UKRI

Sheffield Hallam University invites applications for a fully funded PhD Scholarship in the Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness (C4), commencing 1 October 2026. This unique opportunity is ideal for candidates passionate about building strong, cohesive, and resilient communities, and who are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion through local community or social action. The C4 Centre, funded by UKRI, is a major initiative involving academic, community, and policy partners, and is dedicated to generating evidence on effective strategies for participation and connectedness across diverse social, economic, and cultural contexts.

The project, titled Community-Level Prediction of Charitable Organisation Survival, will examine predictive factors influencing the survival of charitable organisations in the UK. It will involve secondary analysis of historic organisational birth and death records, as well as administrative data on community-level characteristics, with the aim of identifying the conditions that support or hinder organisational survival. Methodologically, the research will draw on sociology, economics, and machine learning to develop and evaluate predictive models, making it suitable for candidates with backgrounds in these disciplines and an interest in the charitable sector.

Students will be supervised by Professor Chris Dayson, a Centre Co-investigator, with additional supervisors from the wider project team and university, depending on the PhD topic and approach. The successful candidate will join a vibrant, interdisciplinary PhD community and benefit from the ESRC White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership. The Centre’s innovative structure includes five community catapults, engaging researchers, citizens, and policymakers in co-designing and co-delivering research priorities and projects.

Funding: The scholarship covers home tuition fees and provides an annual stipend at the living wage foundation rate (£21,393 per year for 2025/6), for three and a half years full-time (pro-rata part-time). Only one bursary is available, awarded to the strongest candidate. Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the university during the scholarship period.

Eligibility: Applicants should hold a strong, relevant undergraduate degree (2.1 minimum) and/or a relevant master’s qualification (merit minimum). International students must demonstrate English proficiency (IELTS 7.0 overall, no component below 6.5, or equivalent), or have completed a UK Master’s degree (merit minimum) within two years of the programme start date. Nationals of UKVI-exempt countries do not need to provide language evidence.

Application Process: Submit a complete online application form for the October 2026 intake, including a research proposal (max 1,500 words), a personal statement addressing four specific questions, copies of qualifications, certificates, and transcripts, details of two referees, and copies of your passport and any relevant visas. The deadline for applications is 17:00 (GMT+1) on 1st May 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. Interviews are expected to take place in-person in late May or early June 2026.

For further information or questions, contact Professor Chris Dayson at [email protected] or the Doctoral School at [email protected]. For more details and to apply, visit the project page.