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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

Vulnerable young people’s experiences during the transition to adulthood: A longitudinal investigation in a Scottish birth cohort.

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

Institution
University of Edinburgh
Pathway
Social Inequalities
Studentship
SDS 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

The transition to adulthood is a significant developmental period, not only for young people and their families, but also for policymaking. This is due to the importance of young people’s post-school experiences and decisions for their adult lives, and the negative economic and societal consequences if transitions are challenging (such as reduced workforce productivity and social instability).

While most young people successfully navigate this transition, a considerable number face difficulties, particularly those from vulnerable backgrounds. This includes young people from low-income households; those with histories of mental health problems, delinquency or disabilities; those with previous low educational attainment; and those who have been exposed to traumatic experiences. Research highlights substantial inequalities in transition outcomes for these disadvantaged and often marginalised youths, but the factors contributing to these inequalities, and potential leverage points to reduce them, are poorly understood.

This PhD project will use existing data from young people in Scotland who have been followed from birth to early adulthood as part of the Growing Up in Scotland (GUS) study. More information about the dataset can be found here: https://growingupinscotland.org.uk/about-gus/

>Using these data, the project will study vulnerable young people’s experiences during the transition to adulthood. The project will generate novel and policy-relevant evidence to inform how organisations such as SDS can tailor services to meet the needs of vulnerable young people, and support them to realise their potential.
The project will investigate:
  • How and why young people’s vulnerability factors shape their preparedness for the transition to adulthood
  • Young people’s feelings and perceptions about their transition to adulthood
  • The diverse pathways young people take as they move into further or higher education, training or employment
  • How transition outcomes for vulnerable young people vary according to their social and economic context.
The PhD will provide a unique opportunity for the student to work with existing, rich longitudinal data of young people in Scotland; to develop quantitative statistical analysis skills that are transferable across academic and non-academic careers; to produce research that will directly inform policy and practice; and to work with and engage a variety of stakeholders, including young people, SDS, and policymakers.

Collaborative Partner, Skills Development Scotland, for more on their PhD programme, read their brochure here.

Supervisory Team:

About the University

The student will join Edinburgh’s Department of Psychology, a vibrant community of world-class scholars. The department is an excellent environment for a PhD student: the research environment is rated as 100% conducive to producing world-leading and impactful research, and 90% of the research is rated as outstanding in terms of its reach and significance (REF, 2022). The PhD project fits with the strengths of the Department: life-course developmental psychology and quantitative methods. The PhD is aligned with the University’s research priorities, including “Data, Digital and Artificial Intelligence” and “Future Health and Care”. The student will also benefit from affiliation with the School of Social and Political Science, enabling the student in taking an interdisciplinary approach to research, that considers both individual psychological processes and broader social, economic, and policy factors.

Skills Development Scotland

This studentship will be undertaken in close collaboration with Skills Development Scotland (SDS), Scotland’s national skills agency. The successful candidate will have their own SDS sponsor who has both knowledge and experience in the PhD topic and who will facilitate access to networks and other resources to support the project. There will be many opportunities for the candidate to engage with SDS policy, practitioner and professional stakeholders through contributing to seminars, networking events and other SDS public events and initiatives. Read the SDS PhD Brochure to find out more.

SDS is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and our PhD Programme encourages applications from all backgrounds.

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 should demonstrate an interest in youth wellbeing and the transition to adulthood.
  • Applicants should demonstrate an interest in quantitative methods and statistical analysis in the social sciences
  • Applicants should ideally have some experience of using quantitative analysis methods, particularly as applied to larger datasets and/or longitudinal data, as acquired during an undergraduate or Masters degree in a relevant subject.
  • Applicants should be interested in translating research findings into policy and interventions to support young people, as well as in engaging with a variety of stakeholders, including young people, SDS, and policymakers

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

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for an enthusiastic student to work on a policy-relevant quantitative methods project with an advanced survey analysis component. This studentship is sponsored by Skills Development Scotland and we expect outputs that will be useful for policy and practice in addition to more traditional academic papers.

How will I be supported?

Prior training in quantitative methods would be welcome, but the University of Edinburgh offers methods training, e.g. through the Research Training Centre in the School of Social and Political Science. Such training can help any enthusiastic student gain the necessary skills to complete this project. The student will also become part of a vibrant PGR culture in the School of PPLS and will benefit from regular supervision.

Who will supervise me?

The project will be co-supervised by Dr Jasmin Wertz (Psychology), Dr Bonnie Auyeung (Psychology) and Dr Elke Heins (Social Policy). The successful applicant will benefit from the wider networks of the supervisory team. Together, the supervisory team will steer the student to both learn from and speak to academic and non-academic audiences interested in this research. As this is a collaborative studentship with Skills Development Scotland (SDS), the student will also have an SDS sponsor and will be supported and guided in producing impactful research.

For questions, refer to the point of contacts listed in the abstract above.

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 17 April. Interviews will take place 29 April.

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

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