Initial characterisation of publicly available GWAS and drug-gene interaction datasets obtained from European and Asian populations to identify phenotypes and genomic features of population-specific variants.  2) Variants identified in the first stage will be engineered using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in cell models isolated from both the European and Asian populations. You will quantify the transcriptomic differences across genotypes and populations using the functional genomics technology Cap Analysis of Gene Expression (CAGE).  3) Differentially expressed targets will be investigated using standard bioinformatics analyses, e.g. Gene Ontology enrichment, and integrated omics data available from related populations, including UK Biobank and the China Kadoorie Biobank. Follow-up experiments will determine whether known drug-gene interactions for these targets are effective across populations. 

We will use a combination of various computational software (BEDTools, Bowtie, CAGEr) and statistical analyses (in the R programming language) to investigate the genomic and transcriptomic datasets involved in this project. Subsequently, the student will learn cellular and molecular techniques (PCR, western blotting, CRISPR-Cas9 editing, growth assays) required to manipulate the cellular models studied here.

1. Fitipaldi H, Franks PW. Ethnic, gender and other sociodemographic biases in genome-wide association studies for the most burdensome non-communicable diseases: 2005-2022. Human Molecular Genetics 32, 3: 520-532(2023). https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddac245  

2. Kindt ASD, Navarro P, Semple CAM, et al. The genomic signature of trait-associated variants. BMC Genomics 14, 108 (2013). http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/14/108  

3. Young RS, Talmane L, Marion de Procé S, et al. The contribution of evolutionarily volatile promoters to molecular phenotypes and human trait variation. Genome Biology 23(1), 89 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-022-02634-w  

4. Fernandez N, Cordiner RA, Young RS, et al. Genetic variation and RNA structure regulate microRNA biogenesis. Nature Communications 3(8), 15114 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15114  

What would you like to look for?

Adr uk phd studentships cohort.

Categories: PhD studentships , Research using linked data , ADR UK Partnership , Children & young people , Climate & sustainability , Crime & justice , Growing old , Health & wellbeing , Inequality & social inclusion , World of work

24 October 2023

ADR UK is supporting 22 PhD studentships hosted by supervisors at Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) across the UK. These PhD studentships will use ADR UK’s new flagship datasets to answer policy-relevant research questions. 

ADR UK-supported PhD studentships cover  ADR UK research themes . The ADR UK PhD studentship cohort will promote the wider use of administrative data for research, leading to better informed policy decisions and more effective public services. In addition, these studentships will also support ESRC DTPs in developing their capacity in priority areas highlighted by the ESRC’s review of the PhD in the social sciences , including data skills and advanced quantitative methods training.  

Scroll down for more information on each student, their associated project and theme(s), and related datasets. The list is organised alphabetically by the students’ last names. 

Josephina Aha (University of Sheffield) 

Transitions and earnings: the impact of early labour market experiences .

This project explores how early labour market experiences influence wage progression and in-work poverty among the UK's younger workforce. It will analyse how transitions between different employment types and job quality influence earnings and the risk of poverty during employment. The research aims to generate actionable insights for enhancing the employment trajectories of younger workers in the UK. 

Primary Supervisor: Professor Peter Wright  

Related theme(s):  

World of work 

This project will use the following flagship datasets: 

Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings linked to 2011 Census – England & Wales

Zackary Allinson (London School of Economics) 

Assessing inequality in the criminal justice system .

This project will assess inequality in the UK using criminal justice and education data. It will evaluate how, and if, early life course events (such as attainment end engagement in the education system) can be influenced by systematic discrimination. This work will quantify the role discrimination plays in the life course and explore where governmental interventions, such as being placed in care, may lead to improved outcomes. 

Primary Supervisor: Dr Sara Geneletti Inchauste   

Crime and justice 

Inequality and social inclusion 

Data First: Cross-Justice System – England & Wales  

Data First: Ministry of Justice & Department for Education linked dataset - England 

Cassandra Bossman-Dampare (King’s College London) 

Impact of interventions on youth employment .

In 2014, financial education became an obligatory part of the national curriculum in secondary schools in England. This project will estimate the impact of this intervention, particularly on youth employment and financial wellbeing. It intends to provide further evidence to support policy change for making financial education compulsory in primary school. 

