NUAcT PhD Studentship – Histories of Child Protection

Award Summary

100% of home tuition fees paid and an annual stipend (living expenses) of £21,805 (2026-27 UKRI rates). Successful international candidates are required to fund the difference between the home and international fees.

Overview

The School of History, Classics and Archaeology invites applications for a funded doctoral studentship in the history of child protection (19th and 20th centuries), in partnership with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). Using the NSPCC’s rich historical archives, this project will make a contribution to histories of care, childhood, family, poverty, and inequality.

Candidates are invited to develop a research project in one of the following areas:

• The material and emotional cultures of children protection work
• The contested nature of care and protection
• Space, emotions and the senses in child protection work

Founded in 1884, the NSPCC transformed British welfare by lobbying for the 1889 Children’s Charter, which granted the Society pioneering powers to intervene in domestic life decades before local authority social services. Today, the NSPCC remains the UK’s leading child protection agency: its work includes the ‘Speak Out Stay Safe’ campaign and the vital, digital lifeline, Childline.

The project will be supervised by Dr. Claudia Soares and a co-supervisor selected based on the project’s focus. The student will work with the supervisors and the NSPCC to consider the real-world interest in their work, gaining training in archival, public engagement and policy-oriented areas.

Number of awards: 1

Start date: January 2027 

Award duration: 3 years full time 

Sponsor: Newcastle University Academic Track scheme 

Supervisors: Claudia Soares, School of History, Classics and Archaeology 

Eligibility criteria:

A minimum of a 2:1 honours degree and a Master's degree at Merit level, or international equivalent, in history or a related subject. Home and international applicants are welcome to apply. Successful international candidates will be required to fund the difference between home and international fees. If English is not your first language, you must have IELTS 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in all sub-skills). 

How to apply

You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal

Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’.

Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study:

• Search for the ‘Course Title’ using the programme code: 8210F
• Select History in the ‘Research Area’ field
• Select ‘PhD School of History, Classic and Archaeology (full time) – History' as the programme of study

You will then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Details’ section:

• A ‘Personal Statement’ (mandatory field) - upload a document or write a statement directly into the application form. The statement must state the studentship title, the reference code (HCA016) and state how your interests and experience relate to the project. 
• The studentship code HCA016 for example in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field   
• A research proposal – select either ‘Write Proposal’ or ‘Upload document’. Your proposal should be no more than 2,500 words, including intended research questions, research context, and research methods. 

In the Supporting Documentation section please upload:

• Your CV

Contact details

Claudia Soares
Email: Claudia.soares@newcastle.ac.uk

If you have any technical queries about submitting your application via the Apply to Newcastle Portal, please use our FAQs