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 mobilities slowdown and the reproduction of socio-spatial inequalities

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

Institution
University of St Andrews
Pathway
Social Inequalities
Studentship
Steers – Datasets
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

How are new residential mobility trends bringing increasing deprivation, housing precarity and population unsustainability to certain neighbourhoods and populations?
This project examines the growing phenomenon of the ‘mobilities slowdown’ which describes a decline in residential mobility across higher income countries. Given that the ability to move house has been demonstrated as beneficial for economies, population sustainability and
individuals’ social mobility and wellbeing, uneven experience of ‘mobilities slowdown’ has implications for social and spatial inequalities which scholarship has not yet explored.

This project will provide new evidence on who and where is affected, why we see population and place differences in experiences of the mobilities slowdown, and how this is impacting socio-spatial inequalities. The project is distinctive in bringing an inequalities lens, innovative in its creative interrogation of unrivalled, recently-released large-scale data, and timely in its relevance to policy concerns around housing, community cohesion, regional inequalities and population sustainability.

It will address the following research questions, with a focus on the UK:

  1. What are the contemporary patterns of residential mobility: How do new trends in the slowdown of residential mobility vary across population groups and places?
  2. Who and where is affected: What population groups and places gain and lose from the (new) patterns of residential mobility (e.g. in social mobility, neighbourhood deprivation, housing precarity, population sustainability)?
  3. Why do we see varying residential mobility for population groups and places: What (individual/family and place) factors are associated with residential mobility trends?

The core analyses will use the exceptional, recently-released England and Wales/Scotland Census data (2021/2022) together with historical census products and linked (commercial/administrative) area-level indicators.

The original research from this PhD will enliven salient debates in migration and urban studies and build capacity in analysis of complex, large scale, spatio-temporal population datasets.

Supervisory Team:

Find out more about Nissa’s work here: Prof Nissa Finney – School of Geography and Sustainable Devt

Find out more about David’s work here:  Dr David McCollum – School of Geography and Sustainable Devt

Supervisors welcome informal enquiries about this PhD opportunity.

About the University

The successful candidate will be hosted by the School of Geography and Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews. Founded in the 15th century, St Andrews is Scotland’s first university and the third oldest in the English-speaking world. The University of St Andrews is one of Europe’s most research-intensive seats of learning. It is one of the top-rated universities in Europe for research, teaching quality, and student satisfaction. St Andrews is ranked second university in the UK in The Guardian University Guide 2026 and The Times UK University Rankings 2026. The Complete University Guide 2026 ranks St Andrews as the top university in Scotland, and fourth in the UK.

Today, under the leadership of Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Sally Mapstone FRSE, the University’s Strategy is to broaden its global influence, with a focus on diversity, building a culture of entrepreneurship, research excellence, and social responsibility.

The School of Geography and Sustainable Development is well known for world-leading research and teaching in Population Studies, Environmental Change, Development, Spatial Data Science, Health Geography and Sustainability. According to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, 94% of research by the School was classified as world-leading or internationally excellent. The School also has an outstanding reputation for high-quality teaching and is ranked second in the UK by The Guardian University Guide 2026, fifth by The Times UK University Rankings 2026 and fourth by the Complete University Guide 2026. The School has 38 academic staff, 15 postdoctoral fellows and 58 PhD students, supported by two technicians and seven administrative staff.

The successful applicant will join the Population and Health Research Group (PHRG), which is one of the five research clusters in the School of Geography and Sustainable Development (SGSD). The PHRG is home to nine academic staff and a team of postdoctoral researchers and PhD students. PHRG research covers topics including internal and international migration; neighbourhood change; ethnicity and minority populations; family and fertility dynamics; life course choices; health and mortality; and population inequalities (Research – School of Geography and Sustainable Development – University of St Andrews).

The group combines expertise in demographic and longitudinal data analysis; population projections; spatial and geographical analysis; and qualitative and mixed methods. There are a number of ongoing research projects funded by UK research councils and the European Commission including the ESRC Centre for Population Change (CPC), well known for world-leading research in population studies. The student will be part of the CPC Early Career Network. The research group has partnership with the Max Plank Institute for Demographic Research. These networks will provide opportunities to the PhD student to engage with colleagues from other universities and to benefit from close links to National Statistical Offices and the Voluntary, Community and policy sector.

The successful applicant will join a vibrant community of PhD scholars that are an integral part of research in the School. In addition to School and Research Group activities, seminars, brown bags and social activities create opportunities for collegial debates and discussions. The student will be supported to participate in postgraduate research activities and to develop a strong professional profile through the course of their PhD.

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

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

As part of your application you should submit a personal statement, of no more that 2 pages. The statement should include your motivation for applying for this PhD project within the School of Geography and Sustainable Development at St Andrews, how your experience and skills position you well to undertake this PhD, and how you envisage this PhD contributing to your goals for the longer term.

Applicants should bring a keen interest in social inequalities and their geographical manifestations and enthusiasm for studying residential mobility/migration. Experience and skills in working with large scale social data are welcomed but are not essential as training can be provided.

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 3rd April. Interviews will take place on 13th April.

This studentship award is subject to the successful candidate securing admission to a PhD programme within the University of St Andrews. 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)

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