Browse by subject

PhD opportunities: Education

Compare 10 doctoral research opportunities connected with Education, including project summaries, funding and application deadlines.

Education

Supporting success in social work practice learning: Early identification and support for students at risk of placement failure (HHS-2026-21)

University of Huddersfield

About the Project This project will explore how students experiencing difficulties during social work placements can be identified and supported at an early stage to improve outcomes and strengthen practice learning partnerships. Practice placements are a core part of social work education, enabling students to develop professional skills in real-world settings. While most students successfully complete placements, some encounter challenges that may lead to placement failure.

Location
Huddersfield, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
30 October 2026
Funding
Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Education

Designing the teaching of problem-solving tactics in school mathematics (Ref: LN/CF-SF1/2026)

Loughborough University

About the Project A project in this area will aim to improve our knowledge about effective teaching of problem solving in school mathematics. Research suggests that although expert problem solvers use a variety of domain-general problem-solving strategies (e.g. draw a diagram, simplify the problem), novice problem solvers do not benefit from being advised to do these things.

Location
Loughborough, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
30 April 2027
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Education

A good teacher listens: Why knowing your students and teaching your students go hand in hand

University of Worcester

About the Project In the UK interest in Social Pedagogy is growing, as the chasm between what our children need, and what our education system offers them, grows wider by the day. Still recovering from the pandemic, our children need nurture, yet our outcomes driven education system offers high stakes and ever mounting pressure (Solvason, 2025). Those who value Social Pedagogy see that care and learning cannot be separated. A child who feels unsafe cannot learn.

Location
Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Education

Addressing Edinburgh and South East Scotland's Construction Skills shortfall

Edinburgh Napier University

About the Project The proposed research will support the development and delivery of the Housing Construction and Infrastructure Skills Gateway. Its aim will be to develop a regional level strategy to address the regional skills shortage in sectors relating to Construction and the Built Environment with a focus on Net Zero, Housing and Retrofit activities and to monitor it impact.

Location
Edinburgh, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Education

Critical, Decolonial and Neurodiversity Affirming Appproaches in Studying Communication and Disability

University of Reading

About the Project This project focuses on examining language, communication and disability from a critical and decolonial perspective. Specifically, the project uses an intersectionality approach in understanding the construction of disability and the impact of such construction on labelled children.

Location
Reading, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Education

How do children learn to read and spell irregular words?

Australian Catholic University

About the Project Australian Catholic University (ACU) is offering one full-time PhD scholarship to undertake research investigating children's ability to learn to read new words that do not follow phonics pronunciations rules. Study mode: Full-time for up to 3.5 years Location: North Sydney campus What you'll investigate The successful candidate will work with Dr Signy Wegener on her Australian Research Council-funded DECRA Fellowship.

Location
Sydney, Australia, Australia
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Education

Living with allergy during the transition to secondary school

University of Worcester

About the Project Allergy, the immune system’s hypersensitive reaction to typically harmless substances, can be severe and lead to a potentially life-threatening reaction or anaphylaxis (Turner et al, 2019). Allergy prevalence is a global “major public health issue” (Sánchez-Borges et al, 2018, p.1), and one of the most common chronic conditions in Europe (Muraro, 2015). The UK particularly faces an allergy crisis.

Location
Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Education

Researching Teachers’ Lives, Identities and Stories

University of Worcester

About the Project This PhD opportunity sits within the work of the Inclusion by Design Research Group at the University of Worcester and invites proposals that explore teachers’ lives, identities and stories.

Location
Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Education

The impact of pre-registration nurse education on students perceptions of nursing homes as clinical placement settings

University of Worcester

About the Project The population aged over 65 is rapidly growing and is projected to triple by 2050 (United Nations, 2023). Coupled with an increasing number of individuals aged 90 and over in the UK (Office for National Statistics, 2024), this demographic shift is expected to increase the number of older adults with complex health and social care needs by 54%, placing greater demands on expert nursing within the social care sector (Age UK, 2019).

Location
Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Education

The role of student social capital in opportunity gaps and awarding gaps in healthcare education

University of Worcester

About the Project Social capital in educational settings often refers to the network of relationships and shared norms between groups of students which can lead to positive educational outcomes. For example, high social capital can allow individuals to access support, information, and collaboration opportunities, ultimately enhancing their learning.

Location
Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only