Funding
Funded
Double disclosure? Investigating how disabled students in higher education navigate the university to employment pipeline
School of Psychology | PHD
Applications are now CLOSED
Reference Number
PSY-PhD-24-SB1
Application Deadline
12 February 2024
Start Date
16 September 2024
Overview
At 37.3%, the employment rate for disabled people in Northern Ireland is the lowest across the UK (ECNI, 2021). One explanation for this is the perceived prejudice and unconscious bias employers may hold about disability (Friedman, 2020). Potential applicants may also be reluctant to disclose a disability for fear of being deemed ineligible for employment opportunities, thus preventing them from accessing workplace adjustments. Disabled students who are preparing to enter the graduate workforce are at the precipice of this quandary of whether to disclose or not. QUB careers advisors indicate that disabled students who have taken the step to disclose their disability to the university frequently do not wish to disclose it to potential employers, despite employers’ expressed wishes to diversify their workforce. Establishing the scale of disclosure reluctance, the reasons for it, and the impact on employability for these new graduates is vital to being able improve the employment rate for those with disabilities.
This project will answer two key research questions:
RQ1 – What is the scale of disability disclosure reluctance to employers in students who have disclosed to universities?
RQ2 – What are the perceived advantages and disadvantages to disclosure by this group?
These questions will be answered by: (a) surveying staff from university careers services across the UK and Ireland about their interactions with disabled students (frequency, type of advice requested, and their views of student disclosure; we have already established some connections with this wider UK network to aid participant recruitment); (b) embedding the PhD student in QUB Disability Services for a period, to record the typical questions/concerns of disabled students, in relation to work placements and future employment; and (c) surveying disabled students across the UK and Ireland about their perceived expectations, challenges, and benefits of disclosing their disability to their university careers advisors and potential employers.
The successful PhD student will also be hosted by Disability Action Northern Ireland for a period of time during each funded year of the project. The PhD student will gain valuable experience in their opportunity to work in Disability Action’s HQ, learning from their different teams working on advocacy and policy. This will give the student a unique insight into different aspects of disability advocacy across a wider spectrum than the community of university students with disclosed disabilities. Disability Action NI will further support the project via direct stakeholder involvement in co-design, and in providing consultancy to translate the findings into appropriate policy.
Funding Information
Funded in collaboration with Disability Action Northern Ireland, subject to final project approvals.
Please see Department for the Economy Postgraduate Studentship scheme | nidirect for more information on eligibility for funding.
The University welcomes and encourages applications from disabled people or those with long term conditions.
Project Summary
Supervisor
Dr Stephanie Burns
Mode of Study
Full-time: 3 years
Funding Body
Queen’s Collaborative Studentship (funded via Dep
Psychology overview
The School of Psychology has a thriving, well-resourced and engaged PhD community that is central to its research environment. Students are strategically appointed to research projects with the express purpose of enhancing research capacity and development in prioritised areas for which the School aims to enhance world-leading research.
MODE OF STUDY / DURATION
Registration is on a full-time or part-time basis, under the direction of a supervisory team appointed by the University. You will be expected to submit your thesis at the end of three years of full-time registration for PhD, or two years for MPhil (or part-time equivalent).
Course content
Research Information
Associated Research
The School of Psychology has a postgraduate research community of around 50 PhD students who are very well resourced and supported in their research.
The School has made extensive material investments in infrastructure, including two computer labs and access to several suites of dedicated research labs, to support their research.
Students are a central part of the research environment of the School and participate in School-level seminars and research meetings.
Students are expected and encouraged to publish during their PhD research and are supported in doing so through their research training.
Subject-specific postgraduate modules in research design and methods are delivered as part of the PhD training portfolio to complement the generic University training and further topic-specific research training is also available.
Other opportunities exist to attract funding from non-governmental sources. Current and previous PhD sponsors include professional services firms, international Governments, charities, and technology companies. We also welcome self-funding students on a full-time or part-time basis.
The School of Psychology at Queen's ranked in the top 10 psychology departments in the UK for research intensity in REF 2014 and provides an excellent environment in which to carry out PhD research.
