Education, Childhood & Youth Studies PhD scholarship

Award

PhD scholarship including:

• a stipend of £20,780 per year*
• a tuition fee waiver for three years
• an annual expense allowance of £500.

*Please note that CCCU’s stipend rate is based on the UKRI rate. Rates beyond 2024-25 are forecasted and are subject to change.

Deadline

22 April 2025

Eligibility criteria

• Applications will be considered based on the quality of the research proposal and its alignment with the scholarship focus outlined below. The strengths of the individual candidate (in relation to academic competence and commitment) will be considered.
• A good first degree is essential and a Master’s in Education/Early Childhood (or relevant discipline) is desirable.
• All non-native speakers of English must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• The successful applicant will be required to undertake 150 hours of teaching related work during years 2 and 3 of study.
• The successful candidate must have applied for both a place on the PhD programme, as well as a scholarship by the scholarship application deadline.
• The successful candidate must be available to begin their studies in October 2025 on a full-time basis.
• The successful candidate must live in the UK during their studies, within commutable distance to campus.

Scholarship focus: Early years outdoors

CCCU is committed to research that contributes to the shaping of sustainable futures. Within the subject area of Education, Childhood and Youth Studies, a key priority is understanding the significance of different living and learning contexts for child and planetary wellbeing. We have specific expertise in the area of outdoor learning (led by Dr Nicola Kemp, Dr Marianna Papadopoulou, and Dr Karen Vincent) and for this year’s scholarship, we would particularly welcome original proposals that can make a significant contribution by:

• focusing on the outdoor experiences of young children (birth to five) in either formal (ECEC settings), informal (community), or home environments
• adopting innovative methodologies and methods that can provide insights into what is happening in these places and spaces.

For further details or to arrange an informal discussion about your proposal please contact Dr Nicola Kemp.

How to apply

Please discuss your research ideas with a potential supervisor ahead of applying. We would be happy to help interested applicants with their proposals and applications and to discuss supervising arrangements.

You will be required to submit a research proposal and asked to interview with a potential supervisor in the faculty.

Submit your application on our website:

• Click on the 'Apply now' button in the blue bar at the bottom of this page.
• Select ‘Education, Childhood and Youth Studies’ for the area of research.
• Select 'Education' for your subject area.
• Select full-time study and October 2025 as a start date.
• Tick the box on the proposal form to indicate application for a scholarship alongside a place on the PhD programme.

You will be required to upload:

• two references
• your completed research proposal form
• a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• evidence of your qualifications
• a pass in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) if required.

For any queries about the application and admissions process please contact Postgraduate Admissions.