Funded PhD Opportunities at De Montfort University, Leicester

De Montfort University (DMU) is offering funded PhD opportunities in sociology, social policy, education, criminology, and health and wellbeing as part of the Midlands Graduate Schools (MGS) Doctoral Training Partnership.

Why choose a studentship at DMU?

• Funding: Almost 70 ESRC-funded doctoral studentships awarded annually.
• Complete support: Enjoy tuition coverage (up to the UKRI national rate for Home students) and a competitive, tax-free stipend (approximately £19,000 for full-time students in 2024/25), along with contributions towards research and training costs.
• Flexible study options: Available on a full or part-time basis.
• Tailored training: Develop essential research and professional skills through a personalised training programme, including a three-month placement with an academic or non-academic partner.

How to apply

1. First steps: Secure support from a supervisory team. If you require assistance in identifying potential supervisors, please email your CV and a draft research proposal to mgs@dmu.ac.uk by November 30, 2024.
2. Application deadline: Submit your application to DMU for a place as a doctoral student by December 16, 2024.
3. For detailed application instructions, visit our Doctoral College entry criteria section. For further information, please visit the Midlands Graduate School guidance page. For more information regarding the Midlands Graduate School, see here.

Research areas

We offer expertise in:

• Mental health, parental mental illness, and mental health literacy
• Health and wellbeing, and health inequalities
• Social aspects of reproduction and reproductive health
• Public health
• Disability and chronic illness
• Role of the arts and humanities in fostering wellbeing, resilience, and recovery
• Higher education, skills transfer, and employability
• Technology in education
• Wellbeing, inclusion, and disability in education
• Human – animal companionship
• Criminology and the study of social harm
• Prison research

Our methodological strengths include:

• Autoethnography
• Creative methodologies (using artistic practices in social science research)
• Interdisciplinary research
• Secondary data analysis
• Equality diversity and inclusion in research
• Research entailing collaboration with external organisations

Join a vibrant research community

As a doctoral student at DMU, you’ll be part of an active research culture with access to seminars, conferences and events hosted by our research institutes. Our research in the relevant Unit of Assessment (20) has been rated in the top quartile in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, and we’re proud to hold global Hub status for UN Sustainable Development Goal 16 (to promote peace, justice and strong institutions). We are additionally Athena Swan Bronze award holders, are ranked 27th in the 2023 Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, achieving a Gold Award, and are a Disability Confident Employer.

DMU also welcomes applications from self-funded PhD candidates whose research aligns with our expertise.

Enquiries and further information

If you have a strong educational track record and wish to undertake PhD study in a field referenced above, please contact us at mgs@dmu.ac.uk.

Additional information can be found on our ‘Funded PhD scholarship opportunities’ page.