PhD Studentship: Do Educational Pathways Mitigate Social Class Inequalities in Early Labour Market Outcomes? Evidence from Growing Up in Scotland University of Strathclyde in United Kingdom

[Fully-funded scholarship for 3 years covers all university tuition fees (at UK level) and an annual tax-free stipend. International students are eligible but must fund the difference between home and international tuition fees unless exceptionally funded.]

This fully-funded PhD studentship at the University of Strathclyde investigates whether educational pathways can mitigate social class inequalities in early labour market outcomes, using data from the Growing Up in Scotland study. The project is situated at the intersection of social mobility, educational inequality, and labour market stratification, aiming to provide policy-relevant evidence for Scotland and beyond.

Supervised by Dr Michael Vallely, Prof Patricia Findlay, and Prof Markus Klein, the research will explore how educational attainment and pathways interact with social class origins to shape young adults' early career trajectories. The findings will contribute to the evidence base on educational inequality and social mobility, informing debates and policy on reducing labour market disparities.

The studentship is funded for 36 months, covering all university tuition fees at the UK level and providing an annual tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate. International students are eligible to apply, but must secure funding for the difference between home and international tuition fees unless exceptionally supported. The project is open to full-time applicants only.

Applicants must hold a first-class or upper second-class Honours degree (or equivalent) and a Masters degree in a social science related discipline. Essential skills include demonstrated competence in applied quantitative methods, particularly regression analysis, evidenced through coursework, dissertation, or research experience. A strong interest in social inequality, education, and labour market research is required. Experience with longitudinal datasets and familiarity with statistical software such as Stata or R are desirable.

The application deadline is 30 April 2026, with a start date of 1 October 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview. For further details and to apply, visit the University of Strathclyde's postgraduate research opportunities page.

Contact supervisors for academic queries: Dr Michael Vallely ([email protected]), Prof Patricia Findlay ([email protected]), and Prof Markus Klein ([email protected]).