PhD Studentship in Public Health: Who is Shaping Healthy and Sustainable Policies in UK Cities?

Award Summary

100% of UK home tuition fees paid and an annual stipend of £21,805. Additional funding is available for research costs, training and conference attendance. Please note this studentship is only available to those eligible for UK home tuition fee rates.  

Overview

Interested in how to shape healthy, equitable and sustainable cities? This PhD will explore who influences healthy and sustainable food or physical activity policies in local government, and how these actors exert influence. 

Many UK local governments face challenges in developing healthy and sustainable food or active travel policies, often facing opposition from internal and external stakeholders. Focusing on either sustainable food or active travel policies, in this PhD you will assess who the influential stakeholders are through stakeholder mapping and network analysis. Through a systematic review, document analysis and the analysis of case studies you will explore what strategies and narrative frames these stakeholders have used to exert influence, how local governments have responded and who is most impacted.  

You will develop expertise in encouraging shifts towards healthy and sustainable urban systems. You will join Dr Prachi Bhatnagar’s research team in the Population Health Sciences research institute, benefitting from the incredibly strong public health, sustainability and urban development networks that are based in Newcastle University.  

Number Of Awards

1

Start Date

September 2026  

Award Duration

The funding covers a three-year PhD.  

Application Closing Date

30th March 2026 

Sponsor

Newcastle University Academic Track (NUAcT) scheme 

Supervisors

Dr Prachi Bhatnagar, Newcastle University  

Dr Mackenzie Fong, Newcastle University 

Dr Frances Hillier-Brown, Newcastle University 

Dr Jessica Renzella, University of Oxford 

Eligibility Criteria

• 2:1 minimum in a relevant subject area 
• Training in social research methods, through a masters or experience 
• Interest in or experience of qualitative research 
• Interest in shifting urban food or physical activity systems to equitably support healthy and sustainable behaviours 
• Interest or experience in working with local authorities 

How To Apply

You must register and apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal 

Once registered select ‘Create Application’ then ‘Postgraduate’ 

Fill in your personal information and click on ‘Save & Next’ 

Use ‘Search Course’ to identify your programme of study: 

• Select 2026 as the Year of Entry for a Sept 2026 start 
• Type of Study: Select ‘Postgraduate Research’ 
• Mode of Study: ‘Full Time’ 
• Year of Study: Select ‘2026’ 
• Course Title / Course Code: Select ‘8370F’ 
• Research Area: Leave Blank 
• Click Search and select ‘PhD Population Health Sciences (FT)’

Under ‘Further Details’: 

• A ‘Personal Statement’ describing your interests and background. 
• The studentship code PH062 in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field 
• When prompted for how you are providing your research proposal - select ‘Write Proposal’. Please write an 800-word research proposal on the advertised topic, focusing on food or active transport. Use ‘Background’, ‘Methods’, ‘Planned academic publications’ and ‘Policy relevance’ as headings.  

In addition, before you submit your application you will need to upload the following supporting documentation: 

• Covering letter and CV. The covering letter must state the title of the studentship, quote reference code PH062 and state how your interests and experience relate to the project (750 words max.) 
• Degree transcripts and certificated. 
• If English is not your first language, a copy of your English language qualification, if already completed. 

Contact Details

prachi.bhatnagar@newcastle.ac.uk 

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