125th Anniversary Scholarship in the School of Government

A new PhD scholarship for Black British Researchers in the College of Social Sciences beginning in Autumn 2024

PhD Project: Between ‘Global Britain’ and national health: The role of Parliament in tackling immunisation inequities of minoritized groups

This PhD project will be based in the School of Government which is part of the College of Social Sciences.

The deadline for applications closed at 23:59 (UK time) on Tuesday 30 April 2024.

About the project

We invite applications for a 4-year fully-funded PhD fellowship through the University of Birmingham’s 125th Anniversary Black British Scholarship program. The position will be based in the International Development Department, School of Government in Birmingham, United Kingdom. 

You will work to develop an exciting new project exploring the role of UK Parliament in tackling health inequities around immunization - nationally and internationally. The project will innovatively build on research into historical development of UK immunization debates and policy at national and international levels, bringing novel focus on the contemporary role parliament plays in identification, explanation and response to immunisation inequities. The project’s significance lies in its focus on health inequities at two levels, reflecting UK domestic practice and its contributions to global vaccination programmes, and considering the under-explored role of legislatures in bringing an equity lens to scrutiny of immunisation policy and practice.

Despite the UK’s long history of successful voluntary immunization with high public compliance, ‘immunization deserts’ persist regionally and by disease type, often mapping onto minority ethnic communities. The West Midlands for example shows a downward trend on MMR immunization (PHE 2021), falling below WHO standards (NHS England, 2023) and low polio vaccination rates (Rains 2022). Evidence shows that historical legacies and patterns of (dis)engagement with the state are critical in determining uptake of services, including immunization (Saville, et al 2022; Ali and Altaf 2021). Put simply, immunization is a highly political project (Ansell and Lindvaal 2021), and uptake depends on public trust in the state. Research into public engagement with parliaments similarly shows that representation and (dis)engagement of minority ethnic communities is heavily-shaped by trust, and that this in turn reflects historical and contemporary encounters with the state (Beswick, 2021; Beswick and Elstub, 2019).

This project is particularly timely considering the ongoing COVID-19 inquiry and discussions around roles and responsibilities of political institutions and actors during the pandemic. Furthermore, despite the UK’s history of engagement with and investment in global public health through the FCDO, Parliament’s Health and Social Care Committee warned in 2023 that the UK is at risk of losing its position as a global leader on vaccination. Bearing this in mind, the project is an opportunity to reflect on the UK’s global development role, and whether international debates and commitments on immunization policy and practice shape national debates and policy on this subject – or vice-versa.

In developing your application, you may wish to consider one or more of the following questions:

  • Who makes up the UK policy community on equity and immunisation, and how far does this cut across national/global spaces?
  • How have revelations during the Covid-19 inquiry influenced debates on UK immunisation policy and its global role as a public health advocate?
  • What specific role does Parliament play in promoting equity in UK immunisation policy and advocacy, globally and nationally?
  • Are there indications of joined-up thinking in UK Parliament on health inequities across national and international spaces?

Design and methods:

The project’s focus on UK parliament and on immunisation and equity policy communities across multiple levels necessitates a multi-pronged and multi-level data collection strategy, including analysis of legislative and committee debates, mapping policy communities/networks, and key stakeholder interviews (e.g. current/former ministers, campaigners, private sector.) We also welcome applicants using quantitative methods utilising large scale health datasets (e.g. COVER program, UK Data Service, NHS Digital).

Intended impacts:

The project will produce new knowledge on roles parliament can play in effectively highlighting - and developing options to address - immunisation inequities. In the UK, this includes identifying opportunities for parliament to strengthen its contributions to identifying and tackling ‘immunisation deserts,’ particularly through improving its own participation channels. Given the UK’s role as a critical player in global vaccination programming, it will also provide insights into strategies national legislatures adopt to influence international approaches to tackling immunisation inequities (e.g. low take-up by communities who have low trust in the state).

