Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba
Read all about what SGSSS has been up to in our 2024/25 Year in Review!
Click here

Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba

Studentship opportunity

All Studentship Opportunities

Co-production of an acceptable, valid and reliable measure to evaluate the effectiveness of the MCR Pathways mentoring programme in improving young people’s wellbeing

This studentship is funded by the ESRC through the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS)

Institution
University of Glasgow
Pathway
Health, Wellbeing and Communities
Studentship
Open Collaborative
Mode of study

Full-time / Part-time

Application deadline
4pm, 14 April 2022
Applications are due 24 March 2026, 5 pm GMT and
References are due 26 March 2026, 5 pm GMT

Project details

MCR Pathways is a charity that supports young people who have had traumatic experiences including being in care, losing a parent or abuse (https://mcrpathways.org). MCR’s aim is to support young people into positive post-school destinations through in-school support and a community mentoring programme. To secure funding and learning for the programme, it is essential that MCR have robust tools to evaluate their work, particularly how it impacts on young people’s wellbeing. There are no previous tried and tested evaluative tools suitable for young people who have experienced such a range of traumatic experiences.

In this PhD project, the student will work with relevant stakeholders, including young people participating in the programme and MCR staff and volunteers, to understand the challenges around current wellbeing tools, and to consider how wellbeing is conceptualised for this group of young people. Drawing on new qualitative research, and a review of existing tools published in the academic literature, the student will co-produce a new wellbeing tool for use with this group of young people. They will then test it with young people participating in the programme, making changes to the final tool if required.

The study will enhance understanding of concepts of wellbeing among young people who have experienced early life trauma and will use innovative co-design techniques to involve these young people in the development of a new tool to measure wellbeing. If this tool is found to be an acceptable and accurate measure of wellbeing in this group, it will be incorporated into MCR’s evaluations and will be made available for other organisations supporting vulnerable young people’s wellbeing to use in their evaluations.

Collaborative Partner: MCR Pathways

Supervisory Team:

About the University

The University of Glasgow has been changing the world since 1451. We are a world top 100 university and a member of the prestigious Russell Group of leading UK research universities.

This PhD studentship is being hosted by the Division of Urban Studies and Social Policy in the School of Social and Political Sciences. The division conducts world-leading research on the most pressing urban, social and public policy challenges globally. Its research explores important and complex issues, including research on children and families, communities, disability, education, health, housing, inequalities, place and poverty. By working closely with policymakers and practitioners, we ensure our innovative, multidisciplinary research and knowledge exchange leads to significant impacts on policy and practice locally, nationally and internationally.

The successful student will also be supervised by staff from the Mental Health and Wellbeing research group in the School of Health and Wellbeing. The School of Health and Wellbeing is a global leader in research into population health and health inequalities. Its research brings together academic leaders from public health, medicine, epidemiology, psychology and health data science to address some of the world’s greatest health challenges.

The successful student will have access to training and seminars from both the College of Social Science and College of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences Graduate Schools, as well as opportunities to join a vibrant community of postgraduate research students based within the graduate schools.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Applicants must hold or be predicted a First or a good 2:1 undergraduate degree in the social sciences, or have relevant comparable experience.
  • Applicants can have a Masters degree, however this is not a requirement.
  • The applicant must also show demonstrable interest in the topic area under investigation.
  • Applicants can study part-time or full-time

Essential
An undergraduate degree in a social science (e.g. social policy, sociology, psychology, politics, education) or relevant social science research experience
Knowledge of mixed methods research designs
Knowledge of evidence synthesis methods

Desirable
Experience of working with young people aged 11-18
Experience in both quantitative and qualitative methods
Knowledge of co-production in social research

Funding

As per guidance published by UKRI in October 2020, a maximum of 30% of all studentships awarded can be made to international students, with the remaining 70% going to home students. 

Residential Criteria

To be classed as a home student, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a UK national (meeting residency requirements), or
  • Have settled status, or
  • Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
  • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

For more on the UKRI eligibility guidance, click here

As per guidance published by UKRI in October 2020, a maximum of 30% of all studentships awarded can be made to international students, of which SGSSS has now awarded for the 2021/22 round of studentship awards. As such, this opportunity is only open to home students.

Residential Criteria

To be classed as a home student, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a UK national (meeting residency requirements), or
  • Have settled status, or
  • Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
  • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

If you do not meet the criteria above, you will be classed as an international student and will not be eligible to apply. To establish if you would be classed as a home student, please see pages 4 and 5 of the UKRI eligibility guidance here.

Award details

The scholarship is available as a +3.5 (3 year PhD and placement) or a 1+3.5 (Masters year, 3 year PhD, and a placement) studentship depending on prior research training. This will be assessed as part of the recruitment process, however you can access guidance here to help you decide on which to apply for. The programme will commence in October 2026. The full ESRC studentship package includes, as advised by ESRC:

  • An annual maintenance grant (stipend)
  • Fees at the standard institutional home rate
  • Students can also draw on a pooled Research Training Support Grant (RTSG)

Other information

How to apply

  1. Applicants must register on SGSSS Apply, completing their Equal Opportunities data.
  2. Applicants must apply via SGSSS Apply, uploading the following documentation:

    • Application Questions (answered within SGSSS Apply, no upload needed)
    • Academic transcripts
    • Academic prizes
    • Referee information
    • CV
    • Other information (if required by the advert)
We strongly encourage applicants review the applicant guidance document for more on the process. 

Please Note:

  • This is not an application to the relevant University, this is an application for SGSSS (ESRC) funding.
  • Students do not need a Masters/PhD offer from the relevant University before they can apply for funding, i.e. this studentship.
  • If successful in obtaining the SGSSS (ESRC) studentship, students can only start the funded studentship once they have an unconditional Masters/PhD degree offer from the relevant University. It is your responsibility to find out the University’s application process, including when you need to secure your offer, as SGSSS plays no role in this process.

This studentship opportunity will open for applications on 9th June.

Apply now via SGSSS Apply

Selection process

Applications will be ranked by an internal institutional selection panel, and you will be notified if you have been shortlisted for interview on 1 April. Interviews will take place on 23 April.

This studentship award is subject to the successful candidate securing admission to a PhD programme within the University of Glasgow. The successful candidate will be invited to apply for admission to the relevant PhD programme.

Contact details

Name
Team SGSSS
Email
SGSSS Team (for questions on the application portal, only), for any questions on the project, email the supervisory team (see details in abstract above)

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Privacy Policy

© 2024 All rights reserved​

Scottish Graduate School of Social Science, proudly funded by