PhD Studentship: Mental Health Research

Start date: 1 October 2026

Funding duration: 36 months

Application deadline: midday Friday 22^nd May 2026

Interviews: Week commencing 8^th June 2026

Number of awards: Two fully funded studentships

Overview

The University of Nottingham invites applications for two fully funded PhD studentships within the fields of mental health and neurosciences, commencing 1^st October 2026.

These studentships form an institutionally funded commitment to the Midlands Mental Health and Neurosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (Midlands MHN DTP). The DTP’s vision is to improve mental health across the Midlands through outstanding research, collaboration, and innovation.

Learn more about our research themes and approaches at midlandsmhndtp.ac.uk 

We welcome applications for:

Self-proposed projects within the remit of our highlighted research themes and approaches (see midlandsmhndtp.ac.uk) OR

Defined projects supervised by University of Nottingham, School of Medicine academics (details below)

Projects should align with the DTP’s mission and demonstrate potential to deliver meaningful benefits to mental health in the Midlands.

Funding

This studentship is fully funded by the University of Nottingham for a fixed period of three years, subject to satisfactory academic progress and continued registration.

The funding package comprises:

• Home-rate tuition fees for the full duration of the PhD (three years)
• A research training and support grant, contributing towards project-related research costs and approved personal and professional development activities
• A full-time salaried studentship, paid over three years 

The University’s intention is to align the studentship salary as closely as possible with the applicant’s current healthcare professional role, recognising existing skills, training and clinical experience. However, this alignment is subject to the limits of the available funding, and salary levels are capped accordingly.

As this studentship is supported from a fixed funding allocation, the salary is set at appointment and will remain constant for the duration of the award. The funding does not include incremental pay progression or enhanced employment benefits beyond statutory entitlements.

Two funded positions are available under the same funding arrangement at salary level appointed at up to University of Nottingham R&T spine point 35 or Clinical Doctor in Training spine point 02.

Please note that the salary level is non-incremental and funding cannot be extended beyond the three-year period. Additional benefits such as enhanced family leave pay or discretionary allowances are not included within this funding package.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, candidates must:

• Meet the University’s standard PhD entry requirements:
• https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/pgstudy/how-to-apply/research.aspx#check 
• Be a practising healthcare professional, registered with a recognised professional regulatory body (for example, NMC, HCPC, GMC, or GPhC).
• Be classed as a Home student for tuition fee purposes.

How to Apply

Applicants may propose their own research project within the broad areas of mental health and neurosciences or apply to one of the predefined projects (see attached document).

Further details:

• Job Description/Role Profile

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