Doctoral research
The Department of Public Administration and Policy has a vibrant and close-knit international research community of early-career and established researchers. We have PhD students from all over the world, conducting fascinating research in the fields of local governance, public management, and public policy.
PhD Student profiles
Read about the work our doctoral researchers are doing.
PhD pathways
Governance, institutional design and leadership
Governance, institutional design and leadership
Research in this theme is oriented to the governance of networks, partnerships and central-local relations and new ways of thinking about their institutional design and leadership. We are particularly interested in the role of multi-level governance and institutional policy networks, political and systems leadership, and performance management.
Potential supervisors
Current PhD students
Adriana Algarin Castillo, Biswanath Chakrabarty, Minkyu Jin, Jason Lowther, Eileen Masters, Matty McKenna, Adam Payler, Pak Wan Major Pau, Bryony Rudkin, Philip Swann, Vitaly Voytenko, Camila Ramos-Fuenzalida
Co-production, democratic and social innovation, and inclusion
Co-production, democratic and social innovation, and inclusion
Research in this theme is oriented to the wide range of ways in which citizens and communities are engaged in governance and developing innovative responses to complex societal issues. We are particularly interested in how public policies and services can be coproduced in inclusive, democratic and empowering ways.
Potential supervisors
Current PhD students
Adriana Algarin Castillo, Kevin Harris, Tangang Andrew Tangang, Sally Ward, Mega Waty
Policy-making, implementation and service delivery
Policy-making, implementation and service delivery
Research in this theme is oriented to the practices and interactions of a wider variety of ‘policy-makers’, including councillors, street-level bureaucrats and citizens, and the ways in which these give shape to policy processes and outcomes. We are particularly interested in policy agendas, the everyday practices of front line workers, public encounters with citizens, and the impact of digitalisation.
Potential supervisors
Current PhD students
Minkyu Jin, Jason Lowther, Bryony Rudkin, Mega Waty
Research degrees offered
We welcome applications from prospective students wishing to study both part-time and full-time. Part-time students should expect to spend the equivalent of 2 days per week on their research. One day per week during the first year will normally involve attendance at postgraduate modules. While full-time students should be able to devote the full working week to their studies.
Support
PhD students will be assigned two supervisors (a first and second supervisor) with whom you will meet on a monthly basis to discuss the progress of your project. Supervisors are experienced in managing the research process and are chosen to complement your area of interest. Staff have connections with a wide range of local authorities and other governmental, voluntary sector and research bodies in the UK and abroad.
Visiting PhD students
We welcome applications for visiting PhD student positions. Applicants should initially contact either their preferred mentor or the Director of Postgraduate Research. Applicants should indicate the purpose, preferred duration and source of funding of the visiting period, and include a full research proposal, C.V. and plan for what they wish to achieve during their stay. Once a mentor has been identified, a formal application needs to be made following the School of Government Visiting Fellowship scheme.
Find out more
For more information, contact Dr Timea Nochta (t.nochta@bham.ac.uk), Director of Postgraduate Research