Primary Supervisor: Professor Michael Sanders   

Children and young people 

• Grading and Admissions Data for England 

Longitudinal Education Outcomes - England 

Ella Christoforou (Swansea University) 

Associations between air pollution and mental health in adolescents  .

The World Health Organisation highlighted air pollution as the most serious threat to human health. Given that adolescence is a crucial period of mental development, air pollution exposure during this time could increase the risk of mental illness for young people. The project aims to investigate associations between air pollution and adolescent mental health, uncovering findings to inform public health policy and interventions. 

Primary Supervisor: Dr Amy Mizen  

Health and wellbeing 

Climate and sustainability 

Welsh Environment Dataset 

Vanessa Cieplinska (University College London) 

School absenteeism among special educational needs children and risk factors .

Among children with special educational needs (SEN), children with neurodevelopmental conditions are often most at risk of poor outcomes and typically face considerable difficulties with school attendance. There is currently no evidence regarding the impact of persistent absence on future academic achievement in this population. This project aims to address this gap, identifying factors that may place students with neurodevelopmental conditions at risk for persistent absence. It will also explore the outcomes of absence. Its findings will help inform current educational policy about school attendance.  

Primary Supervisor: Dr Vasiliki Totsika   

Growing Up in England  

Christy Coles (King’s College London) 

Offending trajectories of females .

There is little consensus on the nature of female offending patterns or trajectories across the lifespan. It is important to examine these, as some patterns of re-offending have more severe outcomes than others. Using linked data, this project will model female re-offending trajectories across the lifespan and identify the education and social care factors associated with them. Findings may contribute to early identification and intervention strategies to reduce female offending.  

Primary Supervisor: Dr Hannah Dickson  

Yu Cui (University of Reading) 

Attainment and protective factors against social disadvantage for english as an additional language children .

This project examines whether multilingualism acts as a protective factor against the effects of social disadvantage on educational attainment. Previous studies have shown that children who are eligible for free school meals (eFSM) perform less well than their peers, and that this varies with English as an additional language (EAL) status. The project will provide a better understanding of EAL and eFSM status interact to predict children’s academic performance, and how factors (such as education, career, and earnings) influence this.  

Primary Supervisor: Professor Holly Joseph  

Longitudinal Education Outcomes - England

Giada Garofani (University of Liverpool) 

Liverpool city region education pathways and economic outcomes  .

Price inflation and the cost-of-living crisis in the UK have had far-reaching implications for individuals already living in or at risk of poverty. This project will uncover the relationship between cost-of-living variations, educational attainments, and job opportunities, as well as whether they trigger further socio-economic inequalities. It also aims to identify the geographical patterns of this relationship and possible areas for intervention, using Liverpool City Region as a case study. Understanding these mechanisms can help policymakers formulate targeted interventions and reduce barriers to accessing education and employment. 

Primary Supervisor: Professor Elisabetta Pietrostefani  

Inequality and social inclusion

Longitudinal Education Outcomes - England  

Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings linked to 2011 Census – England & Wales  

Yifan Ge (University of Southampton) 

Women’s pension entitlement in the uk: understanding who may have been left under-provisioned by recent changes in state pension age.

Following the Pensions Acts of 1995 and 2011, women’s State Pension age increased from 60 to 65 in 2018. Many women were unaware of these changes and had little time to adjust their pension plans. This project aims to examine the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of subgroups most affected by recent reforms to the State Pension age. It hopes to inform compensation strategies for impacted women and form recommendations for future age increases. 

Primary Supervisor: Professor Athina Vlachantoni  

Growing old 

Tomiris Gilazh (University of Bristol) 

Analysing the relationship between student backgrounds and labour market outcomes .

Despite concerted efforts to promote equal access and outcomes in education, stark ethnic disparities persist throughout the English education system. This project will use linked education data to study how these inequalities evolve over the early life course, from ages 5 to 25.  Insights could inform policy initiatives targeted at relevant life stages to mitigate ethnic inequalities in education and employment. 

