ÃûæÂÖ±²¥

PhD in Wellbeing and Work Psychology

PhD Studentship in Wellbeing and Work Psychology (2026)

What you get

• A stipend for 3 years to cover living costs. The amount is tied to the UKRI studentship rates; for 2026/27 it is £21,805 per year.
• UK fees are covered for 3 years. International fees are not covered.
• Research/training costs of £900 per year are also covered for 3 years.

Postgraduate Researchers have the opportunity to take up Doctoral Tutoring during your PhD with a range of modules to choose from. This work is paid at Grade 6 which is currently £18.23 per hour, and covers contact time, preparation and marking.

Type of award

Postgraduate Research

Funding type

Donor funded

PhD project

PhD project

This research grant-funded PhD studentship provides a unique opportunity to join a vibrant, collaborative research team to study how working time reduction – such as a ‘4 day work week’ – supports employee inclusivity and wellbeing.

Employers are increasingly interested in working time reduction as a way to improve access to flexible work options, recruit more diverse employees, and enhance staff wellbeing. Our research group has led the UK’s largest interdisciplinary trial of the 4 day work week, collaborating with employers to study the effects of shorter working weeks on their staff. We recently received grant funding to expand this programme, and study how working time reduction could support employee inclusivity at work.

About this project

In this grant-funded studentship, the PhD researcher will play a central role in collecting and analysing quantitative data from employees trialling shorter working weeks. They will examine how working time reduction affects wellbeing and perceptions of work in diverse groups such as women, caregivers, older workers, migrants, people with disabilities, and neurodiverse employees. The PhD researcher will also support interviews and surveys on barriers and enablers to working time reduction amongst stakeholders, such as business leaders and trade union representatives. Throughout the programme, they will attend to inclusive study design and research accessibility for participants.

Given the practical and societal relevance of the project, this studentship is particularly well suited to applicants who are motivated by research with real-world relevance and impact, but with strong statistical and research methods training, as research design and statistical analysis will be core features of the project.

Research Environment

The successful candidate will join a team of internationally recognised scholars in the School of Psychology, known for their research on work and wellbeing. You will also become part of an international EU-wide network of academics engaged in research on feasible, inclusive, and sustainable models of working time reduction.

As part of the studentship, you will have access to advanced training opportunities, regular supervision, and support for confidence attendance and professional development.

Doctoral Tutor role: 

If you choose to undertake a Doctoral Tutor role you will receive training and begin teaching in the first term of your studies. You will be encouraged to study for a formal teaching accreditation (Associate of the Higher Education Academy), enrolling on a ‘Starting to Teach’ module in the first term.

Eligibility

• Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, a First or a high Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree, or equivalent qualification, and/or a Master’s degree in Psychology or a related discipline.
• The ÃûæÂÖ±²¥ believes that the diversity of its staff and student community is fundamental to creative thinking, pedagogic innovation, intellectual challenge, and the interdisciplinary approach to research and learning. We celebrate and promote diversity, equality and inclusion amongst our staff and students. As such, we welcome applications from all, regardless of personal characteristics or background.

This award will only pay fees at the UK Home rate. International students (without settled status) are not eligible.

Number of scholarships available

• 1

Deadline

How to apply

• Please read our  before you start your application.
• Please submit your application online for 'PhD in Psychology' for entry in September 2026.

• In the Supervisor suggested by applicant section of your application, put the name of the supervisor named on the advert.
• In the Proposed source of funding section of your application, please put Psychology Research Grant Studentship – Charlotte Rae

Candidates should provide: 

• A research proposal that outlines your knowledge of the research area, hypotheses that could be addressed in your PhD, and an outline of potential methods. The scope of the proposed work should be appropriate for a 3-year PhD research programme. The research proposal should be approximately 1,000 to 1,500 words in length and not exceed 3 pages, including references. It should be set at a minimum of 10 font type with margins a minimum of 1cm.
• Current degree transcript(s) with full details of performance on all completed courses. 
• Two academic references.
• An up-to-date CV.

Funding partners

Funded by a research grant to Dr Charlotte Rae

Contact us

For queries with respect to the application process please contact:  psychologyphd-enquiries@sussex.ac.uk 

To discuss the details of this project further please contact Dr Charlotte Rae, c.rae@sussex.ac.uk  

Timetable

Deadline for applications:  Friday 08 May 2026 at 23:45

Interviews are scheduled for week beginning 25^th May 2026