Applications are invited to undertake a 3-year PhD programme at the University of Huddersfield under the supervision of Dr Rob Ellis on the subject mental ill-health/learning disability (LD) in the twentieth century.
While studies of both the nineteenth century and the period following the 1959 Mental Health Act are commonplace, there are important opportunities to explore civilian mental health/LD in the first half of the twentieth century. This includes developments in extra-institutional care and treatments, and detailed analysis of groups under-represented in the existing historiography. This funding demands that the successful candidate places the history of labour, broadly defined, at the heart of the finished thesis. To that end, it is expected that the research will build on the initial work conducted by Prof Keith Laybourn into the role of the Guild of Help and its advisors in the health and well-being of working-class communities in the Edwardian period. Additional local sources will extend the chronology up to and beyond the 1929 Local Government Act, and the 1930 Mental Treatment Act. Sources in local repositories will be complemented by previously unexplored sources in the National Archive, which include Home Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Ministry of Health Records.
The Scholarship will provide a full fee waiver and a stipend at UKRI rates (currently £17,668). The successful candidate will contribute to the wider life of the History subject area. This may include attending and organising research seminars and conferences, delivering up to three hours of teaching per week, or being involved in impact and engagement activities. There is an opportunity, too, to build on Dr Ellis’s extensive experience in the delivery of public histories. In all cases, this will be part of a supported programme and will include training and mentored support.
The candidate should be able to demonstrate a familiarity with the histories of mental ill-health and/or disability and hold an appropriate post-graduate qualification (MA, MA by Research, MPhil). An understanding of or interest in public history is preferred.
This Scholarship is open to home students only.
Interested in this studentship?
Applications with a CV, cover letter and academic transcripts should be sent to Dr Rob Ellis. Suitable applicants will be interviewed, and if successful, invited to make a formal application.
Please contact Dr Rob Ellis r.ellis@hud.ac.uk for an informal discussion.
The closing date for applications is 9th June 2023.
Criteria and further details
Applications will be assessed in terms of the quality of the proposal, the feasibility of the proposed study and the proposal’s alignment with the Scholarship scheme (as described above). Candidates are encouraged to contact the potential supervisor to discuss the suitability of their proposal.
We positively encourage applications from groups under-represented in postgraduate research, including (but not limited to) women, LGBTQ+ candidates, Global Majority / BAME candidates, candidates with disabilities, candidates with caring responsibilities, and care leavers.
Candidates will normally be expected to live a commutable distance from campus and be on campus regularly in order to be an active member of the School’s research community.
You will need to dedicate 35 hours per week to your degree and must not also be working full-time. In principle, applications for part-time study can be considered, subject to approval. Please contact sah-dge@hud.ac.uk to discuss this option.
Scholarship recipients will be expected to contribute up 6 hours per week (unpaid) of activities to support areas such as teaching, research, public engagement or administration.
You are encouraged to design a PhD project that can be completed in standard time; the Scholarship applies only to standard time. You would pay for any period of additional or writing-up time at the end of your research degree at the relevant rate, if you choose to take this in addition to your standard time.
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