Primary Supervisor: Professor George Leckie  

Linxuan He (University College London) 

An examination of the links between education and engagement in criminal activity, especially for individuals with special educational needs and disabilities .

Individuals with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) often experience distinctive developmental and social challenges that can impact their life trajectories. This includes potential interactions with the criminal justice system. This project will investigate the impact of educational experiences on these interactions and identify risk factors for criminal engagement in SEND populations. It aims to guide educational and justice policies and interventions to enhance education and reduce the risk of crime, ultimately fostering safer, more inclusive communities. 

Primary Supervisor: Professor Emla Fitzsimons  

Sabreena Hussain (University of Birmingham) 

Are apprenticeships a genuine alternative to university education an investigation using administrative data.

This project aims to investigate whether apprenticeships can be regarded as a genuine alternative to university education in England. It will focus on the economic and labour market aspects of these two main post-16 career pathways. Findings may inform public policy around employment and higher and further education, as well as social mobility.  

Primary Supervisor: Dr Tarek Mostafa  

Louise Kay (University of Nottingham) 

Educational and employment outcomes of looked after and vulnerable children in boarding schools  .

This project aims to research the educational achievements and labour market outcomes for looked-after children and other children at risk of poor outcomes who have attended boarding schools in England. Education and labour market outcomes for these groups are currently poor, and their chances of becoming not employed in education or training are greater than for those who have never lived in or at the edge of care. This study hopes to inform policymaking to generate better outcomes for these groups.

Primary Supervisor: Professor David Murphy  

Bethany Lee-Shield (University of Edinburgh) 

Examining outcomes of care-experienced children  .

Care-experienced children have different experiences of being in local authority care. Understanding more about how outcomes vary for children with different care journeys is a priority for The Promise Scotland. This project will therefore examine how care-experienced children’s care journeys during primary years influence their outcomes as young people. The project will identify a cohort of care-experienced children in the Looked After Children Longitudinal Dataset - Scotland, and link this to data on educational attainment outcomes, health outcomes, and death records in adolescence.  It will provide a better understanding of the lives of care-experienced children, supporting care professionals to meet the aims of The Promise.   

Primary Supervisor: Professor Susan McVie  

Looked After Children Longitudinal Dataset - Scotland 

Wenyue Li (University of Cambridge) 

Drug trafficking in england and wales .

Understanding the structure of drug trafficking networks is crucial in setting effective anti-trafficking policies. This project aims to reconstruct these networks, understand the causes of area-level variations in presence, and learn why certain ties exist between actors in the network. It will provide empirical evidence to inform drug trafficking network disruption programs, local polices to deter presence, and initiatives to mitigate further expansions in the drug trafficking network.  

Primary Supervisor: Dr Paolo Campana  

Data First: Cross-Justice System – England & Wales 

Amelia Nutting (University of Leicester) 

Examining rural working-class occupations and social composition .

This project intends to study the contemporary rural working classes of England and Wales. It will quantitatively analyse rural working class employees and residents and explore their changing employment conditions and relations. By examining an underrepresented class group, the project hopes to encourage policymakers to further consider this group when examining rural issues.

Primary Supervisor: Professor Martin Phillips  

Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings linked to 2011 Census – England & Wales 

Richmond Opoku (Swansea University) 

Predicting outcomes of children in care  .

Looked-after children experience disproportionately poor outcomes, yet there is limited understanding about predictors of these outcomes in the UK. This study will provide evidence to empower practitioners and policymakers in making informed decisions to improve outcomes for children in care. 

Primary Supervisor: Professor Sinéad Brophy  

Looked After Children Wales  

Looked After Children Longitudinal Dataset – Scotland 

Data First: Family Court linked to Cafcass & Census 2021 – England & Wales  

Ramakrishnan Radhakrishnan (Northumbria University) 

Employment journeys of people working in the community care sector .

The UK's adult social care sector faces rapid growth demands due to ageing demographics and rising rates of disability. This project will investigate changing labour dynamics in the care sector. This includes job shifts as care workers transition to retail sectors, the factors which enable job switching, care workers' social and economic traits, and labour supply factors. Its findings may inform policies around care recruitment and retention. 

