Nigel Groome Studentship: The Psychology of the ‘Spiritual But Not Religious’

3 Years, full-time funded PhD Studentship

Eligibility: Home UK/EU applicants who must be permanently resident in the UK

Bursary p.a.: Bursary equivalent to UKRI national minimum stipend plus fees (current 2024/25 bursary rate is £19,237)

Fees and Bench fees: will be met by the University for the 3 years of the funded Studentship.

Closing date: Friday 17 January 2025 - Midday

Start Date: September / October 2025

Director of Studies: Dr Adam Baimel
Other supervisors: Dr Valerie van Mulukom

Requirements:

Applicants should have a first or upper second-class honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or acceptable equivalent qualification. EU Applicants must have a valid IELTS Academic test certificate (or equivalent) with an overall minimum score of 6.5 to 7.0 and no score below 6.0 issued in the last 2 years by an approved test centre.

The studentship requires you to undertake the equivalent of up to 6 hrs teaching per week on average, during semester time, and to include preparation and marking (but no more than 20 hrs per week), and to participate in a teaching skills course without further remuneration. 

Project Description:

In recent years, a growing number of individuals have identified as “spiritual but not religious”. This demographic is characterized, at least in part, by a rejection of traditional religious frameworks while embracing more individualized spirituality. The potential diversity of SBNR worldviews within and across cultural contexts, however, are largely understudied in the psychological sciences. Moreover, little is known about the correlates, causes and consequences of being spiritual-but-not-religious. The proposed PhD project might focus on (a) mapping the boundaries and diversity of spiritual but not religious worldviews in diverse cultural contexts; and/or (b) developing reliable and widely applicable methods of identifying SBNR individuals; and/or (c) considering the processes by which spiritual-but-not-religious worldviews are culturally transmitted. In so doing, the proposed PhD project would contribute to a better understanding of SBNR beliefs, values, and practices. 

This PhD project will take place alongside externally funded research sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation’s Spiritual Yearning Research Initiative (https://www.templeton.org/internal-competiton-fund/the-spiritual-yearning-research-initiative-the-search-for-meaning-among-the-nonreligious) titled: The Objects of Spiritual Yearning in the SBNR. The PhD project, based at Oxford Brookes University, will have the opportunity to work alongside interdisciplinary external collaborators: Dr. Myron Penner, Philosophy, Trinity Western University; and Dr. Emily Burdett, Developmental Psychology, University of Nottingham.

For further information contact Dr Adam Baimel (abaimel@brookes.ac.uk)  

Complete applications should include a proposed project proposal (max 1000 words) including background, aims and an outline methodology, applicants can liaise with Dr Adam Baimel when developing their proposal.

Entry requirements:

This project is advertised on a competitive basis alongside other current Nigel Groome PhD studentship advertisements for Department of Psychology, Health and Professional Development projects. Part time MPhil/PhD study will be exceptionally considered.

Application process: Please contact hls-applications@brookes.ac.uk for details of how to apply.

Contact hls-applications@brookes.ac.uk with any queries.

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