SGSSS Apply.
SGSSS Social.

Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba

Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba

Studentship opportunity

All Studentship Opportunities

Intimate Partner Violence in Young People’s Relationships – Care and Justice for Whom?

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

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

Full-time / Part-time

Application deadline
4pm, 14 April 2022
Applications are due 10 April, 5 pm BST and
References are due 16 April, 5 pm BST

Project details

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant issue among young people, it is estimated around a quarter of young people have experienced physical or sexual abuse in intimate relationships and this has significant effects on health, well-being and educational outcomes. Young people affected by IPV suggest that improving educational responses is a priority for action, that school is the potential context for intervention but current school responses are inadequate. New legislation ensures that young people using harm (U18) are decriminalised and will be supported through the Children’s Hearing System. Education professionals, including teachers and school counsellors, report challenges in trying to respond to and manage IPV between young people attending the same school. Often, young people, and especially young women, exclude themselves from school, with significant consequences for their education and life prospects. Those who have caused harm to others may move onto to new relationships, without any change in their behaviour. Support organisations such as Women’s Aid highlight increased demand from young people for services, and from schools asking for guidance to respond to increased IPV.

This study will explore the role of education, and the place of schools in both seeking to prevent and address IPV amongst young people. It will consider how the issue of IPV among young people is understood and responded to within the school environment and the inter-agency context within which schools can be supported to respond. The study will explore challenges, opportunities and models of interventions through interviews and focus groups with Headteachers, teachers, Children’s Hearing system representatives and through action groups with secondary school pupils; alongside the participation of young victims of IPV in considering and suggesting models for intervention, supported by partner organisation Edinburgh Women’s Aid. The aim is to strengthen the inter-agency response to IPV among young people.

Supervisory Team:

  • First Supervisor: Dr Claire Houghton, claire.houghton@ed.ac.uk
  • Second Supervisor: Professor John Devaney, j.devaney@ed.ac.uk

About the University

The student will be based in the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh. The School provides an excellent environment for the student to undertake the proposed study. In REF2021 the University of Edinburgh’s Social Work and Social Policy unit of assessment was ranked second in the UK for ‘research power’ and received the highest possible rating for research environment. The REF assessment noted that ‘world-leading outputs came from across the unit’s priority themes’, which included children, families and relationships. The quality and breadth of social policy research has been ranked second in the UK and first in Scotland by Times Higher.

The subject area is committed to addressing inequalities and effecting social change, alongside scholarly advancement. The School Research Training Centre provides cutting-edge expertise in Social Science Methods to address structural intersectional inequalities. Students become part of the School of Social and Political Science doctoral community, are enrolled in a programme of research training and will also join a group of approximately forty doctoral students in the social policy subject area.

The vibrant College-wide Childhood and Youth Community, the Binks Hub network co-creating research using creativity and the arts, and the cross-University GENDER.ED hub will be of particular interest to students pursuing this PhD.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Applicants will have a first degree (undergraduate) and have a demonstrable interest in the topic area under investigation.
  • Applicants can have a Masters degree, however this is not a requirement.
  • Applicants can study part-time or full-time

Other criteria include:

  • Applicants must meet the admission eligibility criteria, including English language requirements, for the PhD Social Policy at the University of Edinburgh, or, if applying for MSc plus PhD funding, the MSc Social Research.
  • Applicants must have a good first degree (at least 2:1), preferably with a social science component • Applicants will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the issue of domestic abuse, and children’s human rights
  • Applicants will have a good grounding in research methods, particularly in relation to qualitative methodologies
  • Applicants will have experience of research with children and young people and/or victim-survivors of interpersonal harm or/and equivalent work experience
  • Applicants will demonstrate an ability to work with people in different roles and organisations, such as schools
  • Applicants will demonstrate an ability to manage self and workload within competing deadlines
  • Applicants will demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively orally, in writing and through social media for various audiences (e.g. academic publications, practitioners, teachers, policy-makers, users of services, young people).

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.

If you do not meet the criteria above, you will be classed as an international student. To establish if you would be classed as a home student, please see pages 4 and 5 of the UKRI eligibility guidance 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 2025. 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

If invited to interview there will be an additional presentation task.

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 or around 25th April. Interviews will take place 6 May.

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

Contact details

Name
SGSSS Team (for questions on the application portal, only), for any questions on the project, email the first & second supervisors (see details in abstract above)
Email
team@sgsss.ac.uk

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Privacy Policy

© 2024 All rights reserved​

Scottish Graduate School of Social Science, proudly funded by