Primary Supervisor: Professor Peter McMeekin  

Related theme(s): 

Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings linked to 2011 Census – England & Wales   

Marta Stryjniak (University of Cambridge) 

Higher education access in the uk .

This project aims to understand how sociodemographic characteristics relate to university application behaviour and the mechanisms that underpin those relationships. Application behaviour refers to individuals’ choices of university subjects and institutions, and these choices’ order, number, and consistency. The explored mechanisms relate to the structure and nature of the English university application process. This research relates to policies and practices around university access. 

Primary Supervisor: Dr Sonia Ilie  

Grading and Admissions Data for England  

Ella Watson (Cardiff University) 

Health and criminal justice outcomes for care experienced young people .

This project aims to compare prison entry outcomes for young people who are at the highest level of risk in communities, based on the level of social services involvement they have received. It intends to determine whether, for those at the greatest risk of prison entry, social services involvement is beneficial. 

Primary Supervisor: Professor Donald Forrester  

Ziqing Ye (University of Exeter) 

Environmental predictors of educational outcomes for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Only 15.2% of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) achieved the English Baccalaureate aged 16. Few studies have examined associated environmental factors for their educational outcomes, and the impact of the 2015 SEND Code of Practice remains unclear. This project examines familial and environmental factors for educational and employment outcomes among SEND children. Findings will inform policymaking in education and employment to better support SEND children.

Primary Supervisor: Professor Helen Dodd  

Growing Up in England 

Lijie Zeng (University of Edinburgh) 

Examining associations between disability within the household and child attainment .

This project aims to investigate the educational attainment of children from households with disabled members. This project will provide evidence on how household disability, and individual and contextual factors, might affect children’s attainment. It will therefore inform policies and practices to improve outcomes for this population. 

Primary Supervisor: Dr Jasmin Wertz  

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A PhD student in Pennsylvania could be put to death if prosecutors prove she killed her friends' newborn child and injured the baby’s twin brother.

Allegheny District Attorney's Office said on Friday that it would pursue capital punishment charges against Nicole Virzi , who allegedly crushed the skull of six-week-old Leon Katz.

Virzi, 30, was babysitting Leon in June at his family's home when the incident occurred. She is a “longtime friend of the family,” the San Diego Union-Tribune reports , citing her attorney.

According to prosecutors, Ethan Katz and his wife Savannah Roberts asked Virzi to watch Leon on June 15 while they took his twin brother, Ari, to hospital after the child was injured. Virzi was later accused of causing those injuries as well.

While they were gone, Leon was injured, prompting Virzi to call 911 at around 11:15pm. She told emergency workers that the child had fallen and bumped his head and was unresponsive. Leon was taken to Pittsburgh Children's Hospital and was pronounced dead the following day, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette .

Detectives investigating the incident noted in their reports that from the tallest point of the bouncer seat to the floor is only 18 inches.

Doctors also told detectives that Leon's brother, Ari, had small scratches all over his face, two bruises just below his belly button, swelling, bruising, redness, and scratches on his genitals. They noted to investigators that the injuries were unnatural and suggested abuse.

When questioned, Virzi told police that she was the one who first noticed Ari's injuries and informed the boy's parents. She said she saw the child scratch his own face while he was flailing in a car seat.

Prosecutors noted a number of aggravating factors in the case that they believe justifies pursuing the death penalty. Among those factors is an allegation that Virzi tortured the child, which resulted in the boy's death, according to the Post-Gazette .

When police questioned Virzi about the child's death, she claimed that the boy had fallen out of his bouncer chair when she had stepped away.

Doctors who examined the child's remains were skeptical of that explanation, determining that the injuries were "consistent with having been sustained as a result of child abuse, as these are inflicted injuries that are not natural and not accidental," according to WTAE , which reviewed court and police records.

The child's cause of death was ruled as blunt force trauma to the head. A later CT scan showed that the child had suffered a severe skull fracture on the left side of his head, as well as multiple brain bleeds.

Virzi faces homicide, aggravated assault, and child endangerment charges.

She previously studied clinical psychology at UC San Diego's Joint Doctoral Program. She was temporarily living out of an Airbnb in Pittsburgh when the incident involving Leon occurred.

