College of Social Sciences

10% Alumni PhD Fee Discount

The College of Social Sciences is offering a 10% discount to former University of Glasgow graduates (Alumni) wishing to pursue a Postgraduate Research Degree in the College.

This discount will be for all Postgraduate Research Students (PhD, EdD, MPhil by Research & MLitt) Full and Part-time, who have previously completed an Undergraduate or Postgraduate Degree at the University of Glasgow.

The discount will apply for the full term of study (3 years full time / 5 years part-time).

There is no restriction on the period of time between completion of the current award and enrolling on a the Postgraduate Research Degree Programme.

To be granted this discount you must indicate when applying for admission that you are a University of Glasgow Graduate.


Educational Research PhD Scholarship

1 Full-Time PhD Studentship & 1 Part-Time PhD Studentship

 Applications are sought from appropriately qualified candidates who would like to pursue a full-time PhD programme of research in the area of Educational Policy and Practice within the School of Education. The focus of the research will be on one of the ‘grand challenges’ of our time, the relationship between socio-economic disadvantage and low educational achievement and what might be done to close the gap between learners from more and less advantaged backgrounds. The successful candidate will be part of a larger team involved in a new and exciting initiative at the University of Glasgow exploring ways in which research, policy and practice might interact to promote more equitable education systems.

The studentship includes full fees and a stipend of £13726 per year over a 3 year period (full-time) or £6863 per year over a 5 year period (part-time). Progression to submission of thesis will be subject to satisfactory annual progress.

In the first instance, potential candidates should prepare an outline proposal addressing the following key questions:

1. What policies, processes and practices demonstrate success in loosening the link between low educational achievement and disadvantage?

2. How can these practices be moved across and between schools while retaining their potency?

This research should be designed to shed new light on enduring questions that have preoccupied researchers over many years:

  • What are the key factors linking low educational achievement to socio-economic disadvantage?
  • How do these factors interact with each other? 
  • What can schools do to offset socio-economic disadvantage?

How to Apply

Applicants for this scholarship must first submit a complete application for admission to the PhD Educational Studies (full-time or part-time) at the University of Glasgow. Details of how to apply for the PhD Educational Studies programme can be found on the College of Social Sciences webpages http://www.gla.ac.uk/research/opportunities/howtoapplyforaresearchdegree/.

After the completed application for admission has been submitted online, applicants should send an email to Christopher.Chapman@glasgow.ac.uk by 5pm on Monday 3 June 2013 stating which scholarship (full-time or part-time) they wish to be considered for. This email should include copies of all documents which have been submitted as part of the PhD application (proposal, references, transcript etc).  If references for the admission application have been sent via email to the Graduate School, they must also be sent by email to Professor Chapman for the scholarship application.

Interviews will be held week beginning:   TBC

For further information or for an informal conversation about this opportunity please contact Professor Christopher Chapman at chris.chapman@glasgow.ac.uk or on 07595 023131


Higher Education Academy Mike Baker Doctoral Studentship

‘Evaluating the impact of student-staff co-created curricula in higher education’

We are delighted to announce that we have received funding from the Higher Education Academy for a three year full time PhD studentship focused on ‘Evaluating the impact of student-staff co-created curricula in higher education’. This studentship will be situated within the University of Glasgow’s Learning and Teaching Centre. The successful applicant will be supervised by Dr Catherine Bovill from the Learning & Teaching Centre and Professor Vivienne Baumfield from the School of Education.

Increasingly academic staff and higher education institutions are realising the benefits of engaging students more meaningfully in decisions about their learning experiences. Despite many calls for students and staff to co-create the curriculum (often from schools ‘student voice’ discourse, popular education and critical pedagogy literature), we have not engaged meaningfully in enacting co-created curriculum in higher education institutions until relatively recently (Little et al, 2011; Bovill, 2012). Compelling beneficial outcomes are emerging where students have been co-creating curricula including: increased motivation for study; academic staff and students relating differently with enhanced dialogue; academic staff and students gaining a greater meta-cognitive awareness of the learning process (Bovill et al, 2011), and some reports of enhanced student performance in assessments as a result of students’ deeper understanding of, greater engagement in, and enhanced responsibility for, learning (Bovill, 2013).

