PhDs
Enabling PhD studentships is an important area of capacity development to ensure the continued availability of trained research staff in the long term. Our staff are active supervisors for our PhDs as well as for other projects across our two University partners.
PenARC PhD Studentship Opportunities (from 2026)
The NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula (PenARC) is investing in the next generation of health and social care research leaders through a new round of funded PhD studentships starting in September 2026. As part of the next phase of PenARC funding, up to eight doctoral studentships will be awarded in Year 1, hosted across the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth.
These studentships are a major element of PenARCās long-term commitment to building research capacity and leadership in applied health and care research. Each studentship includes a UKRI-matched stipend, PhD fees, annual research and training costs, and funding for open-access publication, with part-time study available.
PenARC is inviting outline PhD proposals from supervisory teams that align strongly with its strategic research themes, including ageing well, mental health, children and young people, dementia and neurodegeneration, prevention, research inclusion, and research methods and implementation. Proposals are expected to demonstrate strong collaboration, clear plans for impact, and meaningful patient and public involvement.
The deadline for applications is Monday 2nd February 2026, 17:00
Submitted proposals will be reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel, including public contributors, with funding decisions made in early 2026. Successful projects will be advertised in spring 2026, with students commencing in September.
We currently have seven PhD studentships running. PhD studentships are linked to our project and priority areas. As well as the scientific quality of the proposal and strength of the supervisory team, projects have been selected because of the fit with our aims and objectives, and relevance to the needs and priorities of the wider health and care system.Ā
Please note, we have filled all our PhD studentship places for this round of funding, so do not have any more opportunities planned.Ā
Projects Ā
- Cluster randomised trials for evaluating school-based interventions to improve physical health, mental health and behavioural outcomes in pupilsĀ
- The implementation of integrated psychological medicine services in Devon: An ethnography of changeĀ
- What community-based, public health interventions might have combined impacts on alcohol and substance misuse, domestic violence and mental health?Ā
- Using mixed methods to inform our understanding of maintaining independence in older peopleĀ
- Implementation of Functional Imagery Training into primary careĀ
- Social prescribing and horticulture therapy for higher functioning autistic adultsĀ
- Non-pharmacological interventions for dementia behaviours: developing and evaluating a ālivingā evidence and gap mapĀ