PhD Studentship: Tackling Loneliness in Schools using Social Prescribing (TaLoS)

A 3-year PhD Studentship is available in the Social Biobehavioural Research Group, Institute of Epidemiology and Healthcare at UCL as part of a wider project exploring the application of social prescribing in schools to tackle loneliness. The studentship will commence from September 2024, under the supervision of Dr Daniel Hayes and Professor Daisy Fancourt.

TaLoS

TaLoS is national programme of work aiming to develop, and test, a social prescribing pathway in schools to tackle loneliness. It is a collaboration between University College London, the University of Manchester, the National Academy for Social Prescribing and the Social Prescribing Youth Network.

The PhD project

We are seeking a talented and enthusiastic student to contribute to this programme of work, contributing to the overall research design, engaging young people with social prescribing, as well as developing their own proposed doctoral studies to fit alongside TaLoS. For more information on the overall study design, please see the https://sbbresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/PhD-Studentship-TaLoS-Key-Information-Document.pdf . There is flexibility in how the candidate wishes to do this. For example, the PhD could focus specifically on a specific population who will be captured as part of the larger programme of work (e.g. young people in schools who are from more socially deprived backgrounds). Or the PhD could focus on a particular outcome that may already be included within TaLoS or could be added in (e.g. exploring how social prescribing affects confidence in young people recruited into the study through quantitative data analysis). Or the PhD could explore additional mechanisms relating to social prescribing and/or loneliness (e.g. through conducting additional qualitative interviews). The PhD therefore provides an opportunity to pursue an individual interest while benefitting from the wider structure, resources and expertise of a large-scale trial.

The student will receive a starting stipend of £20,622 per annum (including London weighting) as well as the cost of tuition fees based on UK fee status.

Personal Specification

Applicants should have, or expect to receive an upper second-class Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree (or equivalent work experience)in a relevant discipline or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. The successful candidate will deliver social prescribing to young people as part of TaLoS (training will be provided). Experience in child or youth mental health or wellbeing research is desirable.

Eligibility

This studentship covers the cost of tuition fees based on the UK (Home) rate. Non-UK students can apply but will have to personally fund the difference between the UK (Home) rate and the overseas rate where they are not eligible for UK fee status.

NB: You will be asked about your likely fee status at the interview so we would advise you to contact the UCL Graduate Admissions Office for advice should you be unsure whether or not you meet the eligibility criteria for Home fee status. Further information on Brexit and the definitions for fee status assessment can be found on the UCL website and also the UKCISA website (Higher Education: Definitions for fee status assessment).

Application

To apply, please send (i) a current CV including the contact details of two professional referees, (ii) a 1-sided A4 cover letter and (iii) a 3-page research proposal, detailing any background literature (no more than half a page) and planned studies, including methods and analysis, to Dr Daniel Hayes ([email protected] )

Closing deadline for applications:12th February 2024