Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and the professional workforce: the relationship between intersectionally diverse workforces and appreciation of diversity in Welsh Schools

THE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT:
The linguistics pathway is located in a dynamic hub for the development of new theory at the interface of language form, function, use and processing, and corpus-based discourse linguistics. It sits within a rich research environment, recognised in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework for its very high quality and containing several major externally-funded research projects. It offers all students opportunities such as discourse analytic training, deepening understanding of the richness and potential of theoretically-informed and linguistically-mediated approaches to content analysis. Corpus linguistics training is also on offer, enabling the examination of large bodies of text for patterns. For more information see https://walesdtp.ac.uk/pathway/linguistics/. The Linguistics Pathway convenor for Cardiff University is Professor Gerard O’Grady (OGradyGN@cardiff.ac.uk).
WHO SHOULD APPLY:
Applications are invited from exceptional candidates with a first class or strong upper second-class honours degree, or appropriate Master’s degree. Both the University and the ESRC Wales DTP value diversity and equality at all levels and we encourage applications from all sections of the community, irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation. In line with our commitment to supporting and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, and to increase recruitment of currently underrepresented groups, applications from minority ethnicity and mixed-heritage candidates living and working in the UK are particularly encouraged and welcomed. We welcome applications for both full and part-time study, and studentships are available as either ‘1+3’ (i.e. one full time year of research training Master’s degree followed by three years of full-time Doctoral study, or the part-time equivalent), or ‘+3’ (i.e. three years of full-time doctoral study or its part-time equivalent), depending on the needs of the applicant.
This studentship is a ‘collaborative’ award. Applicants should take careful consideration of the working title and description of the project and may wish to contact the named member of staff for a discussion prior to applying.
WHAT THE STUDENTSHIP WILL COVER:
Studentship Awards commence in October 2021 and will cover your tuition fees as well as a maintenance grant (currently £15,285 p.a. for 2020/21 for full-time students, updated each year); and includes access to an additional Research Training Support Grant (RTSG), though an element of this latter fund may be ‘pooled’ and require separate applications from 2021 onwards. There are other opportunities and benefits available to studentship holders, including an overseas fieldwork allowance (if applicable), internship opportunities, overseas institutional visits and other small grants.
ELIGIBILITY:
ESRC studentships are highly competitive, candidates should have an excellent academic background in the social sciences, holding a 1st or strong upper 2nd class degree; applications from those also holding a relevant research training Master’s degree (or an equivalent background in research training) will be considered for a +3 award. Wales DTP studentships are available to both home and international (including EU and EEA) students. All applicants will be eligible for a full award consisting of a maintenance stipend and payment of tuition fees at the UK research organisation rate. Applicants must satisfy studentship eligibility requirements. For further details see the UKRI web site. Successful international student applicants will receive a fully-funded Wales DTP studentship and will not be charged the fees difference between the UK and international rate.
1+3 OR +3?
Awards are available on either a 1+3 or +3 basis. A 1+3 studentship provides funding for four years (or part-time equivalent), completing a research training Masters in the 1st year, followed by 3 years research funding for a PhD. A +3 studentship provides funding for the three years PhD research study only (or part-time equivalent).
ASSESSMENT:
The closing deadline for applications is 12.00 noon on Friday 3rd February 2021. Short-listed applicants will be invited to interview, which are expected to take place in late February/early March 2021. After interview, a final short-list of applicants will be put forward to a Panel convened by the ESRC Wales DTP Management Group at which final decisions with regard to studentship awards will be made. In most cases successful applicants can expect to hear by early April 2021.
HOW TO APPLY:
A completed application form for admission to doctoral study in Cardiff University submitted via the Direct Application Service at http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/applying/how-to-apply by the deadline of 12 noon on 3 February 2021. Incomplete applications or applications received after this specified time will not be accepted. Applicants should indicate in the funding section of the PhD application form that they are applying for ESRC funding. Within the online PhD application form, you should indicate in the funding section that you are applying for an ESRC collaborative award. In the section marked ‘Research Project Title’ please write the title of this collaborative award, ‘British, Asian and Minority Ethnic people+ and the professional workforce: the relationship between intersectionally diverse workforces and appreciation of diversity in Welsh Schools’. In the section marked ‘Supervisor’ please write ‘Professor Michael Handford and Professor Sin Yi Cheung’. If you have any difficulties or queries, please email encap-pg@cardiff.ac.uk. If you have any queries about the project, please email Professor Handford or Professor Cheung direct.
The application must contain the following documents:
1. Covering letter: Please address to Professor Michael Handford and Professor Sin Yi Cheung. The covering letter must name the collaborative studentship being applied for. It must set out your reasons and motivation for applying to study at Cardiff University, and the Linguistics Pathway; your understanding, and expectations of doctoral study; and your academic interests generally, and particularly how these relate to the description of the project supplied. The covering letter should be no more than two pages. Please also specify whether you wish to apply on a +3 or 1+3 basis.
2. Academic / Professional Qualifications: Where appropriate, this should also include proof of English Language Competency (7.0 IELTS minimum).
3. References: All applications require two academic references to be submitted in support. Candidates must approach referees themselves and include the references with their application.
4. Curriculum Vitae: This should be no longer than two pages.
5. Research Proposal: For collaborative studentships, the proposal should build directly on the outline description that has been supplied. The proposal should be up to a maximum of 1000 words, not including bibliographic references. We suggest that you use the following five headings in your research proposal:
• Your reflections on the title, aims and purpose of the research;
• An overview of some key research literature relevant to the study;
• Your proposals for developing the design and methods of the study;
• A description of potential outcomes of the project for understanding, knowledge, policy and practice (as appropriate to the topic);
• Bibliographic references