PhD Studentship: Exploring the Value of Community-Led Research & Innovation in the Isles of Scilly

The University of Exeter’s Department of Management is inviting applications for a PhD studentship funded by the Isles of Scilly Community Venture CIC to commence on 22 September 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.  For eligible students the studentship will cover Home tuition fees plus an annual tax-free stipend of at least £20780 for 3½ years full-time.  The student would be based in Sustainable Futures, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy at the Penryn Campus in Cornwall.

This project will use a mixed methods approach to assess the short- and long-term activities, outputs, outcomes and impact of the Isles of Scilly Community Research Network (CRN) , designed to support research that is locally led, co-designed, innovative and community-driven.

This fully-funded PhD studentship offers a unique opportunity to conduct a longitudinal, in-depth study of the CRN, a community-based gateway for residents and organisations to bring forward ideas for research that are pertinent to their communities, and more widely exploring the CRN approach to create new knowledge at individual, organisational, and system levels. The project will also explore the value of transdisciplinary research approaches and knowledge creation, where academic, civic, and policy actors collaborate to co-produce knowledge and solutions.

Key Research Objectives

Evaluate the impacts, strengths, and challenges of the CRN’s community-led model.

Investigate how knowledge is co-created and used across different scales (individual, organisational, systems).

Compare the Isles of Scilly CRN with eight other CRNs across the UK, each employing different models of community research.

Produce accessible research outputs for a range of audiences, including the CRN community, The Young Foundation, and UKRI.

The studentship will be awarded on the basis of merit. Students who pay international tuition fees are eligible to apply, but should note that the award will only provide payment for part of the international tuition fee. 

International applicants need to be aware that they will have to cover the cost of their student visa, healthcare surcharge and other costs of moving to the UK to do a PhD.

The conditions for eligibility of home fees status are complex and you will need to seek advice if you have moved to or from the UK (or Republic of Ireland) within the past 3 years or have applied for settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. 

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