REAL Supply Research Unit PhD Studentship in Health Economics

Funding amount:

The awards will cover academic fees for the 2026/27 entry, for three years at UK rates, plus a maintenance stipend for 3.5 years at UKRI rates (£21,805 for 26/27) Non-UK students are requested to describe how they intend to cover the difference between home and international fees.

Closing date: Monday 13 July 2026 at 9am (BST)

A fully funded PhD studentship is available within the REAL Supply Research Unit, a major research programme based at the Centre for Health Economics (CHE) at the University of York.

The REAL Supply Research Unit, part of the Health Foundation’s REAL Centre, conducts independent economic research and analysis to inform long-term decision-making in health and social care. The successful candidate will contribute to an ambitious research portfolio focused on the future supply of health and care in England, equipping health and care leaders and policymakers with the robust economic insights they need to build a more sustainable, equitable and resilient health and care system.

This is an opportunity for an outstanding student with strong quantitative economic skills to work within the largest collective of academic health economists in the country.

How to Apply

Applicants are required to submit a research proposal alongside their application which aligns with  the REAL Supply Unit’s aims to tackle long-term health care supply challenges.Professor Gutacker would be particularly interested in proposals that explore the economics of AI in healthcare delivery,the role of incentives to shape the delivery of preventive services, novel developments in the organisation of health care markets (including e.g. greater reliance on private providers and funders of care) and the future supply to healthcare workers. For examples of potential research projects, please see Pathfinder Topic 1, Topic 3 and Topic 6. However, you are welcome to propose other topics that use microeconomics to explore future or long-standing issues in the supply of health care.

Supervision and Research Environment

The successful candidate will be supervised in CHE by Professor Nils Gutacker, and will be registered through the Department of Economics and Related Studies at the University of York for a PhD in Health Economics.

As one of the world’s largest health economics research centres, CHE offers an exceptional research environment with a longstanding international reputation for producing high-quality research that informs health and social care policy in the UK and beyond. The Centre attracts some of the best and brightest people in the field in the form of PhD students and visitors from overseas, creating a vibrant research environment. The University of York is widely recognised as one of the leading research universities in the UK and is also at the top of the teaching quality rankings.

CHE holds an Athena SWAN Silver award reflecting our commitment to equality, inclusion and supporting the career development of all staff and students. We strive to provide a supportive culture and family friendly work environment and to offer equal opportunities to all staff members. We seek to ensure the policies and procedures in the department are fair and support good work practices for everyone.

The Award

One full studentship is offered for the 2026/27 academic year, covering academic fees at the UK (Home) rate plus a maintenance stipend for 3.5 years at UKRI rates.

• For UK (Home) Students: This is a fully funded position.
• For International Students: International applicants are welcome to apply but must include a clear, detailed plan in their application outlining how they intend to fund the difference between home and International fee rates.

Note: This award is not able to support part-time study arrangements.

Eligibility criteria

• A Bachelor's degree (2:1 or higher) in Economics.
• A Masters degree (or near completion) in Health Economics or Economics with a substantial component of microeconomics.
• English language requirement: IELTS 6.5 (no component below 6.0).
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills are essential.

Application Timeline

• Closes: Monday 13 July 2026 at 9am (BST)
• Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview (in person or via Zoom) on Wednesday 12 August 2026. At the interview, candidates will be expected to give a short presentation on their proposed project including relevant literature, potential data sources and applicable methods. It should also focus on their plans for the studentship and the skills they would bring to their doctoral research.

For further information, please visit the information page or contact Professor Nils Gutacker.