PhD Study : ​Healthy Rural Environments for Children and Young People

Summary

​Research now strongly demonstrates that children and young people are greatly impacted by the built environment in terms of their overall health and wellbeing.   The built environment can affect children and young people in a variety of ways but the concerns may vary depending on the urban, suburban or rural status (Wendel, Dannenberg & Frumkin, 2008).  Much of the current youth related research is centred around the impacts of the urban city space on health however it is just as important to consider how young people are affected by the rural built environment.

In Northern Ireland 36% of people live in rural areas and more than a third of young people   live in communities that have been defined as rural (EA, 2019). For many children and young people, living in a rural community presents many challenges, including boredom and isolation. Whilst research shows that rural children may have greater access to green space, they also face a lack of facilities, such as cinemas or clubs, which their peers in urban areas take for granted. This isolation from services is often exacerbated by a lack of transport options and hidden poverty (EA, 2019).

This study aims to investigate the role of the rural built environment in promoting health and well-being in young people.  This innovative research, endeavours to identify prominent rural characteristics required to provide a healthy environment as well as the risk factors that may inhibit health and wellbeing.

This research will seek to answer the following questions:

1) What do young people value in the rural built environment?  and

2) How does the rural built environment meet their needs compared with young people in an urban setting?

This unique, and internationally relevant research, will help influence policy by providing guidance to designers and planners in order to ensure that prospective rural environments are better shaped for health and wellbeing and ultimately to support the needs and aspirations of a modern adolescent population. ​

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Clearly defined research proposal detailing background, research questions, aims and methodology

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living