The project will have significant impact by developing our understanding of the interplay between legislative and policy debates on immunisation inequities at the national and international levels, and establishing how these shape domestic and international provision of equitable health services. This has potential to improve immunization take-up and health outcomes for vulnerable populations both in Britain and globally.

Your supervisory team:

The supervisors for this doctoral research project are Dr Danielle Beswick and Dr Sameen Ali. Danielle brings extensive supervision experience, including working with scholar-practitioners seeking to bring their professional experience working in policy and practice into an academic environment in order to conduct robust, impactful research. Danielle also brings research expertise on UK development policymaking and the development policy community as well as practical experience working with the UK Parliament on public participation and inequities. Sameen brings expertise on impact of political dynamics and institutional and policy design on the health sector, particularly immunization programming. Her research in Pakistan has emphasised how public health services are shaped by citizens’ experience of, and relationship with, the state, and she is part of a current research project exploring minoritised groups’ receptiveness to vaccination messaging in Pakistan.

Research training and support:

The successful candidate will have access to a range of training opportunities in the International Development Department and across the School of Government and beyond. These include taught modules designed to support first-year progression and integration into the School PGR community, and Qualitative and Quantitative methods courses. Advanced training modules are also available to support the development of specific skills required for the project focus on legislative debates and policy communities. This includes modules on discourse analysis, mixed-methods research, and social network analysis. You will be encouraged to participate in research groups and seminars within the School, as well as those held by the University’s Health Services Management Centre and School of Social Policy. The selected candidate will also be encouraged to actively engage with wider scholarly communities on parliaments and on public and global health.

References

  • Ali, S.A.M. & Rais, R.B. (2021). Pakistan’s Health-Care System: A Case of Elite Capture, South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, 44:6, 1206-1228.
  • Ali, S.A.M. & Altaf, S.W. (2021). Citizen trust, administrative capacity and administrative burden in Pakistan’s immunization program. Journal of Behavioral Public Administration, 4(1).
  • Ali, S.A.M. (2021). Pakistan: COVID-19, federalism and the first wave response. In, Rupak Chattopadhyay, Felix Knüpling, Diana Chebenova, Liam Whittington, and Phillip Gonzalez (eds.), Federalism and the Response to COVID-19, pp 170-182. Routledge India.
  • Ansell, B. W., & Lindvall, J. (2021). Inward Conquest: The Political Origins of Modern Public Services. Cambridge University Press
  • Beswick, D and S Elstub (2019) ‘Between diversity, representation and ‘best evidence’: Rethinking Select Committee evidence-gathering practices’, Parliamentary Affairs 72(4): 945-64.
  • Beswick, D., J Fisher and S Hurt (2019) (eds) Britain and Africa: Between Ambition and Pragmatism, Manchester University Press.
  • Beswick, D (2021) ‘Understanding and overcoming barriers to public engagement with the UK Parliament’ UK Parliament Select Committee Engagement Team.
  • Health and Social Care Committee (2023) ‘UK’s world-leading role on vaccination at risk, warn MPs’, 27 July 2023. https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/81/health-and-social-care-committee/news/196780/uks-worldleading-role-on-vaccination-at-risk-warn-mps/
  • NHS England (2023) ‘Midlands - Health leaders urge parents in the West Midlands to protect children from measles as vaccination rates fail to meet WHO’s 95% recommended uptake’ https://www.england.nhs.uk/midlands/2023/04/26/health-leaders-urge-parents-in-the-west-midlands-to-protect-children-from-measles-as-vaccination-rates-fail-to-meet-whos-95-recommended-uptake/
  • Public Health England (2021) ‘Health Profile for the West Midlands - 2021’ https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/static-reports/health-profile-for-england/regional-profile-west_midlands.html#vaccines-and-vaccine-preventable-infections
  • Rains, Kian (2022) ‘Polio vaccine UK: How the West Midlands child vaccination rates compare with the rest of the UK’ Birmingham World, 27 June 2022 https://www.birminghamworld.uk/news/polio-vaccine-uk-how-the-west-midlands-child-vaccination-rates-compare-with-the-rest-of-the-uk-3744974
  • Saville, C et al (2022) ‘Covid-and-the-Coalfield: Vaccine hesitance in Wales and Appalachia, British Academy https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/documents/4087/Covid-and-the-Coalfield_3VKoqjZ.pdf

Entry Requirements

Applicants will be expected to have a good Masters degree awarded by a recognised University in a related discipline. We also welcome applications from candidates with academic and policy or practice backgrounds in relevant sectors. If you have such relevant professional experience or qualifications, these will also be taken into account when considering your application.