One distinctive aspect of the PhD experience in the School of Psychology is the high level of spontaneous peer-support, initiative, and engagement among this community of Doctoral researchers. This is valued and fostered by the School through its support of the postgraduate conference and postgraduate week activities as well as wide-ranging involvement of research students across many aspects of School life.
Our PhD community also organizes numerous social events each year that are very popular amongst both staff and students. There is a range of sources of funding available for PhD students. Every year the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland (DEL) funds a number of PhD students to undertake research on pre-specified topics within the School of Psychology. These topics and the names of the associated supervisors are typically advertised online in December with a closing date in February. Last year's topics spanned research topics across Development, Social, Cognitive and Biological Psychology. Selected applicants are invited to interview and the successful candidate is offered a fully funded place with fees paid and an annual maintenance stipend for the three years of the PhD. Eligibility criteria can be found at: http://go.qub.ac.uk/delterms
Students who wish to self-fund or explore external funding sources are advised to peruse our staff webpages (http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/psy/Staff/) and to contact potential supervisors to discuss potential topics. Most students continue within academia to take up postdoctoral research positions, fellowships or lectureships in psychology. Some continue into clinical or educational psychology training while others take up research positions in the private and public sectors.
Career Prospects
Introduction
For further information on career opportunities at PhD level please contact the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Student Recruitment Team on askEPS@qub.ac.uk.
Our advisors - in consultation with the School - will be happy to provide further information on your research area, possible career prospects and your research application.
People teaching you
Professor Teresa McCormack
Director of Postgraduate Research
School of Psychology
Email: t.mccormack@qub.ac.uk
Course structure
-Entrance requirements
Graduate
The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Psychology from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School.
International Students
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.
English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 7.0, with not less than 6.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University, is required (*taken within the last 2 years).
International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.
For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
Tuition Fees
| Northern Ireland (NI) 1 | TBC |
| Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 | TBC |
| England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 | TBC |
| EU Other 3 | £25,600 |
| International | £25,600 |
1 EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled or pre-settled status, are expected to be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly Student Fees Regulations. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB are expected to be charged the GB fee, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations.
2 It is expected that EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI will be eligible for NI tuition fees. The tuition fee set out above is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations.
3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.
All tuition fees quoted are for the academic year 2021-22, and relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
More information on postgraduate tuition fees.
Psychology costs
Depending on the area of research chosen there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees.
Additional course costs
All Students
Depending on the programme of study, there may also be other extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies . Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £100 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges. Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen. There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, and library fines. In undertaking a research project students may incur costs associated with transport and/or materials, and there will also be additional costs for printing and binding the thesis. There may also be individually tailored research project expenses and students should consult directly with the School for further information.
Bench fees
Some research programmes incur an additional annual charge on top of the tuition fees, often referred to as a bench fee. Bench fees are charged when a programme (or a specific project) incurs extra costs such as those involved with specialist laboratory or field work. If you are required to pay bench fees they will be detailed on your offer letter. If you have any questions about Bench Fees these should be raised with your School at the application stage. Please note that, if you are being funded you will need to ensure your sponsor is aware of and has agreed to fund these additional costs before accepting your place.
How do I fund my study?
1.PhD OpportunitiesFind PhD opportunities and funded studentships by subject area.
2.Funded Doctoral Training ProgrammesWe offer numerous opportunities for funded doctoral study in a world-class research environment. Our centres and partnerships, aim to seek out and nurture outstanding postgraduate research students, and provide targeted training and skills development.
3.PhD loansThe Government offers doctoral loans of up to £26,445 for PhDs and equivalent postgraduate research programmes for English- or Welsh-resident UK and EU students.
4.International ScholarshipsInformation on Postgraduate Research scholarships for international students.
Funding and Scholarships
The Funding & Scholarship Finder helps prospective and current students find funding to help cover costs towards a whole range of study related expenses.
How to Apply
Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.
Find a supervisor
If you're interested in a particular project, we suggest you contact the relevant academic before you apply, to introduce yourself and ask questions.
To find a potential supervisor aligned with your area of interest, or if you are unsure of who to contact, look through the staff profiles linked here.
You might be asked to provide a short outline of your proposal to help us identify potential supervisors.