ESRC DTP Strategic Joint Studentship: Trade Policy, Sustainable Value Chains and Reshoring in the UK

[ESRC studentships cover home rate tuition fees, a maintenance stipend, research training support, and research activity support grants. Available to both home and international applicants.] The Midlands Graduate School Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP), accredited by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), invites applications for a Strategic Joint Studentship focused on 'Trade Policy, Sustainable Value Chains and Reshoring: National and Regional Perspectives from the UK.' The studentship is a collaboration between the University of Birmingham (where the student will be registered) and Aston University, commencing October 2026. The Midlands Graduate School DTP brings together leading universities including Warwick, Birmingham, Nottingham, Aston, Leicester, Loughborough, De Montfort, and Nottingham Trent, offering a vibrant research environment and extensive training opportunities. This PhD project investigates the impact of sustainability-focused trade policies, such as the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), on the growth and location decisions of British businesses. The research addresses how these policies reshape global value chains (GVCs), encourage the reshoring of offshore production, and aim to reduce carbon leakage—where firms move carbon-intensive activities to countries with less stringent regulations and then import products back to developed economies. The project will generate evidence using firm-level data and ownership information on UK multinationals and their subsidiaries, contributing to a growing field with direct policy relevance and strong academic potential. The successful candidate will join a dynamic academic community and work at the intersection of international trade, environmental economics, and industrial policy. The research will be supported by the Department of Management at Birmingham Business School, with Professor Sami Bensassi as the main supervisor. The studentship offers full funding, including home rate tuition fees, a maintenance stipend, and extensive support for research training and activities. Both home and international applicants are eligible for support, and further details on eligibility can be found at the Midlands Graduate School DTP website. Applicants should have a strong academic background in economics or a closely related discipline. A Master’s degree with distinction or merit is desirable, as is experience in analysing large datasets using statistical and econometric software such as Python, R, or Stata. The application process requires submission of an anonymised CV, cover letter, and transcripts via the online application form. The deadline for applications is 26 February 2026. Informal enquiries about the research or the Department of Management can be directed to Professor Sami Bensassi at [email protected]. This opportunity is ideal for candidates interested in policy-relevant research on trade, sustainability, and business strategy, and who wish to contribute to academic and practical understanding of how environmental regulations shape economic activity in the UK and beyond.