PhD Studentship: Understanding and Improving the Provision of Clinical Services for Youth with Disruptive Behaviour Disorders
Overview
The Psychology department at the University of Bath is advertising a PhD project on understanding and improving clinical services for young people with disruptive behaviour disorders. The project competes for one of 18 fully funded MRC studentships starting in October 2027. Interested candidates should contact the named supervisor and apply through the MRC GW4 BioMed route.
The student will map mental health service provision for children and young people with disruptive behaviour disorders such as conduct disorder, through a nationally representative survey of healthcare professionals, commissioners, and parents and caregivers. The survey will identify barriers to access, training needs among professionals and existing care pathways, and will ask NHS clinicians whether young people with conduct problems are diagnosed and accepted for treatment and whether services follow NICE guidelines. It is modelled on the Mapping ADHD services in Primary care study, a national survey of adult ADHD services. The result will be a national map of clinical care in England, highlighting good practice and ways of overcoming barriers, which will be made public. The student will also use existing longitudinal data to study how accessing or not accessing mental health support affects the mental health and wellbeing of children and parents, and health economic outcomes. Further studies may include a vignette study on whether professionals recognise and diagnose these disorders, and analysis of cohort data on mental health trajectories. The overall aim is to improve care for this disadvantaged group and inform commissioning and policy.
Who can apply
The studentships are open to both Home and International students. International applicants should note that the funding does not cover a student visa, the healthcare surcharge or other costs of moving to the UK.
What you get
The studentship pays £21,805 per year, with up to £2,000 a year for research costs and training and £300 a year for travel or conference attendance, plus flexible funding of up to £5,000 for high-cost research or external training. Full tuition fees at the UK/Home rate are covered for four years. The student will be based in the NIHR Mental Health Research Group at Bath, with strong links to Exeter and Bristol.
Key dates
The closing date is 21 October 2026.