#BeeWell studentships 2026 entry

#BeeWell is a youth‑centred wellbeing programme led by The University of Manchester in collaboration with The Gregson Family Foundation and Anna Freud. Working alongside regional partners, the programme places young people’s voices at its core, aiming to listen, act for change, and promote positive wellbeing outcomes.

Two PhD studentships are available to support applicants whose PhD projects sit within the #BeeWell research remit.

A central strand of #BeeWell is its research programme, which seeks to understand how wellbeing develops during adolescence and the factors that shape it over time.

This work is delivered through an ambitious longitudinal cohort study tracking students across key stages of secondary education, with particular attention to the transition from Year 8 to Year 10. Successful PhD candidates contribute directly to this effort by supporting the study and conducting journal‑format doctoral research using the #BeeWelldataset.

The research methodology is based on a co‑created survey measuring both wellbeing “domains” (such as meaning, purpose, and sense of control) and wellbeing “drivers”, including health behaviours, hobbies, school experiences, and neighbourhood safety. Survey data are integrated with socio‑demographic and administrative records, including ethnicity, free school meal eligibility, and special educational needs, with planned linkage to the National Pupil Database.

Initially launched in Greater Manchester, #BeeWell has expanded to schools across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, and Southampton, enabling valuable regional and socioeconomic comparisons.

Details of the project can be found at the #BeeWell website.