NUAcT PhD Studentship – Histories of Child Protection

Explore 19th- and 20th-century child protection history using rich NSPCC archives in a fully funded doctoral studentship.

Best for:Best for history graduates with a strong academic background and an interest in social history, archival research, and child welfare.

Newcastle University · Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom · R1 · First-stage researcher

More professors at Newcastle University

History of child protectionSocial historyNineteenth and twentieth century historyWelfare historyArchival research

Deadline

Oct 16, 2026

2 days

Funding

Salaried

£21.8k/yr

Start date

January 2027

Full-time

Location

Newcastle upon Tyne

United Kingdom

Overview

Newcastle University's School of History, Classics and Archaeology invites applications for a fully funded doctoral studentship focusing on the history of child protection during the 19th and 20th centuries. Partnering with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), the successful candidate will conduct archival research into histories of care, childhood, family, poverty, and inequality. The project will be supervised by Dr. Claudia Soares alongside an appointed co-supervisor, offering specialized training in public engagement, policy-oriented research, and archival methods. The candidate will craft an independent research project within designated thematic areas to generate real-world historical insights.

child protectionNSPCCsocial historydoctoral studentshipphdarchivewelfarechildhood

What you'll do

Develop an independent doctoral research project focusing on material and emotional cultures of child protection, contested care, or spatial and sensory histories of welfare work.
Examine and analyze historical documents and records housed within the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) archives.
Collaborate closely with academic supervisors and partner organization stakeholders to align research with contemporary real-world interests.
Participate in specialized training programs covering archival techniques, public engagement, and policy-oriented research.
Draft and complete a doctoral thesis within the three-year full-time timeframe.

Requirements

Degree required: Master's degree at Merit level, or international equivalent, in history or a related subject

Degree offered: PhD

Language: English; IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all sub-skills (if English is not your first language)

Instruction: English

Required skills

Minimum of a 2:1 honours undergraduate degree in history or a related field
Demonstrated capability to conduct independent archival or historical research
Strong academic writing and project proposal development skills

Nice to have

Prior experience working with historical archives or welfare recordsFamiliarity with public engagement or policy-oriented historical analysis

Eligibility

Open to home and international applicants
International candidates must be able to fund the difference between home and international tuition fees

Funding & terms

Type

Salaried

Amount

£21.8k/yr

Duration

3 years full time

Programme

Newcastle University Academic Track scheme

How to apply

Deadline: 2026-10-16

Candidates must apply through the Apply to Newcastle Portal by creating a postgraduate application and selecting the full-time History PhD programme under the appropriate course code. Applicants must include the reference code HCA016 in the designated studentship field, upload a personal statement and CV, and submit a research proposal of no more than 2,500 words.

Documents required