PhD Studentship: Understanding the landscape, sustainability and impact of Meals on Wheels services in the UK

Funding for: UK students, eligible for Home tuition fees

The project

We invite applications for a PhD studentship to explore the evolving provision of Meals on Wheels services in the UK. This project combines secondary data analysis, survey research and qualitative methods to assess how Meals on Wheels services are changing, what factors influence their availability and affordability, and how they can be sustained for the future. This project is funded by the NIHR School for Social Care Research.

The expected start date of this studentship is: 15 September 2025

The closing date for applications is: 15 May 2025

As part of the PhD project, the successful applicant will:

• Update and analyse existing provider data to document the current national Meals on Wheels service provision.
• Contribute to a national survey on Meals on Wheels, conduct data analysis and compare trends over time, including understanding key enablers and barriers to provision.
• Investigate specific aspects regarding the sustainability of Meals on Wheels services by either:
  • Conducting interviews with national stakeholders to explore perceptions about the role of Meals on Wheels in adult social care, or;
  • Examining cost structures of Meals on Wheels services to explore affordability and financial viability.

Applicants are encouraged to bring their own ideas within this broad framework. The project will suit candidates with an interest in social care, public health nutrition, ageing, and/or food policy. Some experience in quantitative or mixed-methods research is desirable.

For informal enquiries please contact:

Dr Angeliki Papadaki, Associate Professor in Public Health Nutrition, angeliki.papadaki@bristol.ac.uk

How to apply:

Please consult our research proposal guidance then submit an online application for this project at http://www.bris.ac.uk/pg-howtoapply. Please select either PhD Exercise, Nutrition and Health or PhD Social Work on the programme choice page. Please enter the advertised project title and the named supervisor in the Research Details section of the application form. You should ensure that you upload all required supporting documentation as attachments to your application. The required supporting documents are listed on the Admissions Statement linked under the Entry Requirements on the relevant prospectus page. If you are currently undertaking a Master’s degree, please also attach an official interim transcript issued by your University. For application submission queries, please contact: sps-pgadmissions@bristol.ac.uk

Candidate requirements:  Applicants should hold a first class/good upper second-class BSc/BA and hold (or expect to hold) MSc/MA with distinction/merit (or equivalent qualifications) in the social sciences. Current PhD students are not eligible to apply.

Funding: Tax-free annual stipend at the current UKRI rate, which is £20,780 for the 2025/26 academic year and paid in monthly instalments; full-time Home tuition fees for 3 years. An additional £8000 is available specifically to cover research costs over the duration of the award.

Contacts:  

Dr Angeliki Papadaki, Associate Professor in Public Health Nutrition, angeliki.papadaki@bristol.ac.uk;

Zaheda Tariq, Executive Administration Manager, zaheda.anwar@bristol.ac.uk

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