Studentships
Studentships are a funded opportunity which link to a specific research project.
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Funding is is only available to PhD students working on that specific funded project or one that is open to any applicants in a specified field.
Most funding is for PhD places. Schemes vary and may provide either full cover or partial funding for tuition fees, and some may also include a maintenance grant. A list of schemes currently open will get advertised below throughout the year and via the national press or on job websites. Appointments are then made following shortlisting and interviews.
Please check individual awards for eligibility. Current research students are not eligible to apply for our research studentships.
Available studentships
Studentships are updated regularly so if you have missed a deadline, or there are no relevant opportunities at the moment, please check again soon.
Project Title: Potential comorbidity and diagnostic overlap between Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Considering trauma and damaging behaviours
PhD (via MPhil) Studentship in the School of Psychology and Humanities
Reference Number: RS/24/04 NWSSDTP CASE Studentship Psychology
Applications are invited for a PhD (via MPhil) studentship funded via an ESRC award to the University of Central Lancashire School of Psychology and Humanities from the North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) and is tenable for up to 3.5 years full time [subject to satisfactory progress]. The studentship will provide tuition fees (at the UK rate) and an annual stipend of £19,237 at the 2024/25 UKRI rate. Both UK and EU/International applicants may apply but EU/International applicants will be required to pay the difference between the UK and EU/International tuition fee rates.
It is expected the successful applicant will commence October 2024.
Project Description:
The project captures the cross-over between Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Recent research highlights shared diagnostic components, shared behaviours and experiences, including the experience of trauma and the expression of damaging behaviours (e.g., self-injury, aggression). Recognising the overlap between these conditions is crucial. Surprisingly, despite these connections these diagnoses are not typically considered together in treatment pathways. Failing to acknowledge similarities ultimately limits treatment provision because clients can be placed into treatment pathways unique to each diagnosis without sufficient justification.
In spite of this, no research has examined the extent to which diagnostic features collectively manifest across samples. To address this, the research will draw upon general population and clinical samples (patients, clinicians), including elements ranging from systematic review, expert consensus, quantitative analysis of a large general population dataset and more focused study in a psychiatric sample.
The successful candidate will be based at Ashworth Hospital (a high-secure NHS forensic mental health inpatient unit near Liverpool) as well as being part of a stimulating university environment at UCLan. The setting will provide unsurpassed clinical and academic support and expertise, a robust research environment and thriving research student community, which together will cultivate research talent and maximise opportunities for professional development.
In partnership with Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, the student will operate under the standard NHS honorary contract affording access to Ashworth Hospital and also benefit from a broad range of professional training in forensic mental health (e.g., risk assessment, clinical interviewing) that may be relevant to the project or their future professional aspirations.
Candidates should have a UK BSc Honours degree at 2:1 level or above in Psychology and have completed/near completed a Masters level qualification in a relevant area (e.g., forensic psychology, mental health and/or research). EU and International applicants require an English Language level of UKVI IELTS 6.5 with no sub-score less than 6.0.
Further information
Informal project-related enquiries to Professor Jane L Ireland
View the description and specification form.
Applications should be completed on our online application system, selecting the following options:
- Type of Study - Research Degree (Postgraduate)
- Course - Master of Philosophy/Doctor of Philosophy
- Campus - Preston Campus
- Mode of Study - Full Time
Please quote the Studentship reference number RS/24/04 on the application form.
Closing Date: 3 July 2024
Proposed Interview Date: 17 July 2024
Expected Start Date: October 2024
Current UCLan research students will not be eligible to apply for this research studentship
Project Title: EmbeddiNg TechnologiEs Into REhabilitation (ENTIRE)
PhD (via MPhil) Studentship in School of Nursing and Midwifery
Reference Number: RS/24/05
Applications are invites for a PhD (via MPhil) studentship in the Stroke Research Team within the School of Nursing and Midwifery. The studentship is tenable for up to 3.5 years full time (subject to satisfactory progress). The studentship will cover tuition fees (at the UK rate) and provide an annual stipend of £19,237 per annum (subject to satisfactory progress). EU and international applicants may apply but will have to pay the difference in tuition fees between the UK and EU/International fee rates.
It is expected the successful applicant will commence on 20 January 2025.
Project Description:
EmbeddiNg TechnologiEs Into REhabilitation (ENTIRE)
The successful candidate will work as a member of the DARE team within the Stroke Research Team and contribute to a body of work evaluating digital technologies in stroke rehabilitation.
Whilst the evidence for, and number of, rehabilitation technologies has increased exponentially in the last 20 years, there are many factors that influence their adoption into rehabilitation practice.
Working closely with academics, clinicians and people living with stroke, both in community and hospital settings, the PhD student will utilise a range of research methods to explore and evaluate the role that these technologies play in rehabilitation and evaluate their use. This learning and associated outputs will enable clinicians and the people they care for to understand and select appropriate digital tools to improve rehabilitation outcomes.
Further information
Informal project related enquiries about the post can be made to Dr Rachel C Stockley
View the description and specification form.
Applications should be completed on our online application system, selecting the following options:
- Type of Study - Research Degree (Postgraduate)
- Course - Master of Philosophy/Doctor of Philosophy
- Campus - Preston Campus
- Mode of Study - Full Time
Please quote the Studentship reference number RS/24/05 on the application form.
Closing Date: 11 August 2024
Proposed Interview Date: TBC
Expected Start Date: 20 January 2025
Current UCLan research students will not be eligible to apply for this research studentship
ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP)
The North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership is one of fourteen DTPs in the UK, created by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
The NWSSDTP comprises the Universities of Liverpool, Keele, Lancaster, Manchester, and Central Lancashire, and provides Master’s and PhD students with access to funding and quality research training in social science disciplines.
You will have access to research expertise across the partners. You can take advantage of a variety of study in social sciences, as well as in subjects where scientists are collaborating with colleagues from other disciplines such as medicine and the arts. The NWSSDTP welcome applications for full-time and part-time study across all the constituent pathways and institutions.
Funding is available at the University of Central Lancashire for the following subject pathways:
- Criminology, Social Policy and Social Work
- Psychology
- Socio-legal Studies
- Sociology
More information, including upcoming deadlines and the application paperwork, can be found on the ‘How to Apply’ webpage.
If you have any queries, please email the NWSSDTP.
UCLan funded Doctoral Training Centre for industry collaboration
We established our Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) for industry collaboration in 2022. The DTC supports fully-funded studentships across a broad range of subject domains.
Discover more about the Doctoral Training Centre