Research degrees
Scholarships for postgraduate research students
Funding opportunities offered by York St John University.
Scholarships are grants given to a student that you should not need to pay back.
We have the following scholarships available for postgraduate research students.
MSc by Research Fee Studentship: York St John University Institute for Social Justice
Carnival of the Heavens: An investigation of a protected International Dark Sky Reserve in the United Kingdom
Application deadline: Friday 22 March 2024 - please note that the deadline has been extended to Sunday 31 March 2024
Interviews: Week commencing Monday 15 April 2024
Start date: 1 June 2024
The Institute for Social Justice at York St John University is seeking applications from candidates interested in pursuing an MSc by Research. We are looking for a candidate interested in environmental and human relations with a passion for research. The successful candidate will explore how the North York Moors National Park Authority and Trust stimulates engagement in dark sky conservation that encourages stakeholders to participate as active stewards of the night sky and achieve ecological justice.
Explore more information about the studentship using the drop-down, or apply using the link below.
Studentship details
Since the late 1980s a growing global movement to “protect the night” from light pollution has evolved (International Dark-Sky Association, 2023). Programmes that create protected zones and promote engagement with the importance of dark sky conservation have proliferated, yet our knowledge about the effectiveness of these interventions are limited (Derrien and Stokowski, 2020). Furthermore, little attention has been paid to residents, local businesses and visitors’ perceptions of dark sky reserves and the perceived barriers to access them.
Through an ecological justice lens, an ethnographic approach is sought to explore how National Park managers, residents and wider stakeholders in dark protected areas experience leisure-based engagement that aims to conserve dark places. The findings and analysis from this research will inform how dark sky conservation in protected zones can be sustained through engaging residents and visitors as active stewards, while offering new understandings of ecological justice in leisure and tourism research and a novel methodology for researching dark sky conservation.
Creating an ecologically just approach in National Parks in the UK is underpinned by a recognition that stakeholder engagement is central to mitigating for climate crisis. National Parks in the UK act as advocates for social and environmental change that inform political processes and encourage climate activism in the context of engagement of residents and visitors in active conservation. For example, the Recover with Nature Project is a call to action that advocates for achieving “wellbeing through doing the right thing by nature” (National Parks UK, 2023), thus encouraging active stewardship in communities and visitors to become the norm. National Parks are increasingly seen as providers of human health and well-being, and as such, research in National Parks and protected zones has shown the positive benefits visitation to parks has on human wellbeing (Romagosa, Eagles and Lemieux, 2015). Therefore, tangible experience of the benefits of wellbeing through ‘doing good’ can act as a powerful way to rebalance our relationship with rural and natural environments.
- To critically understand the perceptions and benefits of dark skies conservation engagement programmes to residents, businesses and visitors.
- To identify the barriers and misconceptions concerning dark skies in the context of conservation of resident communities and visitors.
- To evaluate how ecological justice can be sustained through enabling stakeholders to experience species recovery through nighttime conservation.
- To offer recommendations for future dark skies conservation through engagement programmes and identify areas for future research.
The consideration of these dimensions will allow for the exploration of the purview and values of collaborators, outline the factors that prompt ecological justice when establishing a dark sky protected zone, and how they help connect people to positive action that mitigates for climate crisis and leads to human and environmental well-being. Theoretically the project will draw on several concepts and studies within the domain of social justice, including but not limited to Rawl’s (1971) study on social justice, Derrien and Stokowski (2020) exploration of how dark skies become meaningful to people in National Parks, along with drawing upon Dark-Sky UK (2022) Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) Research Literature Database. As a key partner and beneficiary, recommendations and future research directions will be identified to assist the North York Moors National Park and Trust with their dark sky conservation objectives.
Methodologically, an ethnographic approach will be adopted. Whilst the nature of the research methodology and methods to be employed is open to discussion with the successful candidate, it is envisaged that qualitative and quantitative approaches will be employed. We are particularly keen to explore how creative and visual methods might be adopted as part of the data collection process.
The project is supported by the North York Moors National Park Authority and Trust who will provide support throughout key aspects of the research process.
Supervisors
- Dr Jenny Hall (Senior Lecturer, York Business School, York Campus)
- Dr Brendan Paddison (Associate Professor, York Business School, York Campus)
National Park Lead
- Mike Hawtin, Head of Nature Recovery, North York Moors National Park
National Park Working Group
- Catriona McLees, Head of Marketing and Communication, North York Moors National Park
- James Metcalfe, Director of North York Moors Trust
For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Jenny Hall on j.hall@yorksj.ac.uk.
