MPhil/PhD Studentship - From Voice to Influence: Understanding how young disabled people shape local authority Special Educational Needs and Disability decision-making and service improvement

Investing in excellence: studentship opportunities

The University of Derby has an opportunity for a full-time postgraduate research studentship in the Public Services area of research in the Institute of Education and Skills (IES).

The successful applicant will receive a maintenance stipend (based on the minimum stipend defined by UKRI, currently £21,805 for the academic year 2026/27) and home MPhil/PhD tuition fees (£5,238 - subject to amendment) only up to the target submission date.

The intended intake period is January 2027.

International applicants may need to defer to March 2027 to allow sufficient time for CAS issuance and visa processing.

Please note: If your application is successful and you are assessed as international for fees purposes, you will need to pay the difference between the home fees and the international fees.

The successful applicant will be expected to complete their MPhil/PhD within 3 years on the MPhil/PhD route, contribute to the College REF submission and get involved in the wider research activities of the College.

Applicants will become part of a friendly and welcoming team and will be supported and managed by their supervisors.

The vacancy details are as follows:

Project description

Children and young people are increasingly expected to play an active role in shaping the services and support they receive. Within Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), participation is a core principle of policy and practice, yet evidence suggests young people are often consulted without having meaningful influence on the decisions that affect their lives. The challenge is no longer simply ensuring that young people are heard, but understanding how their views contribute to real change.

This PhD will explore how young disabled people influence local authority SEND decision-making and service improvement. Drawing on the work of the University's Inclusion and Special Educational Needs and Disability (ISEND) Research Cluster, and regional and national local authority youth voice links, the project will investigate how disability youth participation moves from voice to influence within local authority systems.

Using qualitative and participatory research approaches, the successful candidate will explore how disabled young people, local authority professionals and policymakers participate in and shape decision-making processes, examining how participation contributes to SEND service improvement within the public sector. The project offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to a growing area of research with direct relevance to policy, practice and social justice.

Purpose/objectives 

The purpose of this project is to understand how young disabled people influence decision-making and service improvement within local authority SEND systems.

The project will:

• Explore how young disabled people participate in local authority decision-making and identify factors that support or constrain meaningful influence.
• Examine how young people's perspectives are understood, translated and acted upon within SEND policy and practice.
• Critically analyse how participation contributes to organisational learning and SEND service improvement.
• Develop evidence-informed recommendations for strengthening participation and co-production within SEND services and public policy.

The research will be informed by Habermas's theory of communicative action, which emphasises the importance of equitable participation, mutual understanding and dialogue in collective decision-making. This framework is particularly relevant to SEND policy, where children and young people's voices are expected to shape decisions affecting support and future outcomes. The project will contribute to national debates regarding participation, inclusion, co-production and SEND reform.

Potential project impact 

This project has the potential to make an important contribution to inclusion and SEND policy, educational practice and public service improvement. By examining how participation leads to influence, the research will support more effective approaches to engaging young disabled people in decisions affecting their lives.

Potential impacts include:

• Informing local authority approaches to youth participation, co-production and SEND service development.
• Supporting policymakers and practitioners to create more inclusive, responsive and accountable decision-making processes.
• Improving educational experiences and outcomes for young disabled people by strengthening the role of their views within SEND systems.

The project will contribute to the University's wider programme of research on participation, inclusion and decision-making and has the potential to influence practice at local, regional and national levels.

To apply

Please review our entry requirements before submitting your application and check out the 'Getting Started' section below.

Completed applications should be submitted via our online application system. It is important that you quote the funding reference: QR_IES_VOICE_2627

Apply online

Closing dates for applications: Sunday 8 November 2026

Interviews: Friday 20 November 2026 to Thursday 26 November 2026

If you have not been invited for an interview by the interview date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.

For other enquiries which are subject-specific please contact:

Prof Geraldene Codina - g.codina@derby.ac.uk

Dr Stephanie King - s.king2@derby.ac.uk

Getting started

Before you begin your application, make sure you have the following:

Studentship funding reference code

It is important that you quote the funding reference: QR_IES_VOICE_2627 in your application, at the top of your personal statement.

Required Documents

Before submitting your application, please ensure you upload all required documents to enable us to assess your application fully. References may be provided at a later stage.

Personal statement

A 500-word personal statement outlining your suitability for the studentship project. This is a mandatory requirement and you must upload it into your application. You should include your reasons for applying for the studentship, your experience in the field, how you feel you would benefit from studying and relevant information about your previous studies.

Your CV

A CV outlining your academic and professional experience.

Qualifications

Your qualification details including grades and dates taken. You will have the opportunity to upload scanned copies of your qualification certificates and transcripts in the application. If you have no formal qualifications, you can also state this in your application.

Photo ID

A scanned copy of your photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence. This will help us verify your application to study with us.

Academic references

Two signed academic references. This is optional at application stage but highly encouraged. If successful in your application, two academic references will be a mandatory requirement of admission. The references should be in written format, signed and dated from either a supervisor or tutor from your most recent studies.

For international applicants

The University of Derby has a network of international agents and representatives in different regions. For postgraduate research degree applications, depending on your country of origin, you may need to apply through an agent. You can contact any of our agents and apply to study with us through them.

Some agents may charge for provision of services so please check this directly with the agent. Please be aware that, if you apply directly to the University without going through an agent, we may contact you and you will be required to re-apply through an agent or representative before your application can be considered.