The Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences (HELS) is based at our City South Campus. The Faculty has a strong focus on the training of health and education professionals with a rapidly growing life sciences portfolio.

HELS is making major investments in growing the quality and volume of research across its four constituent Colleges (College of Education and Social Work, College of Health and Care Professions, College of Life Sciences and College of Nursing and Midwifery) through investments in academic staff and researchers, doctoral students and new labs and equipment. This work is led by three centres of research excellence: the Centre for Studies in Practice and Culture in Education (CSPACE); the Centre for Social Care, Health and Related Research (CSCHaRR); and the Centre for Life and Sport Sciences (CLaSS). We are pleased to invite applications for three funded PhD opportunities to support this work.

We particularly welcome applicants from groups currently under-represented in our research community including LGBT+ applicants, applicants from Black Asian and minority ethnic communities and disabled applicants.

Birmingham City University is Stonewall Diversity Champion and holds an Athena Swan Bronze award. The School of Nursing and Midwifery has recently been awarded a department level Athena Swan Bronze award. At Birmingham City University we are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. All staff are expected to understand and enact the University’s commitment to ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion in our employment practice and in all that we do. This commitment is enshrined in our Core Values and is detailed in our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Employment Policy. The University values and celebrates the diversity of our staff and students; we welcome people from the many different backgrounds and life experiences that reflect the students and the citizens we serve. We do not discriminate against applicants and actively encourage unique contributions and difference in respect of age, ability, disability, sex, gender or gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender status.

Fees and Funding

The studentships will follow Birmingham City University’s ‘PhD Classic’ Doctoral Training Grant funding model.

This funding model includes a 36 month fully funded PhD Studentship, in-line with the Research Council values, which comprises a tax-free stipend paid monthly (2024/5 - £19,237) per year and a Full Time Fee Scholarship for up to 3 years, subject to you making satisfactory progression within your PhD.

PhD Classic studentship opportunities are open to UK, EU and Overseas applicants. All applicants will receive the same stipend irrespective of fee status.

How to Apply

To apply, please complete the project proposal form,ensuring that you quote the project code reference, and then complete the online application where you will be required to upload your proposal in place of a personal statement.

You will also be required to upload two references, at least one being an academic reference, and your qualification/s of entry (Bachelor/Masters certificate/s and transcript/s).

Deadline for Applications

The closing date for applications is 23.59 on Tuesday 30th April 2024 for a start date of the 2nd September 2024.