Approaches to co-creating curricula are founded on principles of inclusivity and emphasise the importance of hearing student voices that are often under-represented in more traditional learning environments (Fielding, 2004). Thus enhancement through co-created learning offers a particularly valuable opportunity for improving the experience of our diverse range of university students. At present the use of co-creative approaches to curriculum tend to be confined to small scale practices supported by individual academic staff, although there are emerging a number of larger scale programmes focused on students as consultants or co-researchers into learning and teaching (Dunne & Zandstra, 2011; Cook-Sather, 2010; Neary, 2011). The co-created curricular initiatives that exist in higher education have often not been evaluated or the outcomes disseminated widely. Therefore, this project aims to investigate the processes and outcomes of co-created curricula in a range of different UK higher education institutions.

Specifically, this research project aims to:

  • enhance understanding of the impact of student-staff co-created curricula in higher education, in terms of a) student outcomes, b) staff outcomes, c) departmental and institutional outcomes;
  • investigate a range of facilitating factors and barriers to co-creation, informative to the HE sector in supporting sustainable models of co-created curricula in the future;
  • disseminate a range of examples of co-created curricular approaches and lessons learned as well as identify elements of good practice that will be of benefit to the international higher education sector.

The student will have some flexibility to develop the scope and focus of this project from its original conception. The student will become part of a vibrant PhD research community within the College of Social Sciences and will be able to access a range of support and training opportunities within the College of Social Sciences, Learning and Teaching Centre and School of Education.

Informal enquiries about the scholarship are encouraged and should be directed to Dr Bovill Catherine.bovill@glasgow.ac.uk  who can discuss any queries you have about the scholarship.

Eligibility and details of the award

Please note that this Scholarship is only available to Home/ EU applicants on a full-time study basis. The scholarship will run for a maximum of three years commencing on Monday 9th September 2013 and will provide:

  • an annual bursary equivalent to the RCUK rate – currently £13,861 for 2013-2014
  • tuition fees at the standard Home/EU rate
  • a research support budget of £850 per annum

How to Apply
Applicants should complete the following documentation:

  • Application Form - Higher Education Academy Mike Baker Doctoral Studentship
  • two references (one referee should be an academic or research related referee such as your Masters project supervisor or individual who can comment on your research and/or writing abilities)
  • a writing sample e.g. a piece of assessed work from your studies to date, or a report you have written on any topic, and in the region of 1500-2500 words long.

Please send your application by email to Dr Catherine Bovill catherine.bovill@glasgow.ac.uk by 5pm on Friday 3rd May 2013 stating that you wish to be considered for the scholarship.

Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed by a Learning & Teaching Centre/College of Social Science selection panel. Interviews will take place in early June 2013. Applicants are encouraged to consider the following criteria within their applications as all applications and interviewees will be reviewed against these criteria:

Essential:

  • a Masters level qualification;
  • an interest in research into higher education learning and teaching;
  • good oral and written and oral communication skills;
  • a high level of self-motivation;
  • evidence of the ability to complete work to meet deadlines;
  • the ability to work within a team as well as to take individual initiative;
  • the ability to take a critical and creative approach to work.

Desirable:

  • a Masters level qualification in a social science discipline;
  • experience of using educational research methodology and/or evaluation methodology;
  • experience of undertaking a research project.

Scottish Graduate School Doctoral Training Centre Collaborative Studentship

Protection for whom? Responding to ‘at risk’ young women

 Internationally, there are concerns about increasing numbers of young women being drawn into youth and adult criminal justice systems (Burman and Batchelor 2009; Sharpe 2010) and the rise in female incarceration (McIvor 2010; McIvor and Burman 2011). Young women often come to agencies’ attention as ‘in need of protection’, but instead of being routed through child welfare systems become rebranded as ‘at risk’ of offending and transferred from the welfare to the justice spheres (Creaney 2012; Sharpe 2012; Worrall 2001). Repeated contact with youth justice agencies is shown to be damaging to young people in the long term, with ‘maximum diversion and minimum intervention’ being the key to reducing youth offending (McAra and McVie 2010).

Ministerial commitments have been made to reduce the number of females in custody in all UK jurisdictions and to develop gender-specific community provision (All Party Parliamentary Group on Women in the Penal System 2011; Commission on Female Offenders 2012). There has been considerable innovation in the development of initiatives for adult female offenders in Scotland (e.g. Loucks et al. 2006; Burgess et al., 2011) but very little provision for young women. Little is known internationally about the needs and deeds of girls and young women who offend, nor what ‘works’ in terms of reducing their offending (Batchelor and Burman 2004; Belknap and Holsinger 1998). Whilst young women differ from their adult (and male) counterparts in important ways, policy and practice responses rarely consider their age-specific needs, nor the challenges involved in working with what is deemed a particularly ‘manipulative’ and ‘malevolent’ group (Burman and Batchelor 2009; Sharpe 2009).

