PhD Studentship in Applied Health Research supported by the Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS)

Using data science to explore health inequalities and wider determinants of health in ‘places’.

The University of Kent, in collaboration with the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey, Sussex are offering a PhD scholarship (3.5 years full-time) to be based in the Centre for Health Services Studies.

Criteria

The studentship opportunity is open to all candidates with the following requirements:

• Have completed a health- or social work/care-related postgraduate training course at Master's level equivalent to merit or distinction.
• A combination of qualifications and/or experience that is equivalent to a relevant UK Master’s level degree may also be accepted.
• This studentship is available for eligible UK home-rate fee candidates only.
• The studentship is available for full time candidates only.

Scholarship information

Based within the Centre for Health Services Studies at the University of Kent Canterbury campus, and linked to the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex which aims to develop applied health and social care research across the region for the benefit of patients and the public. Commencing in October 2026.

We welcome applications to undertake research on the use of data science to understand health inequalities and wider determinants of health in populations focusing on neighbourhoods or ‘places’, projects using wider determinants of health, and population survey datasets to understand the early onset of long-term health conditions. Data linkage of datasets at geographical levels should be a feature of the project in order to explore how wider determinants of health inform population health and services within neighbourhoods or places. Current areas of interest include but are not limited to the following:

• Using NHS and national administrative data to understand health and/or long term conditions with respect to health, wider determinants and their geographies such as housing or housing insecurity, local neighbourhoods or community assets, aspects of socioeconomic deprivation.
• Using data to understand early onset of long-term conditions through understanding prevalence and/or the wider determinants of health and how they interact at place level.
• Using routine data to understand inequalities in health and/or wider determinants of health.
• Using a place-based approach in settings such as:
  • Neighbourhoods in line with the 10-year plan for the NHS
  • Specific under-served populations
  • Coastal communities
  • Rural and isolated communities
  • Deprived communities within a largely affluent locality

Scholarship Value

• Studentship tuition fees; standard postgraduate Home rate (£5,238 for 2026/27) plus an annual maintenance stipend of £21,805 per annum (in line with the UKRI rate for 2026).
• Annual Research Training Support allowance of £750 to cover conference attendance, training courses, equipment and books.

How to apply:

Submit an online application via the ‘Apply’ button above, selecting the PhD in Applied Health Research (full time), with:

• Research proposal uploaded as a word document (maximum of 4 pages in total in Arial font, point 11). In your proposal use the following headings:
  • Introducing the topic
  • Research question and aim of the proposed research
  • Datasets for exploration
  • Methodological approach (including relevant analysis plans)
  • Potential impact of the doctoral research

Deadline of 23:59 BST, Sunday 12th July 2026.

Questions regarding the online application process: scholarships@kent.ac.uk  

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