Virzi has maintainer her innocence and, according to her attorney David Shrager, was devastated by the child's death.

“If there was something that she would want to convey, it would just be the absolutely horrible pain that she’s feeling,” Shrager told the Post-Gazette . “These were her close friends.”

Despite the prosecutors' pursuit of the death penalty in this case, Governor Josh Shapiro has vowed to strike down any death warrants sought during his time in office.

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Phd-Study-In-Uk

• PhD Funding from Universities - Scholarships, Studentships & Bursaries

What PhD Funding Can You Get From a University?

Written by Mark Bennett

Many universities have funding of their own available for PhD students. Support ranges from full studentships to partial fee waivers and bursaries for research expenses.

It’s easy to overlook one of the most obvious sources of PhD funding: the university you’re going to be studying at. Most institutions have some form of support available for their postgraduate research students, and some of these awards can be very generous.

But searching through multiple university websites for PhD funding takes time and making sense of the funding you find can be difficult. This guide is designed to help with both problems.

We’ve explained what kind of PhD funding universities usually offer and how to go about finding it. Better yet, we’ve put together a directory of specific funding information for UK universities , alongside their fully-funded PhDs listed here on FindAPhD.com.

On this page

Understanding what's available.

So, what kinds of funding do universities offer? There’s a wide range available, from small grants to full studentships. But it’s important to be clear about what we mean by university funding , for the purposes of this guide:

• We aren’t covering specific, fully-funded PhD projects here. The reason for that is simple: we don’t need to. They’re already listed on FindAPhD.com .
• We also aren’t covering Research Council Studentships . These are distributed by universities, but funded by the UK Government, with specific criteria involved. So we’ve covered them in our separate guide to Research Council PhD funding .
• Finally, we’re focussing mainly on UK universities . That doesn’t mean that the general advice here isn’t appropriate to PhD study abroad , but information about specific resources will be based on the UK.

Essentially then, we’re covering scholarships, studentships, grants and bursaries, awarded by universities and not attached to a specific PhD project. But what do we mean by ‘scholarships, studentships, grants and bursaries’? Let’s quickly explain.

Types of award

What kinds of PhD funding do universities actually offer? Here are the terms you’ll most commonly encounter – and what they usually mean:

• A PhD studentship is normally a full-funding package, covering fees and living costs (plus other expenses). Studentships are sometimes attached to specific projects , but the term can refer to any funding sufficient to complete a PhD. Funding that doesn’t cover a full PhD would probably be referred to as a partial studentship .
• A PhD scholarship is likely to be full-funding that isn’t attached to a specific project . Some scholarships are also more specific , perhaps being limited to a payment for fees or living costs, but not both.
• A PhD fee waiver removes the need for a student to pay for their tuition, but doesn’t cover living costs. Essentially this is a way for universities to offer partial funding by not charging you to study your PhD with them.
• A PhD stipend is a regular payment for living costs . It functions a bit like an annual salary, but is usually paid tax-free. It’s rare for a separate funding package to be referred to in this way, but full scholarships and studentships include a stipend .
• A PhD bursary is money paid to a student during a degree. If this is paid for living costs as part of a full-funding package it may be referred to as a PhD stipend (see above). Otherwise the term ‘bursary’ is used for more general funding.
• A PhD grant is a specific payment, usually made on a one-off basis in order to assist a student in carrying out research. It might be a substantial amount intended to provide all (or almost all) of the funding you need; or it might be paid for a specific purpose, such as research travel or the purchase of equipment.

Knowing how these terms are often used can help you make sense of university funding awards a little bit more quickly. But don’t treat them as gospel. In practice, labels like ‘scholarship’ and ‘studentship’ are often interchangeable.

Fellowships

Academic fellowships are offered to help support academics researching or working at a university, usually on a temporary basis. They aren't normally a form of PhD funding (in fact, you'll probably need a PhD to apply for one).

Funding criteria

Universities support their students in different ways and for different reasons. Again, knowing something about the common purpose and eligibility criteria for university funding can save you a bit of time as you learn to spot which awards will (and won’t) be appropriate for you.

