ESRC WRDTP Collaborative Studentship - Joined-up approaches to local emergency planning, preparedness, response and recovery

PGR-F-454

Key facts

Deadline: Wednesday 11 March 2026
Funding start date: Thursday 1 October 2026
Number of funding places: 1
Country eligibility: International (open to all nationalities, including the UK)
Source of funding: Research council
Key staff: Professor Adam Crawford and Dr Ali Malik
Schools: School of Law

<h2 class="heading hide-accessible">Summary</h2>

The Economic and Social Research Council is the UK's largest funding agency for research and postgraduate training relating to social and economic issues. The University of Leeds is part of the ESRC White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership forming a collaboration between the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield, York, Bradford, Sheffield Hallam, Hull and Manchester Metropolitan. These social science studentships are available to UK and international (including EU) applicants in seven named Thematic Interdisciplinary Training Pathways and can be held full-time or part-time for the following award types: +3.5 programme: funding for a 3.5-year PhD. Typically, applicants with a social science Masters degree and with 60 or more credits (or equivalent) of M-level social science research training are those most likely to benefit from this option. +3.75 programme: funding for an integrated PGCert/PhD. Typically, applicants with a social science Masters degree, but who have not undertaken core research training are those most likely to benefit for this option. 1+3.5 programme: funding for a 1 year Masters programme, followed by the 3.5 year PhD. Typically, applicants without a social science Masters degree are those most likely to benefit from this option.

An ESRC White Rose DTP Collaborative Studentship is available in the School of Law, with the project title ‘Joined-up approaches to local emergency planning, preparedness, response and recovery’. Collaborative Partner: London Resilience Unit, Greater London Authority Pathway: Security, Conflict and Justice (SCJ) Closing Date for Applications: 17:00 (UK Time) 11 March 2026 The growing frequency and severity of climate-related disasters, including heatwaves, flooding, storms, and tragedies such as Grenfell in 2017, have resulted in significant loss of life, severe damage to critical infrastructure, and exposed systemic weaknesses in the UK’s emergency preparedness and response. In England and Wales, Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) are the cornerstone of emergency planning under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. These multiagency partnerships comprise ‘Category 1’ responders (police, fire, ambulance, local authorities) and ‘Category 2’ partners (utilities, transport, voluntary and community sector). While LRFs have a statutory duty to collaborate and prepare for all emergencies, research and public inquiries have identified ambiguity around roles and responsibilities, limited capacity, reliance on goodwill and negotiated agreement, and gaps in accountability. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry (2024) exposed shortcomings in leadership, a lack of shared situational awareness, and inadequate processes for community engagement. The experience of Grenfell has also highlighted how dominant mentalities and knowledge hierarchies within emergency planning structures can disempower lived experience and community voices. This PhD, designed in collaboration with the London Resilience Unit (LRU), examines governance and multiagency partnership working in emergency planning, response and recovery. Its aim is to identify gaps in current practices and develop practical frameworks to strengthen governance and improve coordination and collaboration between partner agencies. The research will generate actionable insights to inform national policy and guidance for LRFs. The study addresses the following questions: <ol> <li style="margin-left:56px; text-align:justify">How do statutory duties, governance and accountability structures, and partnership dynamics shape emergency planning, response and recovery?</li> <li style="margin-left:56px; text-align:justify">What institutional, cultural, and resource factors constrain or enable effective multiagency collaboration?</li> <li style="margin-left:56px; text-align:justify">What mechanisms can strengthen shared understanding of risk and roles, and embed organisational learning from previous emergencies into future preparedness?</li> <li style="margin-left:56px; text-align:justify">How can diverse forms of knowledge be integrated into formal emergency planning and response structures? </li> </ol> The LRU is uniquely positioned to collaborate on this PhD. As the coordinating body for one of the most complex and high-risk urban environments, it works with over 180 organisations across London to prepare for emergencies and is responsible for implementing lessons from inquiries such as Grenfell. With continued government interest in English devolution, this collaboration offers an ideal opportunity to learn from London’s model of devolved powers and inform future policy development on emergency planning, response and recovery. This PhD advances scholarship on polycentric governance (Malik and Berg, 2024) and crisis management by interrogating the institutional, cultural, and epistemic dynamics shaping multiagency emergency planning in England and Wales. Through a place-based examination, it addresses gaps in understanding how statutory duties, governance structures, and knowledge hierarchies influence or inhibit collaboration and accountability. By integrating theories of adaptive governance and epistemic injustice with the temporal analogues approach, the research offers a novel framework for embedding lessons from past crises into cross-organisational learning and future preparedness. A 3-month Research in Practice placement on a hybrid basis will be provided by the London Resilience Unit, Greater London Authority. Duration of the Award: 1+3.5 Studentships: Full-time (4.5 years) or part-time (pro-rata); +3.5 Studentships: Full-time (3.5 years) or part-time (pro-rata); +3.75 Studentships: Full-time (3 years 9 months) or part-time (pro-rata). Funding <ul> <li>The award will cover fees at standard Research Council rates;</li> <li>A maintenance grant (£20,780 in Session 2025/26 for full-time study, pro-rata for part-time study). This amount increases per annum in line with the Research Council UK rate announced on the <a href="https://www.ukri.org/apply-for-funding/studentships-and-doctoral-training/get-a-studentship-to-fund-your-doctorate/" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">UKRI</a> website</li> <li>Research Training Support Grant, which covers travel and research costs during the PhD part of the award – variable amount depending on the scheme, plus other allowances where applicable;</li> <li>Please be aware that any expenses related to the relocation of international students (including EU) to the UK (visa, insurance, NHS fees, flights etc) would be their responsibility and is not covered by this award.</li> </ul> Other Conditions <ul> <li>Applicants applying on both a 1+3.5, +3.5 and +3.75 basis MUST in the first instance apply for a place on a standard 3-year research postgraduate programme and be in receipt of a Student ID Number to be eligible for an ESRC White Rose DTP Studentship. Applications without a valid ID Number will be rejected;</li> <li>+3.5 and +3.75 awards must be taken up on 1 October 2026; 1+3.5 awards must be taken up in September 2026;</li> <li>Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this Studentship;</li> <li>All WRDTP programmes include an integral 3-month ‘Research in Practice’ placement as standard;</li> <li>Applicants should read the<a href="https://www.ukri.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/ESRC-200825-ESRC-Postgraduate-Funding-Guide-August-2025.pdf" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline"> ESRC Postgraduate Funding Guide</a> and be willing to abide by the conditions and regulations therein.</li> </ul> Selection Process After a School selection process, applicants will be informed as to whether they are being nominated for an ESRC WRDTP Studentship. The White Rose Academic Quality Committee will review the nominations and decide on the final list of awards. The University will use the data provided in the application form for internal selection and statistical purposes and publish the names of the successful applicants within the University. The final outcome is expected towards the end of April 2026.

