Organisation/Company Swansea University Department Central Research Field Sociology » Other Demography » Other Political sciences » Policy studies Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 18 May 2026 - 11:59 (Europe/London) Country United Kingdom Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
Post-study opportunities in host countriesisan increasingly important concern for international students. This project explores how Chinese international students navigate post-study pathways in the UK in the context of migration policy changes, uncertain job market prospects and rising xenophobic environment. Focusing on the largest international student group, the study analyses how graduates negotiate decisions to stay, return, or move elsewhere. It uses a 12-month longitudinal diary methods and interviews with graduates, to map the intersecting webs of factors (visa regimes, labour markets, transnational network, and personal aspirations) and the process of shaping post-study (im)mobility. Combined with graduates’ retrospective reflections and experiences “in the moment” captured over time, the study provides a unique meso-level explanation of joint influence on individuals under shifting conditions. It exploresstudent migrants’ responsestotheUK’sdifficultiesin balancingtalent retention and anti-immigration politics. It informs UK’s future international student recruitment and higher education sustainability.
English Language requirements: If applicable – IELTS 6.5 overall (with a score of at least 6.5 in each individual component) or equivalent that is recognised by Swansea University.
Additional Information
This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £21,805 for 2026/27).
Additionalresearch expenses of up to £1,000 per year will also be available.
Eligibility criteria
Candidates must have achieved, or be expecting to achieve, a 1st class UK undergraduate degree (or equivalent international qualification), or a 2:1 UK undergraduate degree and a Distinction in a UK master’s degree (or international equivalent)
* Where applicants have multiple master’s degrees, a distinction must be held in the degree that is most relevant to the intended PhD study.
* If you are currently studying for a master’s level qualification with an expected award date that is later than 01/10/2026, you should hold a minimum of an upper-second-class(2:1) honours degree.
* You should be able to demonstrate apass with a minimum grade average of at least 70% for your part-one master’s degree modules (the taught aspect of your master’s course rather than a research-focused dissertation) andsubmityour dissertation by no later than 30/09/2026.
NB: If you hold a non-UK degree, please see the Swansea University degree comparisons to find out if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants must be able to begin their course of study in October 2026.
As a cohort-based programme, deferral to an alternative enrolment window within the academic year or to another academic year is not permissible.
UK and International applicants
Please note that International applicants will be required to hold a SUIPRES scholarship, with further guidance to follow if shortlisted.
Selection process
Please see our website for more information.
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