Fully funded 3-year studentship

Qualification type: PhD

Applications open: 1 January 2025

Applications close: 31 January 2025

Location: Horsforth or City Campus (subject dependent)

Funding for: UK, EU and International students

Funding amount: £19,237 maintenance stipend per annum. The studentship covers the full cost of tuition fees.

Hours: Full-Time   

Applications are invited for up to four, three year fully-funded studentships at Leeds Trinity University. Three of the studentships will be open with applicants from UK, EU and International backgrounds encouraged to apply. One studentship will be exclusively offered to a Black British or Black ethnic background candidate who must qualify for home (UK) fees. This ringfenced studentship will help widen participation at the highest level of research and continue our work towards race equality following our bronze award in the Race Equality Charter. Studentships will commence on May 1st 2025 subject to checks.

We particularly encourage applications in the following areas: Computer Science and Informatics, Business and Management Studies, Social Work and Social Policy.

Supervision

Interested applicants will be directed towards a potential supervisor at the enquiry stage (see below).  

Requirements

You are required to have a good honours degree (1st Class or an Upper 2:1) and likely a Masters degree in a relevant subject (completed with Distinction or a Merit), and a strong wish to pursue a PhD with an original research project. You are also required to demonstrate that you meet our English Language requirements for postgraduate research degrees.

The successful applicant will be required to reside in the Leeds area for the duration of their PhD and to attend the University on a regular basis to complete their studies. The successful applicant receiving a stipend will be required to make an active contribution to the University’s research culture, through up to 200 hours of work per annum as research assistants/tutors/demonstrators/committee representatives, or similar.

Research Environment

Leeds Trinity University is a modern, anchor institution with a developing and vibrant research environment. We are a small University with a big reputation that offers a personal and inclusive University experience in a research-led culture. Established in 1966 as a Catholic teacher training college, Leeds Trinity achieved University status in 2012 and is now looking to attract the next generation of researchers. Our faith-based values continue to inform our work and we welcome all, regardless of faith. Please refer to our homepages for more information about our Institution.      

Our research degrees are validated by The University of Leeds, one of the UK’s leading research universities.  Postgraduate Researchers can therefore supplement Leeds Trinity University’s research training offer with courses offered by The University of Leeds.

Further Information

Applications are invited to study in one of two Faculties of the University listed below. Interested applicants should email the listed contact person for the School in which their research fits or the Director of Postgraduate Research Studies, to be connected with a potential supervisor who is eligible to supervise in the area of interest. Interested applicants should discuss the feasibility of their research with this subject expert in the first instance to develop their research proposal. The studentship will be awarded, after a short-listing process, to select applicants based on competitive interview by a panel of experienced researchers.

Applicants should propose research that is suited to one of two faculties in the areas of Computer Science and Informatics; Business and management Studies; or Social Work and Social Policy. The existing research schemes in each of the relevant schools are listed below.  

We also welcome applications in areas of development and across disciplinary themes.

1. Faculty of Health, Wellness and Life Sciences (FHWS)

School of Psychology

Research themes in the School of Psychology include: sport psychology; youth and occupational mental health; cross-cultural psychology; behaviour change; appetite control; eating behaviour and weight management; mental health; religion and culture; integrative psychology. School contact: Dr Lisa Webster [email protected].

Schools of Education and Children, Young People and Families

Research themes in the Schools of Education and Children, Young People and Families include: teachers, children and young people’s wellbeing in the education system (including social media use), special educational needs, teacher resilience, pedagogies in schools and Higher Education, climate and sustainability education, social justice in the education system, teachers and/or children’s spirituality, religious studies and indigenous religion, global citizenship in education, young fatherhood, precarity and family life. Contact: Professor Kate Adams [email protected].

Research focussed on the following topics is also welcome: Addiction recovery research, policing or prison research, employment support services, parenting research.

View the full fingerprint of research in the Faculty of Health, Wellness and Life Sciences (FHWS)

2. Faculty of Business, Computing and Digital Industries (FBCDI)

School of Computer Science

Research schemes in the school of Computer Science include: areas of machine learning, artificial intelligence, mobile computing, wireless networks, image and signal processing, big data in manufacture, and computer science education. School contact: Dr Xin Lu [email protected].

Research focussed on the following topics is particularly welcome: digital twin and deep learning enabled human robot collaboration for manufacturing; integrating generative AI into HE frameworks; deep learning algorithms.

School of Business

Research schemes in the School of Business include: digital business, organisational values and behaviour, small business, digital marketing, operations and supply chain management, financial risk management, financial regulation, fintech, and entrepreneurships. School contact: Prof Steve Johnson [email protected].

Research proposals in the following specific areas are particularly welcomed: creative approaches to business education, the impact of business research, entrepreneurship among women and marginalised groups, digital marketing, branding and AI, sustainable supply chains, complex modelling in fintech, alternative financial products and the impact of digital transformation on consumer behaviour.

View the full fingerprint of research in the faculty of  Business, Computing and Digital Industries (FBCDI).

Contact

For informal enquires or for direction to a potential supervisor please contact the Director of Postgraduate Research Studies, Professor Martin Barwood [email protected]  

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted to our admissions team using the email [email protected]

Please refer to our Research Degrees homepage for further guidance

Applicants should submit:

  • A completed application form;
  • A detailed 2000-word (maximum) research proposal including a brief rationale, stated aims, brief methods and ethical considerations;
  • Proof of qualifications (e.g., certificates);
  • Two completed references.

Leeds Trinity University is committed to Equality and Diversity the principles of which are described as part our postgraduate admissions policy. We actively seek applications from all parts of the community. Interviews are expected to take place in February 2025 after an initial short-listing process.