<h2 class="heading">How to apply</h2>

Stage 1 <ul> <li>First of all <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">apply for a research programme of study </a>by completing the application form. You should clearly state that you are wishing to apply for the ESRC WRDTP Collaborative Studentship and give the project title – ‘Joined-up approaches to local emergency planning, preparedness, response and recovery’</li> </ul> In order to be considered for the studentship, you must submit all the required supporting documents for your application of study (listed on the website for the School/Faculty) in which you are applying to study. Stage 2 <ul> <li>Once you are in receipt of your 9-digit Student Application ID, complete the <a href="https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/leeds/esrc-wrdtp-collaborative-studentships-2026">online ESRC studentship application form </a></li> </ul> Before completing the studentship application form, you are strongly advised to read the <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1saycu9B59xGLQdYz0drFFTsjLlCW84smbEAMAGClcrc/edit?tab=t.0" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Guidance for Student Applicants</a> and <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q9E4T1clh0pSf4v_2YilEzK_6iSqFFuCIimIH1U1F4s/edit?tab=t.0" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Assessment Criteria</a>, which provide further information about how to complete the form and how your application will be assessed. After receipt of your Studentship application, the relevant Admissions Team will provide further advice on your suitability for either a 1+3.5, +3.5 or a 3.75 studentship and advise whether you should undertake the MA Social Research (Interdisciplinary) programme. If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below). As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.

<h2 class="heading heading--sm">Entry requirements</h2>

Applicants must meet the entry requirements of their nomination School. The ESRC also stipulates that for all studentships, students must have qualifications of the standard of a good honours degree at first- or upper second-class level, from a UK academic higher education institution, or through a combination of qualifications and/or experience, be able to demonstrate equivalence. In the majority of cases, students will have undertaken an undergraduate course at a recognised UK higher education institution or equivalent international qualification. Prior qualifications may be enhanced to meet these requirements by the acquisition of at least one satisfactorily completed academic year of full-time study or its part-time equivalent towards a UK higher degree, if applying for an award without an undergraduate degree. Applicants must satisfy the nominating School's entry requirements AND the ESRC's minimum threshold.

<h2 class="heading heading--sm">English language requirements</h2>

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.

<h2 class="heading">Contact details</h2>

For further information about the application process, please contact the Faculty of Social Sciences Admissions Team, email: <a href="mailto:applypgr.socialsciences@leeds.ac.uk?subject=ESRC%20WRDTP%20Collaborative%20Studentship" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">applypgr.socialsciences@leeds.ac.uk</a> For further information about the project, please contact Ali Malik, email: <a href="mailto:a.malik4@leeds.ac.uk?subject=ESRC%20WRDTP%20Collaborative%20Studentship">a.malik4@leeds.ac.uk</a>