Fully funded +3 PhD in Bilingualism

Schools of Education / Linguistics / Psychology, Bangor University

Qualification type: PhD                            

Location: School of Education, Linguistics or Psychology, Bangor

Closes: 20th June 2016                                                        

Funding amount: The +3 studentship covers the full cost of UK/EU tuition fees, plus a maintenance stipend in line with RCUK rates (provisional £14,254* for full time award holders in 2016/17) per annum for 3 years and a research allowance of £750*

Hours: Full Time, commencing October 2016

Applications are invited for a three-year fully funded PhD studentship within the School of Education, Linguistics or Psychology at Bangor University. The studentship will commence from October 2016 and is funded through a combination of the ESRC Wales DTC and internal funding. The successful candidate will benefit from a rich inter-disciplinary environment sustained in the wake of the ESRC funded Centre for Research in Bilingualism which has now become a centre run by Bangor University. Bangor is a friendly and affordable university town, with good transport links, located in one of the most beautiful parts of the UK.

Project

We welcome proposals examining Bilingualism from the perspective of Linguistics, Psychology, and/or Education. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact relevant academic staff at Bangor University as potential supervisors before submitting their application in order to shape their research project in line with current research interests at Bangor.

Example of topics include (any other topic relevant to bilingualism will be considered):

(1)  How does language and culture interact in the bilingual mind and how does this shape perception / conceptualisations?

(2)  What principles underlie code-switching in bilinguals and how flexible are these mechanisms?

(3)  What particular advantages / challenges do bilinguals experience during education and how can this knowledge benefit education?

The successful candidate will be encouraged to design innovative studies to address such questions or their own if they have a strong line of research already spelt out. Applicants with research interests in neighbouring areas of social and cognitive neuroscience with a bilingualism component are strongly encouraged to apply.

Requirements: A first class or 2:1 undergraduate degree in a relevant scientific discipline, including but not limited to psychology, linguistics, speech and language therapy, or education.  In addition, applicants must have achieved a level of research training, which would allow them to proceed to PhD. This is usually via the attainment of a Masters degree in a relevant discipline.

The applicant should be highly motivated and creative with strong written and oral communication skills. Experience with participant testing would strengthen the application. In addition, the ability to speak and communicate in Welsh would be an advantage.

Further information: For more details on the schools click on the following links: Education (https://www.bangor.ac.uk/addysg/), Linguistics (https://www.bangor.ac.uk/linguistics/), Psychology (https://www.bangor.ac.uk/psychology/).

Informal enquiries may be directed to Prof. Guillaume Thierry (g.thierry@bangor.ac.uk), Dr Peredur Webb-Davies (p.davies@bangor.ac.uk) or Prof. Enlli Thomas (enlli.thomas@bangor.ac.uk).

Residency requirements: This studentship is open to UK/EU students only.

General information: PhD students are expected to contribute to teaching in the department.

General enquiries: For administrative advice about how to apply and eligibility, please contact Everil McQuarrie: e.mcquarrie@bangor.ac.uk 

The online application form is available here: https://apps.bangor.ac.uk/applicant/

The required supporting documentation is as follows:

  • A personal statement outlining your research experience and interests
  • A research proposal
  • Covering letter and CV
  • Two confidential references
  • Transcripts of your undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications

Details of eligibility are found in Annex 1: Residential guidelines on the ESRC website.

Closing date: 20 June 2016

Publication date: 27 May 2016