From “hero” to “traumatized victim”? Spanish refugee children and debates about refugee mental health in the mid-twentieth century, 1936-c.1950

This project is part of a team project on health, wellbeing and the child refugees of the Spanish Civil War led by Dr Stephanie Wright at Lancaster University (more information available here: https://wp.lancs.ac.uk/fasshealthhub/phd-funding-opportunities/).

It will explore key debates amongst mental health professionals and humanitarian workers concerning the psychological impacts of the war and evacuation on Spanish refugee children. This project will recentre these debates in wider histories of mental health and young refugees in the mid twentieth century and asks to what extent the evacuation of Spanish Children was a transformative moment, when new discourses about the impact of exile and child-parent separation emerged clashed with more pragmatic views of war children as “heroes” and “political beings”, able to be mobilised against the fascist threat. By examining different understandings of the psychological impacts of war and displacement on refugee children, this project will offer historical insights onto current discussion on refugee children mental health. The successful candidate will benefit from the large and lively research community of the History Department and the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute (HCRI) and will have access to the University of Manchester’s innovative training programmes in the humanities. 

Eligibility Criteria

Academic criteria

• Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and 
• Master's degree in a relevant subject – with an overall average of 65% or above, a minimum mark of 65% in your dissertation and no mark below 55% (or overseas equivalent) 

English Language

• IELTS test minimum score – 7.0 overall, 7.0 in writing. 
• TOEFL (internet-based) test minimum score – 100 overall, 25 in all sections. 
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) UKVI/SELT or PTE Academic minimum score – 76 overall, 76 in writing. 
• To demonstrate that you have taken an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a majority English-speaking nation within the last 5 years. 
• Other tests may be considered.

Application procedure

The application deadline will be Midnight (BST) on 16/08/2024. All supporting documents must be received by the deadline and sent as a zip file to [Email Address Removed], using ‘From Hero to Traumatized Victim? - Laure Humbert’ as the email subject.

The application must include:

• An up to date academic CV, detailing your education and qualifications; employment history; publications; and any other relevant information.
• Copies of the academic transcript and certificate from both your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. If your Master’s degree is pending, please provide an interim transcript.
• Supporting statement of a maximum of 700 words indicating why you would like to undertake this studentship and explaining how your focus, experience, and skills link to the research outlined above.
• Example of a piece of academic writing produced by you of up to 5,000 words (you may consider submitting two shorter pieces if these deal separately with conceptual and empirical analyses). This may be an academic essay or chapter(s) from a dissertation, in which case, an abstract or introduction outlining the context/aims/research questions of the study must also be included
• Names and contact details of two academic referees who can comment on your suitability for PhD study and to undertake the advertised project.
• You are also required to complete an AHRC Equal Opportunities Form which will be sent to you separately following the submission of your documentation.

Interviews will be held on 04/09/2024 online.

Further information

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, please contact Laure Humbert ([Email Address Removed]).

Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester and is at the heart of all of our activities. 

We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact. 

We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status. 

All appointments are made on merit. 

The University of Manchester and our external partners are fully committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.