BU Research Blog

Bournemouth University is delighted to be part of the Southwest Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP), one of the UK’s largest centres of postgraduate research training for social scientists, including in the fields of Health, Wellbeing & Society, Psychology, Climate Change & Sustainability.

Bournemouth University was successfully awarded 2 PhD studentships in 2024 and 3 PhD Studentship and 1 Post Doc Research Fellow in 2025.

The call for PhD Studentships starting in September 2026 is now live.

Full details can be found here: ESRC Southwest Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP) | Bournemouth University

Applicants may apply for an ESRC studentship at Bournemouth University in one of the following pathways:

• Disciplinary Pathway – Psychology – Pathway Lead: Professor John McAlaney (jmcalaney@bournemouth.ac.uk)
• Interdisciplinary – Climate Change, Sustainability and Society – Pathway Lead: Dr Sarah Elliott (selliott@bournemouth.ac.uk)
• Interdisciplinary – Health, Wellbeing and Society – Pathway Lead: Professor Mike Silk (msilk@bournemouth.ac.uk

Studentships cover tuition fees and provide a maintenance stipend for living costs and other additional forms of support and are normally for 3 years 3 months plus 3 months “Research in Practice” (placement). Part-time studentships will be offered pro rata to their full-time equivalent.

Applicants should contact a potential supervisors (listed in each pathway) and submit an applications via myHUB, together with the relevant supporting information:

• SWDTP Studentship Application Form 2026 Entry (Annex A) (docx 224kb) which includes the research proposal, the name(s) of the potential supervisors
• Supervisor Supporting Statement Form for 2026 Entry (Annex B) (docx 183kb) which must be completed by the nominated primary supervisor
• One reference from someone familiar with the applicant’s academic work
• Verified transcript of the applicant’s highest qualification to date or an interim transcript if they are still studying
• If the applicant is not a national of a majority English-speaking country, they will need to submit evidence of their proficiency in English.

To find out more, please join us for an online information session:

Monday 27 October 2025 | 14-00 – 15:00 | Online – Microsoft Teams.

To join the meeting, please email swdtp@bournemouth.ac.uk and you will be sent an invite to join the meeting.