PhD Studentship: Tourism Skills for Growth – Developing an Evidence Base for the United Kingdom University of Surrey in United Kingdom

[Fee waiver covering home or international fees for 36 months. No monthly stipend, visa or accommodation fees included.]

The University of Surrey’s Surrey Hospitality and Tourism Management (SHTM) is offering a PhD studentship focused on 'Tourism Skills for Growth: Developing an Evidence Base for the United Kingdom.' This opportunity is part of a collaborative research project with the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), aiming to strengthen the evidence base regarding skills needs, workforce development, and growth dynamics within the UK tourism industry.

The project addresses the need for robust, policy-relevant knowledge about tourism employment, skills formation, and sectoral development. The successful candidate will conduct original doctoral research on topics such as labour market demand, skills gaps, recruitment and retention, workforce capabilities, productivity, and the relationship between skills systems and industry growth. The research may also explore regional variation, sub-sectoral differences, and the impact of changing economic, technological, and policy contexts on tourism employment and skills strategies.

DCMS will support the research by providing access to relevant data, policy perspectives, and connections to key stakeholders across the tourism sector. This partnership offers strong opportunities for dissemination and impact, allowing the research to contribute to both academic scholarship and ongoing policy and industry debates about the future of the UK tourism economy.

The studentship is open to both UK and international applicants and provides a full fee waiver for 36 months. Please note that this offer does not include a monthly stipend, visa, or accommodation fees. The research design will be developed in consultation with the supervisory team and DCMS, enabling the candidate to define a focused and rigorous study within the broad theme of tourism skills and growth.

Supervisors for this project are Professor Emily (Jintao) Ma, Dr Shi (Tracy) Xu, and Dr James Kennell. Applicants must meet the minimum entry requirements for the University of Surrey PhD programme in Hospitality, Tourism, Transport and Events. Later start dates may be possible; contact Professor Emily (Jintao) Ma if the deadline passes.

To apply, submit your application via the Hospitality, Tourism, Transport and Events PhD programme page. In place of a research proposal, upload a document that demonstrates your understanding of the need for this research, includes a brief literature review, and provides an overview of your relevant study, experience, skills, and research training. Informal discussions with the supervisory team are strongly recommended before submitting your application.

Funding is partially and directly provided for this project only, covering home or international fees for 36 months. The application deadline is 8 June 2026, with a start date in October 2026. For enquiries, contact Professor Emily (Jintao) Ma.