We are currently inviting applications for studentship projects. The deadline for applications is Tuesday November 25 2025 at 1pm.
For detailed guidance on studentship applications, please download the Centre-UB PhD studentship guidance document. You can find the studentship application form here.
We are inviting applications for Centre-UB PhD projects. These 4-year PhD projects will be collaborative with a partner organisation, who will contribute to the aims and design of the research, provide data access (if relevant), and/or assist with dissemination activities. Partner organisations can be public, private, or third sector partners, with interest and expertise in human behaviour. Each doctoral researcher will have 2 supervisors based at the University of Birmingham, and a supervisor based with the partner organisation. The contribution of the partner organisation to the project, including the arrangements related to the placement and/or access to data, as well as expected academic outputs and partner-related outcomes will need to be included in the project application form.
Centre-UB behavioural research innovation and excellence is focused on three broad, multidisciplinary pillar themes spanned by one cross-cutting theme to recognise that, while behaviour can be studied at the level of the individual, all behaviour, exists within the context of multiple systems:
- Pillar Theme 1: Digital harms and goods,
- Pillar Theme 2: Equity in physical and mental wellbeing,
- Pillar Theme 3: Environmental change and sustainability, and
- Cross cutting theme: Systems thinking.
Key to Centre-UB is that subject matter expertise is not siloed within individual research disciplines; instead, doctoral researchers will work within and across these themes with colleagues from other disciplines. Interdisciplinary PhD projects are highly encouraged, but the majority of the research project should be within social sciences. Each Centre-UB project should also fit within the ESRC remit.
Supervisor expectations and eligibility
- Support the PhD project as outlined in the project application.
- Support the development of the doctoral researcher.
- Attend Centre-UB supervisor training delivered by the Centre-UB team, where all procedures related to Centre-UB will be explained, including the expectations of the supervisory team.
- Deliver a masterclass (together with the partner organisation) and host a webinar.
- Experience in supervising a doctoral researcher to successful completion. Less experienced academics can apply, but must include a supervisor with experience as primary supervisor in their project application.
- Academic supervisors can be from different schools within UoB, which can facilitate interdisciplinary research.
- Academic supervisors who are the primary supervisor in the 2025 cohort are not eligible to be the primary supervisor for a studentship in the 2026 cohort.
Partner organisation expectations and eligibility
- Support the PhD project as outlined in the project application.
- Provide appropriate access to facilities and data to support the PhD project.
- Attend Centre-UB supervisor training delivered by the Centre-UB team, where all procedures related to Centre-UB will be explained, including the expectations of the supervisory team.
- Deliver a masterclass (together with the academic supervisor) and host a webinar.
- Financial or in-kind contribution from the external partner towards the PhD project. If the nature of the proposal entails time spent away based within the collaborating organisation, we would anticipate that the organisation should meet the costs of the doctoral researcher undertaking this.
- Support the development of the doctoral researcher.
- Sign contract with UoB/ Centre-UB.
Centre-UB can provide support for connecting partner organisations and University of Birmingham supervisors:
- If you are a partner organisation, have a specific interest related to behavioural research, and are interested in supporting a PhD project, but are looking for an appropriate University of Birmingham supervisor, we can advertise your area of interest on our website and put you in touch with a suitable University of Birmingham supervisor.
- If you are a University of Birmingham academic member of staff and have ideas for a PhD project, we can advertise your project idea on our website.
To take advantage of these opportunities, please complete this online form.
You can find information about partner organisations and academic members of staff here.
For more information on how to apply for a PhD project application, please go to the section ‘how to apply for a PhD project’.