Neil Humphrey

This fully funded PhD studentship is a unique dual-award opportunity at the heart of a collaboration between The University of Manchester and the University of Melbourne. The project aims to advance understanding of how best to support children transitioning from primary to secondary school, focusing on the evaluation of the Talking about School Transition (#TaST) intervention in both England and Australia. The #TaST programme is a 17-week universal, skills-based intervention delivered across the last two years of primary school and the first year of secondary school, designed to reduce children’s transition concerns, improve mental health and wellbeing, and support attendance and attainment. The primary school component of #TaST has already been piloted, demonstrating feasibility, acceptability, utility, and international reach, with recognition from the Department for Education in both countries. This PhD will specifically examine the efficacy of the secondary school component, employing an interdisciplinary, mixed-methods approach. The research will blend secondary analysis of a large quantitative dataset (#P-S WELLS) with new qualitative and quantitative data generation, resulting in three empirical papers: (a) quantitative evaluation of the secondary school #TaST lessons in England, (b) qualitative inquiry into the acceptability and potential local adaptations of Year 7 lessons in Melbourne, and (c) quantitative evaluation of the secondary school #TaST lessons in Melbourne. Supervision is provided by a strong team from both institutions, including Dr Charlotte Bagnall, Prof Neil Humphrey, Dr Emily Thornton, and Prof Joseph Quach, ensuring access to diverse expertise and excellent research environments. The successful candidate will join vibrant PhD communities at both universities, benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration, and have access to state-of-the-art research facilities and training in research design, quantitative, and qualitative methods. Eligibility requires a Bachelor’s (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent) and a Master’s degree in a relevant subject with an overall average of 60% or above and a minimum mark of 60% in the dissertation. English language proficiency must be demonstrated via IELTS (7.0 overall, 7.0 writing, 6.0 other sections), TOEFL iBT (100 overall, 25 in all sections), or Pearson Test of English (76 overall, 76 writing, 70 other sections), or by holding a degree from a majority English-speaking nation within the last 5 years. Applicants must submit academic transcripts and certificates, an academic CV, a supporting statement (max 700 words), a writing sample (up to 5,000 words), and nominate two academic referees. A PhD proposal is not required. The position is fully funded for 3.5 years, covering tuition fees and an annual stipend (£20,780 per annum for 2025/26), with a 12-month research stay at the University of Melbourne. The application deadline is March 13, 2026. For further information or queries, contact Dr Charlotte Bagnall at [email protected]. Equality, diversity, and inclusion are central to The University of Manchester’s ethos, and applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. This studentship offers an outstanding opportunity to contribute to impactful research in education and child development across two leading institutions.

This fully funded PhD studentship is a unique dual-award opportunity at the heart of a collaboration between The University of Manchester and the University of Melbourne. The project aims to advance understanding of how to best support children transitioning from primary to secondary school, focusing on the efficacy of the Talking about School Transition (#TaST) intervention in England and Australia. #TaST is a 17-week universal, skills-based programme delivered across the last two years of primary school and the first year of secondary school, designed to reduce transition concerns, improve mental health and wellbeing, and support attendance and attainment. The primary school component of #TaST has already been piloted in both countries, demonstrating feasibility, acceptability, utility, and international reach. This PhD will specifically evaluate the secondary school component, using an interdisciplinary, mixed-methods approach. The research will include secondary analysis of a large quantitative dataset (#P-S WELLS) and new qualitative and quantitative data collection. The project is structured around three empirical papers: (a) quantitative evaluation of the secondary school #TaST lessons in England, including analysis of implementation levels; (b) qualitative inquiry into the acceptability and potential local adaptations of Year 7 lessons in Melbourne; and (c) quantitative evaluation of the secondary school #TaST lessons in Melbourne. Supervised by a strong team across both institutions, the student will benefit from a shared research agenda, excellent research environments, and access to state-of-the-art facilities. The PhD community at both universities encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and offers robust research infrastructure, including expertise in knowledge exchange and impact. The first six months of the programme include core research training in research design, quantitative tactics, and qualitative tactics, with further opportunities for personal and professional development. Applicants must have a Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent) and a Master's degree in a relevant subject with an overall average of 60% or above and a minimum mark of 60% in the dissertation. English language proficiency is required (IELTS 7.0 overall, 7.0 in writing, 6.0 in other sections; TOEFL 100 overall, 25 in all sections; PTE 76 overall, 76 in writing, 70 in other sections; or a recent degree from a majority English-speaking nation). Required documents include academic transcripts and certificates, an academic CV, a supporting statement (max 700 words), a writing sample (up to 5,000 words), and two academic referees (including one from your most recent institution). Official English translations and GPA/weighted average verification are needed if not included. The position is fully funded, covering tuition fees and an annual stipend (£20,780 per annum for 2025/26), with a 12-month stay at the University of Melbourne. The application deadline is March 13, 2026. Apply online for PhD Education at The University of Manchester, indicating your intention to apply for the Manchester-Melbourne Studentship and ensuring all supporting documents are submitted. For further questions, contact Dr Charlotte Bagnall at [email protected]. The University of Manchester is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, actively encouraging applicants from all backgrounds and career paths. Join a vibrant, interdisciplinary research community and contribute to impactful research on school transitions and child wellbeing.