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William Rudgard

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PhD in Child Protection, Education, and Climate Change Impacts in Africa University of Oxford in United Kingdom

I am recruiting a fully funded PhD student to research child protection, education, and climate change impacts in Africa at the University of Oxford.

University of Oxford

United Kingdom

Jan 27, 2026

Keywords

Education
Environmental Science
Sociology
Disaster Management
Salud Pública
Social Policy
Child Welfare
Drought
Warning Systems

Description

The University of Oxford, in partnership with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), is offering a fully funded ESRC Grand Union DTP PhD studentship focused on the impacts of rising heat and drought across Africa on child protection and education. This interdisciplinary project, supervised by Associate Professor William Rudgard and Professor Lucie Cluver, aims to generate new evidence to improve early warning systems and humanitarian responses, investigate how climate extremes affect children’s safety, schooling, and wellbeing, and inform guidance and tools for IFRC National Societies. The research will utilize advanced statistical analyses, machine learning, and geospatial data to link climate and child survey data across multiple African countries, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. Key outputs include briefing papers, child-friendly disaster preparedness materials, and evidence-based recommendations for schools and humanitarian organizations. The studentship is funded for 3.5 years and covers tuition and stipend. Applicants must apply for the DPhil in Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation at Oxford, submit a research proposal engaging with the project, and complete the Grand Union DTP Application Form. The deadline for applications is 27 January 2026. This opportunity is ideal for candidates interested in child protection, education, climate change, humanitarian response, and social policy research. For queries, contact Associate Professor William Rudgard at [email protected].

Funding

The PhD studentship is fully funded by the ESRC Grand Union DTP for 3.5 years (or part-time equivalent). Funding covers tuition fees and provides a stipend. The exact award length may vary depending on prior training and ESRC requirements. Part-time funding is available only to eligible students.

How to apply

Submit an application for the DPhil in Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation at the University of Oxford. Include a research proposal addressing the project's core elements. Complete and upload the Grand Union DTP Application Form with your graduate application. Select 'ESRC Grand Union DTP Studentships in Social Sciences' in the scholarships section.

Requirements

Applicants must apply for a DPhil in Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation at the University of Oxford. A research proposal engaging with the core elements of the project is required. Candidates should meet ESRC training requirements. The part-time option is only available to students with Home status or those not requiring a UK study visa. Further eligibility details are available on the Grand Union DTP website.

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