ESRC Centre for Population Change PhD studentship

Fertility and partnership in Britain

An ESRC +3 studentship is available, linked to the ESRC Centre for Population Change in any of a range of topics related to fertility and partnership in Britain.

Background

Fertility and family behaviours of all kinds have been undergoing rapid and substantial change for several decades. Fertility has been low, and relatively stable, though displaying an upturn very recently. The start of childbearing has been increasingly delayed and increasing proportions of women remain childless. In parallel, non-marital childbearing has risen, along with cohabitation, separation, divorce and repartnering. These various trends are complex, interwoven, subject to a variety of interpretations, and as yet incompletely understood.

The goal of the proposed PhD project is to contribute to accounting for these fertility and partnership trends in the UK, and so the remit is broad. Any of a range of potential topics can be investigated—for example, fertility timing, childlessness, the changing partnership context of childbearing, and comparative aspects of male and female family behaviours, as well as more technical aspects of measurement. The approach will be quantitative, though a qualitative component might also be possible. A variety of data sources are available for analysis, including a combined file of General Household Survey maternity histories 1979-2007, along with other large socio-demographic datasets in the UK. The student will work under the direction of Professor Máire Ní Bhrolcháin.

The Centre

The Centre for Population Change has been created to explore issues surrounding fertility, ageing, and migration, including the implications for society of migration both within and beyond national borders. The Centre is working with a consortium of Scottish universities, ensuring a strong UK-wide focus to the work. An interest in potential policy applications is reflected in our collaboration with the Office for National Statistics and the General Registrar Office in Scotland, who are partners in the Centre.

Eligibility

Applicants should have a postgraduate degree in demography or a related social science or quantitative discipline, or equivalent experience.  They should also have good computing skills and an interest in demographic measurement. ESRC eligibility criteria apply and are set out in Sections 2.13 to 2.16 and Annex 1 of the ESRC 'Guidance notes for applicants'.

What the award pays

This ESRC award pays all University tuition fees, plus an annual maintenance stipend (set at £13,290 for the 2009-2010 academic year).

Application Procedure

No separate application form is required to apply for the studentship. Please apply following the steps below:

  1. Go to 'how to apply'

  2. Click on the button at the bottom of the page marked ‘Apply online here’

  3. Select the button marked ‘Research’ (if not already checked)

  4. Click the arrow to the right of ‘School’, pull down the menu and highlight and click ‘School of Social Sciences’

  5. Click the button marked ‘Search for Programme’

  6. Click ‘Apply online’ beside the MPhil/PhD in Social Statistics

  7. When completing the form, please state in Section 8 (funding) that you wish to be considered for the Centre for Population Change studentship.

  8. Please use the personal statement section to set out your reasons for applying for the studentship.

Please send a copy of your CV and covering letter to Mrs Gill Crumplin at G.S.Crumplin@soton.ac.uk or by post to: Mrs Gill Crumplin, Building 58, Highfield Campus, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom, SO17 1BJ.

Further information

Informal inquiries may be made to Professor Máire Ní Bhrolcháin (M.Ni-Bhrolchain@soton.ac.uk)

The deadline for applications is the 5 March 2010.

Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview in late March.