Leading for healthy and inclusive workplaces

College of Business and Law at the University of the West of England in Bristol invites applications for a fully funded PhD studentship with the Bristol Leadership and Change Centre. 

Ref: 2526-JAN-CBL02

The expected start date of this studentship is 1 January 2026.

Closing date for applications is 12 October 2025.

College of Business and Law is a host to lively and challenging PhD programme. Students benefit from its modern facilities and a welcoming research environment comprising diverse research groups and centres. The studentship reflect ongoing commitment of the College of Business and Law at UWE to the development of its doctoral programmes.

Doctoral students at the College benefit from comprehensive support and guidance from UWE Doctoral Academy, including extensive professional development programme, research skills training and careers advice. Find out more about the Doctoral Academy.

Bristol Leadership and Change Centre (BLCC) invites expressions of interest for PhD topics that critically explore leadership and organisational change in contexts of complexity and uncertainty. We particularly welcome proposals that align with the UWE RISE agenda and have practical as well as theoretical relevance. Projects should address the theme of leading for healthy and inclusive workplaces. Potential topics include (but are not limited to):

• Exploring the cognitive, emotional and physical labour associated with maternity leave and/or motherhood and how leadership and organisation development interventions can facilitate more flexible and productive working lives.
• Understanding the role of enterprise and/or entrepreneurship skills development as a means to build inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems by harnessing creativity and generating social value within marginalised communities (e.g. previously incarcerated individuals, people with lived experience of forced migration, etc.). 
• Examining how organisational commitments to compassionate leadership are translated into moral action and ethical responsiveness, and the associated impact on workplace wellbeing.

Projects may be situated within public, private or not-for-profit sectors, and span local, national or international contexts. We welcome all methodological approaches, with particular supervisory expertise and interest in qualitative and creative approaches such as participatory action research, organisational ethnography, and narrative interviews.

Please refer to the BLCC website for further information, including potential supervisors and recent projects and publications.

For an informal discussion about the project proposal please contact Professor Richard Bolden at Richard.Bolden@uwe.ac.uk.

For an informal discussion about the studentship, please contact College Director of Doctoral Research, Dr Paweł Capik at pawel.capik@uwe.ac.uk.

The studentship is available from 1 January 2026 for a period of three years, subject to satisfactory progress, which includes a tax-exempt stipend of £20,780 per annum (25/26 academic year), and full-time home/international fees.

Applicants must have at least 2.1 degree in leadership, or organisation studies or  or a cognate discipline, and preferably Masters degree (with average programme mark of no less than 65%, UK grading scale or international equivalent).

A recognised English language qualification is required. IELTS score of 7.0 overall, or equivalent.

Please submit your application online. When prompted use the reference number 2526-JAN-CBL02.

Supporting documentation: Prepare your research proposal – no more than 5 pages all-inclusive; font size 11, 1.5-spacing, 2-inch margins. Indicative contents: research context and rationale, brief literature review, research focus (objectives/research questions), proposed methodology and expected contribution of the project. Development of research proposal should happen in consultation with the potential supervisor. You should contact the potential supervisor with an advanced draft of the proposal to confirm they are willing to support your application.

You will need to upload your research proposal, all your degree certificates and transcripts and your proof of English language proficiency as attachments to your application, so please have these available when you complete the application form.

References: You will need to provide details of two referees as part of your application. At least one referee must be an academic referee from the institution that conferred your highest degree. Your referee will be asked for a reference at the time you submit your application, so please ensure that your nominated referees are willing and able to provide references within 14 days of your application being submitted.

The closing date for applications is 12 October 2025 at 18:00.

Interviews will take place online in November. If you have not heard from us by 30 November 2025, we thank you for your application but on this occasion you have not been successful.