Funded Supervisor-led Collaborative Studentships Starting in October 2025

Are you looking for a funded supervisor-led collaborative studentship which will provide around £20,000 per year to undertake postgraduate study? Then read on!

SENSS, the South and East Network for Social Sciences invites you to apply for the following funded supervisor-led collaborative studentships starting in October 2025.

Research Project 1: Learning from children and young people with complex needs about their experiences of trauma informed care: What works and why?
Supervisor: Dr Sue Bond-Taylor
SENSS Theme: Health, Wellbeing, and Social Care
SENSS University: University of Lincoln

Research Project 2: Understanding the links between intrahousehold dynamics and individual and household debt
Supervisor: Dr Silvia Avram
SENSS Theme: Justice, Institutions and Social Change
SENSS University: University of Essex

Research Project 3: An exploration of cultural narratives about a location of concern and their impact on suicidal ideation and behaviour
Supervisor: Dr Hilary Norman
SENSS Theme: Health, Wellbeing, and Social Care
SENSS University: Goldsmiths, University of London 

Research Project 4: Improving identification and access to support for low mood in boys
Supervisor: Dr Faith Orchard
SENSS Theme: Health, Wellbeing and Social Care
SENSS University: University of East Anglia 

Research Project 5: Body Happy Schools Programme - Whole School Culture Change; a Multiple Single-Case Study
Supervisor: Dr Kamila Irvine
SENSS Theme: Health, Well-being, and Social Care
SENSS University: University of Lincoln

Research Project 6: Breaking the cycle: understanding how mothers moderate the impact of Intimate partner violence (IPV) on children’s cognitive development in the Dominican Republic
Supervisor: Dr Maria Isabel Santana
SENSS Theme: Health, Wellbeing and Social Care
SENSS University: University of East Anglia

Research Project 7: Understanding Factors Contributing to Emotional Overeating in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Children
Supervisor: Dr Maria Laura Filippetti
SENSS Health, Wellbeing and Social Care
SENSS University: University of Essex

Research Project 8: Sharing Knowledge for Building Climate Resilience among Farmers in sub-Saharan Africa
Supervisor: Professor Maren Duvendack
SENSS Theme: Sustainability and Climate Emergency
SENSS University: University of East Anglia

Research Project 9: Gaming the morning routine: Assessing the use of gamified digital technology (Jam Up!) for helping Autistic children with their morning routine.
Supervisor: Dr Gethin Hughes
SENSS Theme: Health, Wellbeing, and Social Care
SENSS University: University of Essex

Why SENSS?

Funded by the Economics and Social Research Council, SENSS offers six interdisciplinary themes (Themes) across 8 universities with exceptional reputations for postgraduate training and research.

What is a collaborative studentship?

• Join an expert team of leading social scientists and an external partner who have already developed and defined a research project.
• Play a leading role on this team as the postgraduate researcher.

Why apply?

• Get paid to study! This funding should cover your living costs as well as tuition fees.
• Obtain a PhD whilst working on an innovative disciplinary topic.
• Be supported by an expert supervisory team.
• Join a friendly community of postgraduate researchers.
• Have access to fantastic training and funding opportunities.
• Develop important employability skills.

What options are available?

• Full or part time study.
• The structure of the studentship offered will depend on your personal training needs. However, the minimum duration of a SENSS-funded studentship will be 3.5 years: this covers a PhD and a mandatory placement of approximately 3 months. The maximum duration of a studentship will be 4.5 years: this covers a Masters degree followed by a PhD, as well as the mandatory 3-month placement.
• Fully funded studentships (tax-free living costs at approximately £19.5k per year, plus London weighting where relevant, tuition fees fully paid for the duration of your funding award, and access to additional funding for overseas fieldwork, language training, and/or other research training) for successful applicants.

Are you eligible?

• Residential criteria: Fully funded studentships are available regardless of nationality or residency. Please check our website for full details.
• To apply for a Masters plus PhD (+4.5) you will need qualifications or professional experience equivalent to a Bachelors degree (Honours).
• To apply for a PhD only (+3.5) you will need qualifications or professional experience equivalent to a Masters, or a Masters degree and already have the research skills needed to successfully complete your research project.

Interested? Here’s how to apply.

1. Check your eligibility.
2. Review the nine research proposals and choose the project which fits you best.
3. Contact the named primary supervisor for an informal discussion.
4. Think about key aspects of your application, guided by the primary supervisor.
5. If applicable, apply for a PhD place at the university offering the project you are interested in, checking with them to find out what their internal PhD application deadline is.
6. Complete SENSS’s on-line studentship application by 12.00noon (GMT) on Monday 24 February 2025. The application portal will be accessible via the SENSS website in December 2024.

For more information, please go to the SENSS website