Manchester-Melbourne Dual Award PhD: Improving Listening Abilities in Noisy Environments in Children with Self-Reported Listening Difficulties The University of Manchester in United Kingdom

This Manchester-Melbourne Dual Award PhD project offers a unique opportunity for students interested in improving listening abilities in noisy environments among children with self-reported listening difficulties. Based at the University of Manchester, with a 12-month research period at the University of Melbourne, the programme is designed to foster international collaboration and provide a comprehensive research experience in both the UK and Australia.

The project focuses on using training targeted at non-auditory skills to enhance children’s ability to understand speech in challenging acoustic conditions. Understanding speech in noise and reverberation requires the integration of auditory, language, and cognitive abilities. Persistent listening difficulties can negatively impact long-term academic outcomes, making effective remediation essential. The research team has developed a comprehensive test battery to assess underlying causes, including auditory processing, language, and cognitive deficits. The PhD student will systematically evaluate various training programmes aimed at improving these diagnosed deficits, delivering interventions to primary school-aged children in Greater Manchester and measuring outcomes.

Students will gain experience in literature review, study design, qualitative data collection, and analysis. The collaborative nature of the project means working closely with a companion PhD student in Melbourne, learning about clinical audiology delivery in the Australian context, and contributing to complementary aspects of the research. The results will inform clinical specialists and audiologists, enabling them to deliver effective, validated remediation strategies tailored to children’s specific deficits. The training programmes developed will be applicable worldwide, with minor language adaptations.

Applicants must be able to conduct behavioural tests with children and should hold (or be about to obtain) a First or Upper Second class (2:1) UK honours degree, or international equivalent, in a relevant subject. Desirable backgrounds include audiology, psychology, speech therapy, or education. Registration at both Manchester and Melbourne is required, and all PhD programme requirements at both institutions must be completed.

The Manchester-Melbourne Dual Award studentship provides full funding for tuition fees, a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate for 3.5 years, return travel to Melbourne, health insurance, and research/training costs. The programme starts in September 2026, with the application deadline on March 13, 2026.

To apply, candidates must contact the primary supervisor to discuss their interest and suitability, then submit an online application via the portal, selecting PhD Communication Disorders as the programme of study. Applicants may apply for up to two projects within the scheme by listing both project titles and supervisor names in a single application. All required supporting documents must be included; incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

For further details, visit the project page on FindAPhD or the University of Manchester’s website.