Postgraduate research opportunities The role of third sector organisations in supporting asylum seekers’ and refugees’ integration, citizenship and belonging
ApplyKey facts
- Opens: Monday 3 March 2025
- Deadline: Friday 9 May 2025
- Number of places: 1
- Duration: 3 years
- Funding: Home fee, Stipend
Overview
The role of charities and community groups has become more prominent over the last decade of austerity and ongoing cost-of-living crisis, including in relation to support for asylum seekers and refugees. The aim of the study is to address this gap and provide evidence on the role of third sector organisations in supporting refugee integration and individuals who are navigating the UK asylum system.Eligibility
A good first degree in a Social Sciences discipline, for example in the fields of Social Work, Social Policy, Education, Anthropology, Human Geography (First or upper second-class honours degree qualification)
Masters with a Research Methods training completed or equivalent research experience, for example, experience of working as a researcher.
Project Details
Research has showed the effective value third sector multidimensional advocacy and integration support has for refugees and people navigating the asylum system, including provision of basic services and social welfare; capacity development; system-oriented advocacy; and connecting individuals to key services.
The aim of the study is to address existing research gaps and provide evidence on the role of third sector organisations in supporting asylum seekers’ and refugees’ wellbeing and access to rights. The study objectives are aligned with this aim and include:
- to evidence the role of third sector in supporting refugee integration, wellbeing and access to rights;
- to document the experiences of service users, in terms of long-term benefits to accessing third sector support and potential barriers;
- to identify solutions to the on-going crisis in the sector, including disjointed provision and gaps in funding and continuity of services.
The study will adopt an in-depth qualitative approach, with in-depth interviews with refugee sector employees across Scotland; narrative interviews with settled refugees and in-depth participant observation of refugee-sector service provision. This will be further complemented with a case study mapping the role of refugee sector action in shaping the Scottish Integration Policy and changes in the provision of welfare to asylum seekers and refugees.
The findings will inform social policy, community and service providers and we anticipate you will be keen to design impact activities targeted at improving policy and practice.
Further information
Only complete applications received by the deadline of 9 May 2025 will be considered.
Funding details
The funding includes a maintenance grant (stipend) in line with UKRI guidance to cover living expenses, with an annual cost of living increase. Stipend for 2025/26 academic year is estimated at £20,199, payable per calendar month (tax free) at £1683.25. Home Fees are included in the studentship award.
International applications are welcome, but if successful would need to fund the difference between Home & International Fees in the region of £15k+ per annum, for each year of study as no further funding is available.
Home Students
To be eligible for a fully funded UK home studentship you must:
- Be a UK national or UK/EU dual national or non-UK national with settled status / pre-settled status / indefinite leave to remain / indefinite leave to enter / discretionary leave / EU migrant worker in the UK or non-UK national with a claim for asylum or the family member of such a person, and
- Have ordinary residence in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or British Overseas Territory, at the Point of Application, and
- Have three years residency in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, British Overseas Territory or EEA before the relevant date of application unless residency outside of the UK/ EEA has been of a temporary nature only and of a period less than six years
While there is no funding in place for opportunities marked "unfunded", there are lots of different options to help you fund postgraduate research. Visit funding your postgraduate research for links to government grants, research councils funding and more, that could be available.
Apply
Interested candidates should go to “apply now” PhD Social Policy and select “start: 1 October 2025” (under start between: Oct 2025 – Sept 2026 academic year). In the funding section please state: REA Studentship 2025/26. In the research title/field of study section please state the project title.
Only complete applications received by the deadline of 9 May 2025 will be considered.
A complete application should include the following documentation:
- academic transcripts and degree Certificates
- a narrative CV addressing the project’s aims and objectives, demonstrating how the skills you have maps to the area of research and why you see this area as being of importance and interest
- a writing piece (1,500-2,000 words) outlining the ethical challenges anticipated in the project and how you would address these
- provide referees contact details for 2 references of which at least one must be academic
- IELTS Certificate or equivalent if English is not your first language
Number of places: 1
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Social Policy
Programme: Social Policy
Contact us
Project enquiries to daniela.sime@strath.ac.uk
Application enquiries to hass-pgr-scholarships@strath.ac.uk