Brunel University London invites applications for doctoral studentships in Education through the ESRC-funded Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership (GUDTP). The GUDTP is a collaborative initiative involving Brunel University London, the University of Oxford, and the Open University, providing doctoral researchers with access to high-quality, innovative social science research training across all three institutions. Studentships in Education at Brunel are delivered through the GUDTP Education Pathway, jointly led by the University of Oxford and Brunel and collaboratively delivered by the two universities. Further information about the GUDTP is available online.
Doctoral researchers on the Education Pathway will be based in Brunel’s Department of Education. Education at Brunel is a leading UK department, offering a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The department has a diverse, international student community and attracts a substantial number of students from outside the European Union. It is ranked among the top four Education departments in London (Complete University Guide, 2026) and ranked first in London and third in the UK for Education graduate employment and progression to further study (LEO, 2023). In the most recent Research Excellence Framework, 60 per cent of the department’s research was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent, with 90 per cent of its research impact assessed as internationally excellent.
Doctoral researchers are central to Brunel’s research and scholarly community. The Department is committed to supporting the development of the next generation of education researchers who both generate and co-produce knowledge to advance the field. Education is approached as a distinct discipline while also drawing on related fields such as history, philosophy, sociology, and human geography to inform doctoral research. Researchers are encouraged to engage fully with departmental, college, and university-wide research networks, gaining exposure to theory, methodology, methods, ethics, and real-world application.
Research within the Department adopts a broad conception of education, encompassing both formal and informal contexts, including youth work and welfare settings, and spanning the life course from early childhood through schooling, higher education, and lifelong learning. Current research activity is organised across three thematic groups:
- Education, Identities, and Society
- Media, Arts and Culture in Education
- STEM Education
The Department is also affiliated with several interdisciplinary research groups and centres, including Global Lives; Human Geography: Space, Place and Society; and Kidspace: Key Skills in Participation in Childhood.
Where appropriate, joint supervision between Oxford and Brunel will be available, building on established external co-supervision arrangements. Further details on Education research areas at Brunel can be found on the University website.
Studentships are offered as either three-year (+3) or four-year awards, depending on prior research training, and are available on a full-time or part-time basis. Full-time students will receive an annual maintenance stipend of approximately £20,662 (2023/24 UKRI rate), paid monthly in advance, for the duration of the award, together with tuition fees at the UKRI rate. Part-time awards are funded on a pro rata basis over six or eight years.
How to Apply and Eligibility
Applicants to the Education Pathway should apply via the ‘Apply’ button above. All applicants must contact the relevant research group lead prior to the application deadline. Interviews are expected to take place during the week commencing 5 February 2026.
Contact: studentships@brunel.ac.uk
Application deadline: 9 January 2026
Qualification: PhD
Location: London
Funding eligibility: UK students
Funding amount: £20,662 per annum
Study mode: Full-time
Advert posted: 13 November 2025
Closing date: 9 January 2026