• Merit-based funding is awarded to the best students starting a PhD at a university. Selection is normally made according to the strength of your research proposal or your previous qualifications and academic track record.
• Need-based funding is intended to assist students who wouldn’t otherwise be able to study for a PhD . Criteria can be based on your income or economic background . Alternatively, awards made be made to increase widening participation in postgraduate study from under-represented social groups.
• International funding is offered to students from outside the UK and EU (who normally pay higher PhD fees). These awards often provide additional money for international study expenses , such as air travel, visa fees or health insurance. Support may be merit-based and open to all overseas students, or offered to citizens from specific countries as need-based funding.

In practice, most university funding for PhDs is merit-based. This means that your success in winning a scholarship, studentship or other support will usually depend on the strength of your application. But it’s worth checking whether you might be eligible for more specific (and potentially less competitive) funding.

Funding during a PhD

Universities may also offer funding for current doctoral students and it can actually be worth knowing about these opportunities before you start:

• Travel or conference funding can help cover some of the costs involved in carrying out your research or presenting it at academic events. This support may be provided at a certain rate per-student, per-year, or awarded on an application-by-application basis.
• Resource budgets may be provided to pay for any additional materials you need to purchase for your research, such as equipment or books.
• Writing-up funding is sometimes provided to students at the end of a PhD who have completed their research, but need time to finish preparing their thesis for submission. This may be available as an extension to an existing studentship or scholarship, or as a way of supporting students whose research over-runs due to factors beyond their control.
• Hardship funding may sometimes be offered to students who face unexpected financial difficulties during their PhD.

The availability of this funding shouldn’t make or break your PhD, but it could make it quite a bit cheaper.

Finding funding

Checking what PhD funding is available at one university might not take long, but checking several can be complicated and time-consuming.

So we’ve made things a bit simpler. The table below shows you where to look for PhD funding opportunities from individual UK universities.

We haven’t listed every single scholarship or studentship each university offers*. Instead we’ve shown you where to look for that university’s own funding resources, including details of its PhD scholarships

We’ve also provided a quick link to PhD projects and programmes for each university, here on FindAPhD.com. After all, it’s handy to know what you might be looking for funding for. Or whether a project already has funding.

*It would be very difficult to keep that up to date. Plus, this page would be huge.

Applying for awards

Universities will set specific eligibility criteria, application processes and deadlines for each of their funding opportunities, but the following tips are worth bearing in mind.

Check whether you actually need to apply

Some universities automatically consider students for certain funding awards. If so, you may simply need to indicate that you’d like to be considered for an award during your normal PhD application . Or you might not need to do anything (other than apply for the PhD itself).

Make sure the funding is definitely for a PhD

A university’s ‘postgraduate’ funding awards won’t always be available for research students; some may be restricted to Masters degrees and other taught courses.

Other awards might include all postgraduate programmes, but only provide funding for one or two years – helpful, but not enough to complete a PhD.

Be aware of deadlines

Even if a PhD project or programme doesn’t have a specific application date, studentships and scholarships for it probably will.

Universities will need a cut-off point in order to assess candidates, make a shortlist and award the funding in time for the successful candidate to start their PhD. Deadlines are often set in the autumn or spring, but this can vary.

Don’t make funding the focus of your entire PhD application

Universities know that students need help paying for a PhD and they want to support you (that’s why they make funding available in the first place). But they also need to know that you’ve chosen them for your doctorate for the right reasons and not just because they might be able to fund you.

Be sure to explain why you’re the right person to do this PhD, why this PhD is worth doing and why this university is the right place to do it – all things that should be part of your research proposal and / or personal statement .

Ready to apply for a PhD?

Head over to our PhD databse and search programmes by topic, location and funding available.

Our postgrad newsletter shares courses, funding news, stories and advice

You may also like....

We've answered some of the most frequently asked questions about PhDs, covering course types, applications, funding and the benefits of further study.

Not sure how to fund your PhD? This guide answers some of the most common questions about PhD funding in the UK.

The seven UK Research Councils provide government studentships for PhD research in different subject areas. Our simple guide explains how this funding works, what you can get and how to apply successfully.

You may be able to get a PhD loan of up to £27,892 for a UK doctorate. Our guide explains eligibility, applications and repayments.

