PhD position: ESRC White Rose DTP Studentship - Exploring the socio-ecological potentials of essential provisioning systems in OECD nations

The Economic and Social Research Council is the UK's largest funding agency for research and postgraduate training relating to social and economic issues.
The University of Leeds is part of the ESRC White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership forming a collaboration between the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield, York, Bradford, Sheffield Hallam, Hull and Manchester Metropolitan.
These social science studentships are available to UK and international (including EU) applicants in seven named Thematic Interdisciplinary Training Pathways and can be held full-time or part-time for the following award types:
+3.5 programme: funding for a 3.5-year PhD. Typically, applicants with a social science Masters degree and with 60 or more credits (or equivalent) of M-level social science research training are those most likely to benefit from this option.
+3.75 programme: funding for an integrated PGCert/PhD. Typically, applicants with a social science Masters degree, but who have not undertaken core research training are those most likely to benefit for this option.
1+3.5 programme: funding for a 1 year Masters programme, followed by the 3.5 year PhD. Typically, applicants without a social science Masters degree are those most likely to benefit from this option.

An ESRC White Rose DTP Collaborative Studentship is available in the School of Earth and Environment, with the project title ‘Exploring the socio-ecological potentials of essential provisioning systems in OECD nations’.

Collaborative Partner:  New Economics Foundation (NEF)

ESRC Pathway: Space, Place, Environment and Liveability (SPEL)

Closing Date for Applications: 17:00 (UK Time) 14 March 2025

This project tackles the critical challenge of aligning human need satisfaction with ecological sustainability.  Research highlights the importance of collective provisioning systems (CPS) in essential sectors – such as education, housing, healthcare, transportation and utilities – in meeting societal needs (eg health and social participation).  CPS, organised through public, community, or cooperative arrangements, prioritise social equity and universal access over individual payment ability.  Studies link CPS to improved well-being and reduced environmental impacts, eg through shared infrastructure and economies of scale.  However, empirical evidence on CPS’s ecological effects, as well as on successful implementation conditions, remains limited.

Research Question 1:  How does the mitigation potential of CPS in emissions and resource use in OECD nations compare to individualised, privatised, or market-driven systems across essential sectors?

Research Question 2:  Which design and governance principles enable CPS to minimise resource use and emissions while ensuring inclusive, adequate need satisfaction, and how can these principles inform policy and practice?

OECD countries, responsible for 36% of global consumption-based emissions in 2022 (57% in 1990) must drive transformative change.  This project contributes by focusing on:

1. CPS’s mitigation potential compared to individualised/market-driven systems in OECD nations across essential sectors.
2. Design and governance principles for socio-ecologically ambitious CPS and strategies to integrate these principles in policy formation.

A systematic narrative review will be followed by a Quantitative Analysis (including Input-Output Analysis and multivariate regression) and a Qualitative Analysis (in-depth case studies) leading to the development of policy recommendations.

A 3-month Research in Practice placement will be provided at the New Economics Foundation (NEF), providing an immersive experience of think tank working and skills in strategic policy communication.

This project integrates ecological economics, social policy, urban and regional planning, and governance studies.  Partnering with NEF ensures effective bridging of research, community innovation and policymaking, fostering transformative impacts.

Duration of the Award:

1+3.5 Studentships:  Full-time (4.5 years) or part-time (7 years 10 months);
+3.5 Studentships:  Full-time (3.5 years) or part-time (5 years 10 months);
+3.75 Studentships:  Full-time (3 years 9 months) or part-time (6 years 3 months).
Full-time awards will be made for one year in the first instance and will be renewed each year, subject to satisfactory academic progress.  Part-time awards will be made for 24 months (two calendar year) in the first instance and will be renewed each year, subject to satisfactory academic progress.

Funding

• The award will cover fees at standard Research Council rates;
• A maintenance grant (£20,780 in Session 2025/26 for full-time study, pro-rata for part-time study).  This amount increases per annum in line with the Research Council UK rate announced on the UKRI website
• Research Training Support Grant, which covers travel and research costs during the PhD part of the award – variable amount depending on the scheme, plus other allowances where applicable;
• Please be aware that any expenses related to the relocation of international students (including EU) to the UK (visa, insurance, NHS fees, flights etc) would be their responsibility and is not covered by this award.

• Other Conditions

• Applicants applying on both a 1+3.5, +3.5 and +3.75 basis MUST in the first instance apply for a place on a research postgraduate programme and be in receipt of a Student ID Number to be eligible for an ESRC White Rose DTP Studentship.  Applications without a valid ID Number will be rejected;
• +3.5 and +3.75 awards must be taken up on 1 October 2025;  1+3.5 awards must be taken up in September 2025;
• Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this Studentship;
• All WRDTP programmes include an integral 3-month ‘Research in Practice’ placement as standard;
• Applicants should read the ESRC Postgraduate Funding Guide and be willing to abide by the conditions and regulations therein.

• Selection Process

  After a School selection process, applicants will be informed as to whether they are being nominated for an ESRC WRDTP Studentship.  The White Rose Academic Quality Committee will review the nominations and decide on the final list of awards.  The University will use the data provided in the application form for internal selection and statistical purposes and publish the names of the successful applicants within the University.  The final outcome is expected towards the end of April 2025.

Stage 1

• First of all apply for a research programme of study by completing the application form.  You should clearly state that you are wishing to apply for the ESRC WRDTP Collaborative Studentship and give the project title –  ‘Exploring the socio-ecological potentials of essential provisioning systems in OECD nations’.

In order to be considered for the studentship, you must submit all the required supporting documents for your application of study (listed on the website for the School/Faculty) in which you are applying to study.

Stage 2

• Once you are in receipt of your 9-digit Student Application ID, complete the online ESRC studentship application form 

Before completing the studentship application form, you are strongly advised to read the Guidance for Applicants and Assessment Criteria, which provide further information about how to complete the form and how your application will be assessed.

After receipt of your Studentship application, the relevant Admissions Team will provide further advice on your suitability for either a 1+3.5, +3.5 or a 3.75 studentship and advise whether you should undertake the MA Social Research (Interdisciplinary) programme.

As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.

Applicants must meet the entry requirements of their nomination School - for the School of Earth and Environment, see https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/see-research-degrees/doc/entry-requirements. The ESRC also stipulates that for all studentships, students must have qualifications of the standard of a good honours degree at first- or upper second-class level, from a UK academic higher education institution, or through a combination of qualifications and/or experience, be able to demonstrate equivalence. In the majority of cases, students will have undertaken an undergraduate course at a recognised UK higher education institution or equivalent international qualification. Prior qualifications may be enhanced to meet these requirements by the acquisition of at least one satisfactorily completed academic year of full-time study or its part-time equivalent towards a UK higher degree, if applying for an award without an undergraduate degree. Applicants must satisfy the nominating School's entry requirements AND the ESRC's minimum threshold.
Applicants with a background in Ecological Economics; Politics, Philosophy and Economics; Political Economy; Social Policy; Urban and Regional Planning; and Governance Studies are particularly encouraged to apply.

The University of Leeds minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. For the School of Earth and Environment English Language requirement - see https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/see-research-degrees/doc/entry-requirements

For further information about the application process, please contact the Faculty of Environment Admissions Team, email: ENV-PGR@leeds.ac.uk

For further information about the project, please contact Richard Baernthaler, email: r.barnthaler@leeds.ac.uk