PhD Studentship: Venture To Be Resilient? The Interplay of Entrepreneurship, Migration Stress and Mental Health Among African Immigrant Entrepreneurs in the UK

ESRC DTP Collaborative Studentship

De Montfort University and The Envoy Nation

The Midlands Graduate School is an accredited Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP). One of 15 such partnerships in the UK, the Midlands Graduate School is a collaboration between the Universities of Warwick, Birmingham, Nottingham, Aston Leicester, Loughborough, De Montfort and Nottingham Trent.

De Montfort University (DMU) as part of Midlands Graduate School is now inviting applications for an ESRC Doctoral Studentship in association with our collaborative partner The Envoy Nation to commence in October 2025.

The PhD student will work on an interdisciplinary project that explores how African migrants who have started businesses in the UK feel about the process of entrepreneurship and how this informs their experience of migration stress, resilience and wellbeing. The UK has a long history as a destination country for international migrants, with over 1 million arriving in 2023 according to the Oxford Migration Observatory. Presently, an estimated 1.42 million UK residents were born in Africa, with Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Ghana accounting for most of these. While much research and policy attention has recently focused on immigrants to the UK for study or work, the experiences of entrepreneurs of African heritage contributing to the UK’s business and economic life remain under-researched. The research will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining longitudinal surveys and in-depth interviews of African immigrants, to examine the nuanced and complex relationship between immigrant entrepreneurship and wellbeing.

We are looking for an ambitious and highly motivated individual with a strong academic background and a keen interest in interdisciplinary research. We encourage applications from candidates with lived experience relevant to the project or those from underrepresented backgrounds. The ideal candidate will:

• Have a basic knowledge of the relevant literature.
• Be familiar with mixed-methods research, including both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
• Have strong analytical skills and the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team.
• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Show a commitment to ethical research practices and sensitivity to working with vulnerable or marginalised populations.

This interdisciplinary project will be co-supervised across the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences (HLS) and Faculty of Business and Law (BAL) at DMU, but the student will be based in HLS.

Application Process

To be considered for this PhD, please complete the Collaborative Studentship application form online via the above ‘Apply’ button.

Please upload an anonymised CV and cover letter as part of the online application process. Shortlisted applicants will also be required to provide transcripts and two references.

Application deadline: February 23^rd, 2025

Midlands Graduate School ESRC DTP

Our ESRC studentships cover fees at the home rate, a maintenance stipend, and extensive support for research training, as well as research activity support grants. Support is available to both home and international applicants. For further details, visit: www.mgsdtp.ac.uk/studentships/eligibility/.

Informal enquiries about the research or the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences (HLS) and Faculty of Business and Law (BAL) prior to application can be directed to Professor Brian Brown (brown@dmu.c.uk) or Dr Abiodun Egbetokun (abiodun.egbetokun@dmu.ac.uk).

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