History: Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Early education, education, education: childcare in th[...]

European Commission; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious studentship opportunity is available at Swansea University for a PhD investigating childcare policies by New Labour in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The student will conduct original research using archival material and interviews while receiving essential training. This is an excellent opportunity for applicants with an interest in social history and politics. The studentship is open to full-time and part-time study, offering financial support for tuition fees and living expenses.

Benefits

£20,780 annual stipend

£600 additional maintenance payment

Eligibility for up to £4,000 for research-related expenses

Qualifications

• Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 and a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at 'Merit'.
• First class honours degree holders will be considered on an individual basis.

Responsibilities

• Conduct archival research using materials at The National Archives.
• Undertake original oral history interviews with policy makers and childcare professionals.
• Engage with the research environment at Swansea University and The National Archives.

Skills

Research skills

Oral history methodologies

Archival research

Education

Undergraduate degree at 2.1 level

Master’s degree with minimum overall grade at 'Merit'

Job description

Organisation/Company Swansea University Department Central Research Field History Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country United Kingdom Application Deadline 25 Jul 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/London) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

This studentship explores the policies and practice of childcare as envisaged by New Labour between 1994 and the early 2000s. The student will use recently opened material held at The National Archives to investigate the politics of childcare, and to consider the ways that it intersected with, and was informed by, governmental interest in poverty, the family, work, and social mobility during this era of contemporary British history. The project will be particularly appealing to students with an interest in the politics of the late-1990s and early 2000s, and students with an interest in the social history of gender and the family in the period. The student will be supported to undertake original oral history interviews with policy makers and childcare professionals alongside archival research, and will receive training to develop these skills.

It will be jointly supervised by Dr Sarah Crook and Dr Jessamy Carlson. The student will be expected to engage with the research environment of both Swansea University and The National Archives, although there is no residency requirement around proximity to Swansea University. The student will be encouraged to undertake training in oral history methodologies, as well as to undertake training in other approaches as necessary. The student will also be supported to present their work at relevant conferences and seminars.

The studentship can be studied either full or part-time.

The majority of the early archival research will be based at TNA at Kew. The supervisory team will support online meetings as the student progresses, so student is not expected to reside near to Swansea University in order to undertake the studentship.

The student will become part of the wider group of CDP funded students across the UK, with access to events and training delivered in partnership with a range of cultural heritage institutions.

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email [e-mail] with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in.

Additional Information

CDP doctoral training grants fund full-time studentships for 48 months (4 years), or part-time equivalent.

The award pays tuition fees up to the value of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) full-time home rate for PhD degrees. The UKRI Indicative Fee Level for 2025/26 is £5,005.

The award also pays a stipend to cover living costs, which will be paid in regular instalments. This stipend will be a minimum of £20,780 per year. CDP students also receive an additional maintenance payment of £600 per year. Further details can be found on the UKRI website .

The student will also be eligible to claim up to £4,000 worth of research-related expenses from The National Archives.

Eligibility criteria

PhD: Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level and a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’. Alternatively, applicants with a UK first class honours degree (or non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) not holding a master’s degree, will be considered on an individual basis. See our Country Specific Postgraduate Entry Requirements.

Selection process

Please see our website for further information.