Our guide explains the best ways to fund international PhD study in the UK, with information on all the main scholarships available to you.

A range of scholarships may be available to help you fund a PhD. Our guide explains the different types of award with tips for making a successful funding application.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Two killed after plane tire explodes at Atlanta airport

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A Delta Air Lines plane tire exploded, killing two people and seriously injuring a third at an airport in Atlanta .

The tire combusted as it was being removed in a maintenance area of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia shortly after 5am on Tuesday morning, multiple sources told WSB-TV .

A Delta employee and a contractor were killed, and a second Delta worker was hurt, sources told the TV station. The victims were not immediately identified.

‘The Delta family is heartbroken at the loss of two team members and the injury of another following an incident this morning at the Atlanta Technical Operations Maintenance facility (TOC 3),’ stated the airline.

‘We have extended our full support to family members and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time.’

Delta Air Lines thanked first responders for ‘the quick action’ and said they are working with local authorities on an investigation into what led to the explosion.

The aircraft’s tail number indicated that it touched down in Atlanta from Las Vegas on Sunday night, according to WSB-TV. The manufacturer and model of the plane was not immediately known.

Airport operations were not impacted by the incident.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens stated: ‘I offer my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased Delta employees.

‘My thoughts are also with those who were injured, and I hope for their swift and full recovery.’

Dickens added that several agencies including the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department and the police department were at the scene.

The Delta plane tire exploded a month-and-a-half after American Airlines Flight 590 had its wheel catch on fire as it accelerated for takeoff at Tampa International Airport. CCTV from the Florida airport showed the wheel of the Boeing 737 smoking and exploding on the tarmac, and abort its takeoff. None of the 174 passengers or six crew members on board were hurt.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

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Social Work PhD student Receives Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW) Fellowship

• Published August 27, 2024
• College News , Student Spotlight

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Mohammad Sajjad Hossain, a third-year Ph.D. student in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky, has been recognized as a pre-dissertation fellow of the Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW).

The AGESW pre-dissertation fellowship program provides students with a range of professional development opportunities, including working with nationally recognized faculty experts in Gerontological Social Work.

Students receive ten hours of training at the 2024 GSA Annual Scientific Meeting, three professional development webinars, and ongoing connection, networking and mentoring opportunities through AGESW.

Hossain credits his upbringing in Bangladesh to his interest in Gerontological Social Work.

“In Bangladesh, we have a joint family system. So, I saw how older people in the family could experience abuse, exploitation and neglect. From an early stage of my life, I wanted to do more to help them,” Hossain said.

Being a part of this fellowship and pursuing his PhD at the CoSW means a lot to Hossain, especially being from a country close to 8,000 miles away from the United States. Through his time at the CoSW, he has gained hands-on experience addressing real world social issues through appropriate courses and modules.

During his time as a fellow, Hossain hopes to benefit from the mentorship and guidance from experienced faculty members and researchers in the field of Gerontological Social Work.

“This support will help refine my research ideas and methodology and prepare me for my doctoral research. I will be able to engage with peers, mentors and professionals in aging and social work through workshops, conferences and seminars,” Hossain said. “Building these networks can lead to collaboration, future research partnerships and connections within the academic and professional community.”

Through this fellowship, Hossain will be able to prepare himself for his doctoral studies and a professional role in academia, research institute, policy making organization, or a clinical practice setting focused on aging and social work issues.

“I’m optimistic that this fellowship will inspire innovative ideas for my research and keep me updated with emerging trends, theoretical perspectives and evidence-based practices,” Hossain said.

For over 85 years, the College of Social Work (CoSW) at the University of Kentucky has been a leader in education. Our mission is clear: Through rigorous research, excellence in instruction, and steadfast service, the CoSW works to improve the human condition. Always, in all ways.

As the state’s flagship university, our mission is actualized through our deeds. Our faculty are renowned academicians dedicated to fostering the development of high-quality practitioners and researchers. As a college, we promote community and individual well-being through translational research and scholarship, exemplary teaching, and vital community engagement. We are committed to the people and social institutions throughout Kentucky, the nation, and the world.

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