PhD in Employment Research

at University of Warwick

As a research-only department within the University of Warwick, the work of the Institute for Employment Research is diverse and interdisciplinary and provides wide-ranging opportunities for prospective doctoral candidates to engage in high quality social science doctoral-level research which is policy-relevant, as well as being academically rigorous.

The IER’s doctoral programme aims to train independent social science researchers who can develop and deploy theory effectively, assess the relative merits of different methodological approaches, choose appropriate empirical methods, manage well their time and other research resources effectively. Being located in a specialist research environment will provide a wider understanding of the research process (including dissemination, funding, relationships with sponsors, and different organisational models for research).

Our extensive research portfolio has meant that we have fostered and maintained links with national and international research centres; UK government departments and agencies; European Commission and other international bodies; local authorities and sectoral organisations, as well as extensive academic networks.

Supervision for IER doctoral students will be provided by academic researchers with significant experience of undertaking research across a range of topics in employment research. We supervise a wide range of students from a variety of different countries and backgrounds and welcome this diversity among our student body.

Former students have gone on to work in a variety of areas in different countries, including academia, government, the private sector or third sector organisations.

Our research

Areas for PhD supervision and examples of current research interests of the IER's academic researchers include:

• Job quality
• Careers guidance and labour market transitions
• Higher Education and the graduate labour market
• Gender, ethnicity, age and the labour market
• Employment relations and employer behaviour
• Work, welfare and public policy
• Apprenticeships, work-based learning and training
• Intersectionality, equity, diversity and inclusion in the labour market
• Future of work, digitalisation and automation
• Labour market assessment and forecasting
   

Minimum requirements

2:i undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject and a good Master’s degree (or equivalent) in the social sciences. Previous studies should have included training in social science methodology.

English language requirements

• Band B
• IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.
   

The University carries out an initial fee status assessment based on information provided in the application and according to the guidance published by UKCISA. Students are classified as either Home or Overseas Fee status and this can determine the tuition fee and eligibility of certain scholarships and financial support.

If you receive an offer, your fee status will be stated with the tuition fee information, however we are awaiting guidance from the UK government regarding fee status for EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members living in the UK for academic year 2021/22 onwards. We are not able to confirm the fee status for these students until the relevant eligibility criteria have been confirmed. Once we have received further information from the UK government, we will provide you with an update on your fee status and let you know if any additional information is required. If you believe your fee status has been incorrectly classified you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire (follow the instructions in your offer) and provide the required documentation for this to be reassessed.