Free School Meals, Diet Quality and Food Insecurity in Secondary School Pupils

Not having enough money to buy food is known as food insecurity and is common in UK children. Free school meals (FSM) are offered to children based on household income. Although all schools offer FSM, about 1 in 5 pupils do not take up their meal. There are also differences between schools in how many pupils take up FSM. We do not understand what influences whether pupils take up their FSM in different schools. We also do not know how FSMs are related to the quality of the food children eat and whether schools with higher uptake of FSM have pupils with better diets than pupils in schools with lower uptake of FSM. Understanding these things will help us to improve the policy of offering FSM to look after the most nutritionally vulnerable children in society. This studentship aims to look at how differences in FSM uptake in schools relates to the food children eat, the quality of this food, and their food insecurity.  

Funding eligibility: ROI (and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled) status may be eligible for funding. Please review the DfE T&C’s.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School.

International Students

For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.