Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba
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Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba

Studentship opportunity

All Studentship Opportunities

The development of a risk assessment tool for under 18-year-olds who display problematic behaviour, both offline and online

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

Around a third of sexual abuse is perpetrated by children and young people. However, current assessment tools have primarily been informed by what is known about the treatment needs of adult sexual offenders, and there is a lack of research involving young people and their families. Employing a participatory action research approach through a multi-perspective design, the PhD research project will develop a strengths- and needs-based assessment framework, underpinned by the Good Lives Model, for children and young people who display problematic sexual behaviour.

The evidence-based assessment tool will be co-produced by the PhD student (under supervision), practitioners working with young people at The Lucy Faithfull Foundation (LFF), and young people with lived experience. It will enable the design of interventions that are holistic, solution-focused, and will bolster protective factors as much as addressing areas of concern. It will enable practitioners to develop motivational intervention plans and robust safety plans to empower children and young people to utilise their strengths, and develop additional skills to live a positive future. It will take a holistic approach to assessing a young person’s needs, ensuring that their voices, and those of their families and key professionals, are heard.

It will further improve the quality of assessments undertaken by the clinical team at LFF, who get commissioned for assessments by local authorities, family courts and other referrers in relation to children and young people under 18 years who have displayed problematic sexual behaviour both offline and online, and ultimately contribute to more positive outcomes for them.

Collaborative Partners: The Lucy Faithfull Foundation and Stop It Now!

Supervisory Team:

About the University

Mental Health and Wellbeing, School of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/healthwellbeing/

Eligibility

This application programme is for applicants looking to apply for ESRC studentship funding to undertake a supervisor-led pre-designed PhD research project, starting in the academic year 2025/26 (October 2026). To ensure you have the best chance of success please review the relevant studentship advert(s) in advance of submitting an application.

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Applicants will have or be predicted a UK honours undergraduate degree (high 2:1 or above, or International equivalent) in Psychology or another relevant subject area, or have relevant comparable experience.
  • Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must also demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.
  • 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

 

  • A Master’s degree in Psychology or another relevant subject area is desirable.
  • A Master’s degree in Research Methods is desirable.
  • Previous research experience in Psychology or another subject area is desirable.
  • Previous experience of practice/paid/voluntary work with children and young people, and/or their families, is desirable.

For more details on our eligibility criteria, we encourage applicants to review this page.

IMPORTANT: For this studentship opportunity, this project is only open for applicants who are 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.

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

This PhD studentships is particularly suited to applicants who can demonstrate

  1. A strong research methods interest or background,
  2. An interest in or experience of working with children and young people, and their families, and
  3. A general interest in the study of child sexual abuse prevention.

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.

We would like to ask applicants to submit a 1-page of the following:

  1. An example of a study that would address one element of the outlined project idea, including:
    1. A short introduction that succinctly sets out what the project idea seeks to explore,
    2. Research questions, relative to the study being given as an example,
    3. An overview of the methodology, and
    4. Ethical considerations

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 an interview on or around 10 April 2026. Interviews will take place on 21 April 2026.

The 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 after they are selected for funding.

Contact details

Name
SGSSS Team
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)

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