Manchester-Melbourne Dual Award: Examining the Efficacy of Primary-Secondary School Transition Intervention Delivered in Secondary Schools in England and Australia

This fully funded PhD studentship is a unique dual-award opportunity at the heart of a collaboration between The University of Manchester and the University of Melbourne. The project aims to advance understanding of how best to support children transitioning from primary to secondary school, focusing on the evaluation of the Talking about School Transition (#TaST) intervention in both England and Australia. The #TaST programme is a 17-week universal, skills-based intervention delivered across the last two years of primary school and the first year of secondary school, designed to reduce children’s transition concerns, improve mental health and wellbeing, and support attendance and attainment. The primary school component of #TaST has already been piloted, demonstrating feasibility, acceptability, utility, and international reach, with recognition from the Department for Education in both countries. This PhD will specifically examine the efficacy of the secondary school component, employing an interdisciplinary, mixed-methods approach. The research will blend secondary analysis of a large quantitative dataset (#P-S WELLS) with new qualitative and quantitative data generation, resulting in three empirical papers: (a) quantitative evaluation of the secondary school #TaST lessons in England, (b) qualitative inquiry into the acceptability and potential local adaptations of Year 7 lessons in Melbourne, and (c) quantitative evaluation of the secondary school #TaST lessons in Melbourne. Supervision is provided by a strong team from both institutions, including Dr Charlotte Bagnall, Prof Neil Humphrey, Dr Emily Thornton, and Prof Joseph Quach, ensuring access to diverse expertise and excellent research environments. The successful candidate will join vibrant PhD communities at both universities, benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration, and have access to state-of-the-art research facilities and training in research design, quantitative, and qualitative methods. Eligibility requires a Bachelor’s (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent) and a Master’s degree in a relevant subject with an overall average of 60% or above and a minimum mark of 60% in the dissertation. English language proficiency must be demonstrated via IELTS (7.0 overall, 7.0 writing, 6.0 other sections), TOEFL iBT (100 overall, 25 in all sections), or Pearson Test of English (76 overall, 76 writing, 70 other sections), or by holding a degree from a majority English-speaking nation within the last 5 years. Applicants must submit academic transcripts and certificates, an academic CV, a supporting statement (max 700 words), a writing sample (up to 5,000 words), and nominate two academic referees. A PhD proposal is not required. The position is fully funded for 3.5 years, covering tuition fees and an annual stipend (£20,780 per annum for 2025/26), with a 12-month research stay at the University of Melbourne. The application deadline is March 13, 2026. For further information or queries, contact Dr Charlotte Bagnall at [email protected]. Equality, diversity, and inclusion are central to The University of Manchester’s ethos, and applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. This studentship offers an outstanding opportunity to contribute to impactful research in education and child development across two leading institutions.