PhD Studentship: Dual Award Family Carers

This is an exciting opportunity for a dual PhD award investigating family care for people living with dementia - a collaboration between the University of Hertfordshire (UK) and Western Sydney University (AU). This interdisciplinary PhD project is open to a range of topics including, e.g, family experiences of diagnosis and support; co-designing community-specific dementia care initiatives; improving support and care for family carers. It may also focus on a specific community, e.g, people with dementia living alone; people within LGBT+ communities or from different minority ethnicities.

The successful candidate will spend the first and third year at University of Hertfordshire and the second year of their PhD research in Sydney, Australia. The cost of a return flight to Australia is funded, the successful applicant will cover their living and accommodation costs while in Australia.

Overview

Qualification type: PhD

Subject area: Appropriate for students from health, psychology, social sciences, and policy backgrounds.

Location/Campus: College Lane Campus, University of Hertfordshire, UK in Years 1 and 3; Western Sydney University, Australia in Year 2.

Closing application date: November 29^th 2024

Project outline

This comprehensive project will contribute significantly to advancing dementia care practices and promote wellbeing for people with dementia and their family care partners, fostering inclusivity, and promoting supportive family dynamics within culturally diverse contexts. Possible project topics include:

• Investigate experiences of individuals receiving a dementia diagnosis and support they receive in the UK and Australia, comparing models and approaches and their outcomes for carers.
• Collaborate with cultural communities to understand the unique challenges faced by individuals with dementia and their families.
• Co-design community-specific dementia care initiatives with minority ethnic communities in Western Sydney and East of England.
• Evaluate effectiveness of dementia-friendly community initiatives in the UK and Australia, identifying best practices and areas for improvement.
• Examine the transformation from a burden-focused framework to supportive and empowering family care for individuals with dementia.
• Investigate strategies facilitating ageing in place for people with dementia, considering physical, emotional, and social aspects of home care.
• Address specific challenges faced by LGBT individuals with dementia, proposing inclusive policies and interventions.

Entry requirements

• Be a permanent resident in the UK.
• Have a 2.1 or higher Honours degree in a relevant discipline and a good knowledge of and/or able to demonstrate an interest in the topic area.
• A relevant Master’s degree and research experience will be an advantage. 

How to apply

Applicants must submit: 

• A completed application form.
• A research proposal which should be between 4 – 8 pages long.
• Two academic references.
• Copies of qualification certificates and transcripts.
• Certification of English language competence (minimum IELTS 6.5 or equivalent) for candidates for whom English is not their first language OR evidence that you have graduated with a degree from an English-speaking University. 

Please send your application to: doctoralcollegeadmissions@herts.ac.uk Please use CRIPACC Dual Award studentship in the subject line of the email. For enquiries, please email Professor Kathryn Almack k.almack@herts.ac.uk or Dr Rosemary Godbold, Postgraduate Research Tutor, School of Health and Social Work: r.godbold@herts.ac.uk   

Interviews will take place on Monday 16^th December.

Funding information

This is a three-year full time funded project. Funding covers a stipend (the 2024-25 stipend is £19,632 per year). Additionally, one return flight to Australia in year 2 will be funded, plus tuition fees. The starting date is negotiable, but ideally no later than October 2025.

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