Athanasios Vostanis

University of Kent is advertising a fully funded part-time PhD scholarship linked to a Research Assistant role at Five Acre Wood School . The project is in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and focuses on Preparation for Adulthood interventions for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) . The doctoral research will examine experiential interventions, including structured real-world learning environments, enterprise-based activities, and external work placements, to understand their impact on employment readiness , independence , and social inclusion . The project also aims to identify active components of effective practice and develop an evidence-informed framework for intervention design and delivery. The scholarship covers Home-rate PhD tuition fees for 6 years of part-time study. In addition, the successful candidate will be employed full-time by Five Acre Wood School as a Research Assistant to the Director of Research, with salary at 0.6 FTE of an MPS6 teacher (approximately £27,211.20 per annum ), working 22.5 hours per week over 52.14 weeks per year. Eligibility highlights include: Home fee status, a Master’s degree with Merit or above in a related field, strong interest in SEND and applied research, and prior application to the part-time PhD Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities course for September 2026 . A background in psychology, education, behaviour analysis/positive behaviour support, or a related field is desirable. How to apply: submit the PhD application, name Dr Thanos Vostanis as main supervisor, and provide a CV, scholarship cover letter, and a draft research proposal (maximum 3 pages). Shortlisted candidates will complete a two-stage interview process with Five Acre Wood School and the University of Kent. Deadline: 2026-07-05 .