Research Aims

This research will involve an in-depth, comprehensive analysis of criminal justice responses to girls and young women deemed at risk of secure care or custody in Scotland.  In doing so, it seeks to contribute to knowledge and understanding about girls and young women’s offending and to the development of good practice in working with young women who offend.

 Indicative Research Questions

  1. What are the material, discursive and institutional contexts that shape responses to girls and young women at risk of secure care or custody in Scotland?
  2. What are the pathways into and out of secure accommodation or prison for girls and young women in Scotland?
  3. How responsive and effective are existing systems in responding to girls and young women who offend?
  4. What are the core principles and features of current specialist provision for girls and young women and how effective is it in terms of reducing reoffending and other risky behaviours? What are the implications for policy and practice in such areas as the Children’s Hearing System, the criminal justice system, the penal system, and related supportive systems (e.g. social work)?

 The collaborating partner, Up-2-Us, is a key provider of projects and interventions for young offenders and through its Time-for-Change project provides advice, support and assistance to young women and girls at risk of secure care and custody in order to reduce the risk of further offending. The collaboration therefore provides an excellent opportunity to research responses to girls and young women who offend, drawing on Up-2-Us’s existing links and networks to access young women at risk of, currently in and post custody/secure care - and the organisations and professionals who work with them.

The studentship will include short research placements at the Up-2-Us office and project locations in the west of Scotland, where the student will have the opportunity to work with the Up-2-Us designated staff contact/supervisor, Olive Arens, and also as part of a team developing and overseeing the range of interventions and projects for young women. S/he will also attend relevant policy and practice meetings, which will provide clear benefits in terms of networking opportunities. This will allow identification of most appropriate mechanisms for embedding research findings.  S/he will be supported to provide six-monthly progress up-dates to Up-2-Us, and use other approaches to dissemination of emergent findings which could include: articles in newsletters and on websites.

There may also be opportunities to undertake work within the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research (SCCJR), depending on qualifications and experience.

Research Training

The University of Glasgow offers has a vibrant research community and, at the start of the doctoral year, the student will be enrolled in our Doctoral Research Training Programme. Research skills training involves a formal programme of activities across the life of the studentship, including advanced quantitative and qualitative research methods courses, poster presentations, dissemination activities and seminar presentations.  In addition, there are many informal opportunities which include self-led student reading groups; opportunities to attend general University courses focusing on transferable skills, teaching and learning; career planning sessions offered by the Careers Office; attendance at organised events/workshops with external speakers; and organised PhD conferences and other events to build PhD networks

During the three years of doctoral studies on the PhD programme, the successful student will be able to take any relevant course modules which form part of the MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice, the MRes Criminology or the MSc Transnational Crime, Justice and Security within the School of Social and Political Sciences.

The University of Glasgow is a member of the prestigious Scottish Graduate School Doctoral Training Centre recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council. Successful applicants will acquire their postgraduate training from the provision of the DTC.  The student will be part of the Socio-legal/Criminology Pathway of the SGS DTC and will take advantage of any advanced training offered through the Pathway and the annual Summer Schools. 

He/she will also be enrolled on the joint SCCJR and SIPR Doctoral Training Programme which offers a wide range of opportunities and events, including participation in research oriented seminars and conferences; and annual PhD ‘Away day’ open to all criminology, criminal justice, security and policing students across Scotland; support and mentoring from experienced academic staff; opportunities to attend specialist meetings and briefings on relevant policy issues; and participation in a range of training and skills enhancement events

Supervision

The study will be supervised by Dr Susan Batchelor and Professor Michele Burman within the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice (SCCJR) at the University of Glasgow.  Supervision will involve regular meetings throughout the three years to determine progress on the intellectual and methodological aspects of the thesis.   The student will have office accommodation in the the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research at the University of Glasgow.     

Criteria for Selection

The conditions of the studentship are as follows:

  • Applicants for the +3 award must be available to start in September 2013 and to take up this studentship on a full time basis.
  • Applicants must have a 1st or upper 2nd class honours degree in a relevant social science subject and must have completed recognised ESRC research training in criminology, social policy, sociology or a related discipline.
  • Applicants are expected to have a broad understanding of and a general interest in the topic area, and this should be reflected in your application. 
  • Applicants must satisfy the eligibility criteria of the ESRC  Collaborative Studentship Scheme.