Who can apply?

These scholarships are designed to create opportunities and address the underrepresentation of talented Black or Black mixed heritage students in academia. Applicants who meet all of the following criteria are eligible to apply:

  1. UK nationals and eligible for registration as Home students
  2. Members of one of the following ethnic groups:
    • Black African
    • Black Caribbean
    • Black Other
    • Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
    • Mixed – White and Black African
    • Other mixed background (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or Black Other)
  3. Not already enrolled on a PhD programme at the University of Birmingham

What does the scholarship provide?

  1. Financial Support: Recipients of these scholarships will receive substantial financial support, including a stipend at UKRI rates, which is set at £18,622 per year. This support covers tuition fees, living expenses, and research-related costs, including bench fees. This support is designed to alleviate the financial burden often associated with pursuing a doctoral degree.
  2. Mentorship and Guidance: Scholarship recipients will benefit from mentorship opportunities and guidance from accomplished faculty members who are dedicated to helping them succeed in their academic and research endeavours.
  3. Research Opportunities: We are committed to providing an exceptional research environment. Students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge resources, and a vibrant scholarly community.
  4. Community Building: A key component of the scholarship programme is the creation of a supportive community of Black British researchers pursuing PhDs. This network will foster collaboration and peer support among scholars.
  5. Research Training Support Grant: In addition to financial support, scholarship recipients will receive a research training support grant. This grant is intended to support conference attendance, fieldwork, and other essential activities that enhance their research and academic growth.
  6. Commitment to Inclusivity: We are dedicated to building an inclusive academic environment that values diversity and ensures equitable access to education.

Contact the lead supervisor

Once applicants have familiarised themselves with the above project details, they are encouraged to contact the lead PhD supervisor to discuss the project and the applicant's suitability for the project. This is recommended before you submit an application to the PhD project.

How to apply

After applicants have made contact with the lead PhD supervisor, you will then need to apply to the PhD project using our online application portal: you should select '125th Anniversary Scholarships (COSS)'. You will need to create an account for the online application portal and you will be prompted to sign-in upon your return to the portal.

You do not need to complete your application in one session; you can save your application at each stage and return to the portal at any stage before submission, particularly if you do not have all of the necessary documents when you begin your application.

As this is an 'advertised PhD', in which you will studying the above project that has already been provided by the academic supervisor(s), you do not need to submit a research proposal. Your personal statement will suffice for determining your suitability for the PhD project as well as your previous academic, professional and personal experiences.

The deadline for applications closed at 23:59 (UK time) on Tuesday 30 April 2024.

For your application you will need to submit the following documents:

Personal Statement

You will need a personal statement of approximately 5,000 characters, explaining why you are interested in researching the above PhD project. This can be uploaded to the personal statement section in a PDF or Microsoft Word format. Alternatively, you can type this within the application portal.

The personal statement is an opportunity to make yourself stand out from other applicants and demonstrate how you are the most suitable candidate. You should explain your motivations for applying to the PhD project and how the PhD will help you achieve your future goals and aspirations. You may wish to outline and explain how your previous academic experiences have prepared you for PhD study, such as a specific module, research piece or dissertation in your Bachelors or Masters degree. Similarly, you should detail the skills that you have developed in any relevant academic, professional or personal contexts that would make you a suitable PhD student for the above project.

References

On your application, you will have been asked for contact details of one or two references. For some courses, you will need the references before a decision to be made.