Successful applicants must have an honours degree (2:1 or above) in a relevant fields or a postgraduate master's degree from a UK HEI, or an internationally recognised equivalent. The degree must be in a discipline that is relevant to the research. We are looking for a candidate who brings some or all of the following attributes to the research:
- Background of partnerships and/or collaborations
- Knowledge of business schools and third sector organisations
- A commitment to conducting high quality research
- A high standard of written English and the ability to communicate clearly in both academic and non-academic contexts
We welcome all applicants and particularly encourage candidates from backgrounds that are currently under-represented in university sectors.
This fee bursary is open to candidates interested in pursuing a MSc by Research full time, starting 1 February 2024. Proposals to conduct the research part time will be considered.
The fee bursary consists of a full remission subject to satisfactory progression. This is available on a full time basis.
This funding covers UK fee rates and is available for a maximum of 1 year full time or 2 year part time.
Application should be made by the YSJU admission process.
As part of this you will be asked to write research proposal of up to 1,000 words, which should include the following:
- What do you see as the main research questions you would address?
- What would be your methodological approach to the research?
- What makes you the right person to carry out this research?
Please note that CVs will not be accepted in place of the application form.
The York St John University mission statement declares its ambition 'to stand up for social justice'. In 2020 the University underpinned this mission by launching a new, university-wide Institute for Social Justice (ISJ). The ISJ supports collaborative research and practice that draws on the range of academic expertise across our University, seeking to facilitate research, projects and partnerships that help us to pursue and promote a fairer society. The Institute for Social Justice has a vibrant community of postgraduate researchers who are engaged in interdisciplinary research across all 5 schools in the University. For further information visit the Institute of Social Justice website.
References
DarkSky UK. (2023, June 28). Our work - DarkSky UK. https://darksky.uk/our-work/
DarkSky UK. (2022, October 11). Research - DarkSky UK. https://darksky.uk/research/
Derrien, M. M., and Stokowski, P. A. (2020), Discursive constructions of night sky experiences: Imagination and imaginaries in national park visitor narratives. Annals of Tourism Research, 85, 103038
Green Recovery // National Park sustainability. (2022, November 4). National Parks. https://www.nationalparks.uk/green-recovery/
Rawls, J.: 1971, A Theory of Justice (Harvard University Press, Cambridge)
Romagosa, F., Eagles, P. F., and Lemieux, C. J. (2015). From the inside out to the outside in: Exploring the role of parks and protected areas as providers of human health and well-being. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 10, 70-77.
Master by Research: Community Music
Funding available to support a Master’s by Research project attached to the International Centre for Community Music, York St John University, UK.
Application deadline: Monday 1 July 2024
Interviews: Week commencing Monday 15 July 2024
Start Date: October 2024
Duration: 2 Years part time
As part of a larger research project exploring questions connected to the pedagogy of participatory music-making practices, the International Centre of Community Music is seeking a musician-researcher to explore questions surrounding the experiences and impact of participants and workshop leaders connected to the MetamorPhonics bands based in London and Reykjavik Iceland.
The MetamorPhonics bands are set up in collaboration with higher education institutions and charities which provide support for those in recovery and rehabilitation. The bands are led by experienced professional music leaders and focus on collective and collaborative composition processes, resulting in vibrant and exciting music, collectively created and owned by all band members.
MetamorPhonics bands have 50/50 membership of students in higher education and people in recovery and can have up to 30 members. The projects involve high profile public performances, and the bands release their original recorded music for public consumption.
As part of the project, and under the mentorship of Sigrún Sævarsdóttir-Griffiths, the successful candidate will set up and host a new MetamorPhonics band in York. The research project will be supervised by Lee Higgins and will be part of a larger investigation spanning 3-years funded by the Icelandic Research Council.
The funding includes part time tuition fees and travel budget.
If you would like further information or an informal conversation, please contact Lee Higgins: l.higgins@yorksj.ac.uk.
Applying for a scholarship
As part of your application we will ask you to write a research proposal. This should include the following:
- What are the main research questions you would address?
- What would be your methodological approach to the research?
- What makes you the right person to carry out this research?
Please note that CVs are not accepted in place of the application form.
You can see examples of research proposals on our dedicated page: Research proposal examples.