Funding Details

The award will pay the full fees for the successful candidate along with a tax free maintenance allowance in line with the UK Research Council standard stipend (£13,726 2013/14).

Length of Award: 3 years (PhD)

Eligibility:  This studentship is available to Home and EU students, according to fee status, who meet Research Council eligibility requirements based on residency.

Application Details:  Further details about the subject of the PhD and the qualifications and experience required can be found here.

The closing date for applications is 3 May 2013. Short-listed candidates will be invited for interview during the week beginning 10 June 2013.

You must submit two (2) applications in parallel to be considered for an ESRC Studentship:

  1. A standard University of Glasgow online application for Postgraduate study (Please mark: ‘SCCJR/UP-2-US ESRC COLLABORATIVE STUDENTSHIP’)
  2. An ESRC studentship application pack (details and forms below).

ESRC studentship application pack includes

i) A full CV (including details of your Master’s dissertation and ESRC-recognised research training, where applicable)

i) A 2-page summary of the reasons for applying for the area of research, including relevant skills and knowledge.

iii) Two references, at least one of which should be an academic reference.

iv) A DTC 2013 Equal Opportunities Form

Application packs should be sent to the College of Social Sciences Graduate School.

Alan McConnell: Alan.McConnell@glasgow.ac.uk

For further details of the proposed project and an informal discussion, please contact Dr Susan Batchelor: susan.batchelor@glasgow.ac.uk

For further information on the School of Social and Political Sciences: http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/

For further information on SCCJR: http://www.sccjr.ac.uk


PhD Scholarships in Public Law 2013

Applications are invited for up to 2 Scholarships being offered by the College of Social Sciences to study for a PhD in the area of public law. The successful candidate(s) would have Professor Adam Tomkins, John Millar Professor of Public Law, as their principal supervisor. PhD students are particularly sought in areas that overlap with Professor Tomkins’ research interests, although proposals in any area of public law will be considered. Professor Tomkins’ current research interests include: national security law; counter-terrorism; the fundamentals of UK constitutional order; the constitutional role of the courts; freedom of information law; devolution in the UK; and the constitutional consequences of the Scottish independence referendum.

Eligibility

Home/EU and international applicants are eligible to apply. Both full-time and part-time students are eligible.

The Award

The scholarship will run for a maximum of three years full-time or 5 years part-time commencing on September/October 2013 and will provide:

  • an annual bursary equivalent to the RCUK rate – currently £13,590 (£6795 part-time) for 2012/13
  • fees at the standard Home/EU or International rate
  • successful candidates will be eligible to tutor in public law subjects at levels 1 and 2 of the School’s LLB programmes

How to Apply

Applicants not currently studying for a research degree at the University of Glasgow must identify a potential supervisor prior to submitting an application, in order to secure a reference. The researcher search tool (link) is available to help in identifying a potential supervisor.

All applicants should complete and collate the following documentation then attach to a single email and send to alan.mcconnell@glasgow.ac.uk by 17:00 on Friday 31st May 2013:

Public Law PhD Scholarship Application Form
With all sections and final checklist completed.

Academic Transcript(s)
Full academic transcript(s) from previous studies (undergraduate and postgraduate).

2 references
On official headed notepaper and signed by referees.

References given to candidates in sealed envelopes should be opened, scanned and attached to the email. References from University of Glasgow staff can be emailed direct to alan.mcconnell@glasgow.ac.uk by referees.

Research Proposal
Research proposal form should be completed and attached to the application email.

Additional items such as references and bibliography should be attached to the application email separately from the research proposal – i.e. on a different word document.

Proposals should be no longer than 1200 words, excluding references etc. Any proposal over 1200 words will not be considered.

Other
All documents should be named as follows:  “CoSS Scholarship, Document Name, Student Name”
For Example:                                             “CoSS Scholarship, Reference 1, Alan McConnell”

Applicants must also complete an application for admission to a research programme using the on-line application system.
http://www.gla.ac.uk/research/opportunities/howtoapplyforaresearchdegree/

The same documents can be used in support of both the scholarship and admission applications but should be submitted separately – i.e. scholarship application documents emailed to alan.mcconnell@glasgow.ac.uk and admission application documents uploaded via the online system.

Any application which fails to meet the above requirements will not be considered.