Please make sure you tell your references to expect contact from the University of Birmingham via email, requesting their reference. Please note that the contact email address of the referee must be an official email address and not a personal one (for example, gmail). We recommend that the referee sends back the reference in a PDF format as it is preferred if:

  • The reference is on official headed paper with the organisation or university’s logo and address
  • It includes the date, your details and the details of the referee
  • A summary of how they know you and confirm your suitability for studying on the course you have applied for
  • It should be signed by the referee with their official contact details.

If both your referees send back references which are not on official headed paper, you may be asked to send in additional references.

If you already have a written reference(s) and want to upload it on behalf of your referee(s), make sure the reference is a scanned copy of the original and that it is on official headed paper.

If you input your referee details, your referees will receive a reference request email from us as soon as you submit your application. When a referee provides the reference by clicking on the link in the reference request email, it will be automatically uploaded to your application.

A referee can also provide a reference by emailing it to us directly via pgadmissions@contacts.bham.ac.uk, it should be sent from their official email address and contain their full name and role. Once the email has been received, it will be sent for processing so that it can be uploaded to your application.

Your online portal will be updated when a reference has been received and processed but please allow at least 15 working days for this. If your portal has not been updated, this does not necessarily mean that the references have not been received as there can be a delay with the processing of references.

Please note that for the vast majority of our programmes, we do not require references in order for a decision to be made and your application will still be processed as usual. If an offer is made and the references are still outstanding, they will form part of the conditions of the offer.

Academic certificate and transcript(s) for all prior degrees

If you have graduated

You will have been asked to upload a scan of your original or certified copies of your degree certificate(s) and transcript(s) on the Postgraduate Application Portal.

If you have not done so already, you can go back into the portal to upload your documents. Otherwise your application cannot be considered.

Please be prepared to send in your original or certified copies of your documents if the Admissions team requests to verify them.

If you don’t have certified copies of your documents and would prefer not to send the original, you can get copies certified by either the institution where you studied or by a notary.

If you are currently a student

You will have been asked to upload an interim transcript from your latest exams.

If you have not done so already, you can go back into the portal to upload your interim transcript. Otherwise your application cannot be considered.

Please be prepared to send in your original or certified copies of your degree certificate and final transcript upon graduation if the Admissions team requests to verify them.

If you don’t have certified copies of your documents and would prefer not to send the original, you can get copies certified by either the institution where you studied or by a notary.

Sample Work

If you are required to submit a piece of example work— usually a short written piece (common for programmes such as Creative Writing or English Literature); music composition or performance for those looking to study music related programmes— you will be notified by the academic tutor before they can access and make a decision on your application.

Please make sure you submit these as soon as possible and in the format requested by the academic tutor.

Application portal tips

  • You don’t need to complete your application in one session. Simply save it and come back to it when you’re ready.
  • Avoid delays by checking all your information is accurate and complete.
  • Your application won’t be processed until you’ve completed all the relevant sections and submitted it.
  • If you run into any technical issues with your application, email us at directapplicationsystem@contacts.bham.ac.uk

What happens next?

Once you’ve submitted your application, we’ll send you details on how to access your applicant portal. You’ll be able to track the progress of your application, update your personal information, view decisions and accept offers.

Your application will be ‘pending’ on your portal while we check your application.

You can add or edit some details or documents within your application after it’s been submitted through your applicant portal. Or email pgadmissions@contacts.bham.ac.uk (include your applicant ID number) and we can add or edit for you.

  • Campus - Aston Webb

    125 years of the University of Birmingham

    In 2025, we’ll celebrate 125 years since the Royal Charter was granted. Founded in 1900, Birmingham represented a new model for higher education, as England's first civic university, a place where students of all backgrounds were accepted on an equal basis. One of the ways we’re celebrating this 125th anniversary is by making a significant investment in our research students. Birmingham is an outstanding place to live and carry out your research. Join us as we celebrate our 125th anniversary, and be part of our ambitious, exciting future. You will play an important part in driving the excellence of our research to make an even greater difference to the world around us.

Find out more

For more information about the scholarship programme, including announcements of available projects and the application process, please register your interest using the form below.