Apply to the SWDTP: Studentships at Plymouth Marjon University

The South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP) offers a range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary pathways spanning the social sciences across the consortium of eight universities in the region.

Fully funded ESRC studentships are available at Plymouth Marjon University in the following areas:

Education – pathway lead Professor Tanya Ovenden-Hope
Climate Change, Sustainability and Society – pathway lead Professor Debby Cotton
Health and Wellbeing – pathway lead Professor Pam Dawson

Applicants may apply to one or more pathways but would need to submit a separate application for each one. Please note carefully the ESRC's eligibility criteria especially for international students. The SWDTP does not normally allow applications from candidates who have already started a PhD programme (either presently or in the past). If you feel you have a case for which an exception might be made, this must be discussed with the SWDTP Director well in advance of preparing an application by contacting swdtp-enquiries@bris.ac.uk. Further information and an application form for funding are available on the SWDTP web-site: https://www.swdtp.ac.uk/prospective-students-and-fellows/how-do-i-apply-for-a-studentship/

To be considered for an SWDTP studentship at Marjon you need to have done four things:

Written a research proposal of 1300 words plus references
Gained the support of a prospective PhD supervisor for your proposal
Have applied for a PhD at Marjon through the usual route
Submitted your application for a studentship and all the accompanying material by no later than the deadline.

In the enquiry form, you should indicate that you wish to be considered for the ESRC studentship in the ‘how do you intend to fund your PhD?’ section.

You are encouraged to look at ways of incorporating collaboration with external partners into your research proposal. Collaboration does not always have to be a financial arrangement and could take the form of a placement, voluntary work, data sharing or other payment in kind opportunities.

If you are considering overseas fieldwork, overseas institutional visits or difficult language training as part of your PhD proposal, you should mention this in your application where possible.

APPLICATION CLOSING DATE: 12.00 (Noon) GMT 14th January 2025

ESRC Studentships

Education Pathway PhD route

The areas outlined below are for guidance only and intended to be deliberately broad to enable students to write their own research proposal for DTP funding. Proposals on any topics related to this pathway will be considered as long as there are supervisors available with the relevant subject expertise. Research relevant to this pathway at Marjon is primarily associated with the Context, Agency, Place and Education (CAPE) group. Details of our staff and their research interests can also be viewed on the Marjon web-page.

The Embedding of Sustainability in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Education in UK Higher Education. Potential supervisors – Dr. Andreas Walmsley, Dr. Laura Wallis, Dr. Lynne Wyness
Spatial equity and teacher supply in rural schools in England. Potential supervisors – Professor Tanya Ovenden-Hope, Professor Sonia Blandford
The changing nature of youth and community work. Potential supervisors – Dr. Tracy Hayes, Dr. Lynne Wyness
Pretending to be 'normal'? Understanding the needs of Autistic Community Based Practitioners. Potential supervisors – Dr Tracy Hayes, Dr Mark Leather
‘Is a small school a failed big school? Making sense of small schools in the UK’. Potential supervisors - Professor Tanya Ovenden-Hope, Professor Sonia Blandford

If you are interested in applying for a PhD through the SWDTP, please submit the Marjon enquiry form in the first instance, noting that you would like to apply for the SWDTP funding. Please be aware that the application process can be quite lengthy and requires the support of a supervisor. You are advised to contact a potential supervisor as early as possible in the process. Make sure you build in sufficient time to develop your research proposal and liaise with your suggested supervisor. If you would like advice on potential supervisors, please Professor Tanya Ovenden-Hope. For general enquiries, please contact Marjon Doctoral College via rke@marjon.ac.uk

Climate Change, Sustainability and Society Pathway PhD route

The areas outlined below are for guidance only and intended to be deliberately broad to enable students to write their own research proposal for DTP funding. Proposals on any topics related to this pathway will be considered as long as there are supervisors available with the relevant subject expertise. Research relevant to this pathway at Marjon is primarily associated with the Sustainability, Creativity and Innovation group (SCION) Details of our staff and their research interests can also be viewed on the Marjon web-page.

Communicating climate change and sustainability. Potential supervisors: Professor Debby Cotton, Dr. Lynne Wyness
How do pro-social attitudes align with developing an entrepreneurial identity? Dr. Laura Wallis, Dr. Andreas Walmsley
Community action and democracy around sustainability. Potential supervisors: Dr. Tracy Hayes, Dr. Lynne Wyness
Sustainable Performance Making in Austere Climates. Potential supervisors: Dr. Natalie Raven, Professor Jennie Winter
Understanding behaviour change towards sustainability. Potential supervisors: Professor Jennie Winter, Dr. Andreas Walmsley, Dr. Laura Wallis

If you are interested in applying for a PhD through the SWDTP, please submit the Marjon enquiry form in the first instance, noting that you would like to apply for the SWDTP funding. Please be aware that the application process can be quite lengthy and requires the support of a supervisor. You are advised to contact a potential supervisor as early as possible in the process. Make sure you build in sufficient time to develop your research proposal and liaise with your suggested supervisor. If you would like advice on potential supervisors, please contact Professor Debby Cotton. For general enquiries, please contact Marjon Doctoral College via rke@marjon.ac.uk

Health and Wellbeing Pathway PhD route

The areas outlined below are for guidance only and intended to be deliberately broad to enable students to write their own research proposal for DTP funding. Proposals on any topics related to this pathway will be considered as long as there are supervisors available with the relevant subject expertise. Research relevant to this pathway at Marjon is primarily associated with the Lifelong Health and Wellbeing group. Details of our staff and their research interests can also be viewed on the Marjon webpage.

Life with us: nurturing sustainable communities through innovative dementia care – Dr. Lynne Wyness, Dr. Tracy Hayes
Heat stress risk, monitoring and mitigation: Exploring Comprehensive Strategies. Potential supervisors - Dr. Joe Laydon, Dr. Kass Gibson, Dr. Rosanna Waters-Symons, Dr. Jonathan Waddington
Reaching those who are hard to reach: improving engagement with health and wellbeing clinics through participatory research. Potential supervisors - Professor Pam Dawson, Professor Saul Bloxham
Thermoregulation in the Elderly: Strategies to mitigate heat stress risk. Potential supervisors - Dr. Joe Laydon, Dr. Kass Gibson, Dr. Rosanna Waters-Symons, Dr. Jonathan Waddington
‘Now is time to listen to us’, listening to younger children’s Mental Health narratives. Supervisor – Prof. Jon Ord, Dr. Hazel Bending

If you are interested in applying for a PhD through the SWDTP, please submit the Marjon enquiry form in the first instance, noting that you would like to apply for the SWDTP funding. Please be aware that the application process can be quite lengthy and requires the support of a supervisor. You are advised to contact a potential supervisor as early as possible in the process. Make sure you build in sufficient time to develop your research proposal and liaise with your suggested supervisor. If you would like advice on potential supervisors, please contact Professor Pam Dawson. For general enquiries, please contact Marjon Doctoral College via rke@marjon.ac.uk