PhD Scholarships

• Full tuition fee scholarship for three years
• Supervision from Jubilee Centre academics
• Mentoring and support from the Centre’s academic and administrative team
• Dedicated study space within the Centre at the University of Birmingham
• Funds to support research costs
• Conference attendance and presentation support
• Invitations to Centre and wider School of Education / University seminars and events
• The opportunity to become part of an active PGR community at the University of Birmingham
• Personal PGR profile page on JCCV website and access to JCCV teams’ group for support, connection and idea sharing.
• Opportunity to contribute to ongoing JCCV research and publication critical for next steps in early academic career pathways.

The priority research area for the PhD study have been identified by VEFL and the Jubilee Centre. The scholarships aim to extend understanding of the moral domain, broadly defined to include values, moral development, intuition, virtues, and character formation. Projects should contribute to rigorous investigation and analysis, identifying essential elements for promoting moral development and human flourishing that have practical application.

Priority themes for research are:

1. Transcendent values.

Key questions: What is the role of transcendent values, such as beauty, truth, and goodness, in young people’s moral development and how are those values motivated by emotions such as awe and wonder? How do our sensibilities help us identify inherent qualities of truth, beauty and goodness? To what extent is moral development of this kind epiphanic and rapid rather than slow and incremental; developmental or growth-orientated, and what is the role of the teacher in facilitating it?

2. Character development in the age of AI.

Key questions: Are current developments in AI and information technology having a negative effect on young people’s character development, or can they be harnessed in the service of a deeper engagement with values, practical wisdom, together with moral identify formation and consciousness and other factors that inhibit or encourage moral development? What is the role of teachers in helping students make constructive use of the new technologies in the service of moral growth and development?

• A strong academic background relevant to one or more of the research themes (e.g., education, psychology, philosophy, social sciences, the arts).
• An interest in character, virtues, moral development, and human flourishing.
• Capacity to contribute to both the academic and applied dimensions of the Centre’s work.
• Willingness to engage actively with the Centre’s wider research community.

The Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues is a world-leading interdisciplinary research centre dedicated to exploring the role of character, virtues, and values in human flourishing. Its mission is to advance research and teaching that promotes the development of good character across education, the professions, and society—both in the UK and globally. The Centre plays a key role in shaping policy and practice, working in partnership with organisations committed to cultivating the character virtues essential for individual and societal wellbeing.

www.vefl.co.uk

Values Education for Life CIO is a UK registered charity that has played a significant role in the growing importance of values and values education since its inception in 1990. It was instrumental in establishing the Values Education Council of the UK and has more recently been involved in setting up a Global organisation called the Global Alliance for Values-based Education, which has many contacts world-wide. But more importantly, the charity has worked with many disadvantaged young people, both in mainstream and the voluntary sectors, helping them to clarify their values and make sense and purpose of their lives in a confusing and frequently discordant world.

Applications will be considered on a rolling and on a first come first serve basis. We suggest applying early to ensure consideration for the scholarship.

1. Initial Enquiries

Prospective applicants are encouraged to make initial enquiries by contacting the Jubilee Centre (via Rebecca Bartram, r.c.bartram@bham.ac.uk) to discuss suitability, potential research themes, and alignment with the Centre’s priorities.

2. Expression of Interest (EOI)

Applicants should then submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), which includes:

• A cover letter (max. 2 pages) outlining:
  • Your academic background and expertise relevant to the scholarship themes.
  • Your motivation for pursuing doctoral research at the Jubilee Centre.
  • Indication of the research theme(s) you are most interested in exploring, proposed research questions and how these aligns with JCCV /VEFL.

• A curriculum vitae (CV) detailing academic achievements, publications (if applicable), and relevant professional or research experience.

  Please send your EoI to Rebecca Bartram via email: r.c.bartram@bham.ac.uk.

3. Shortlisting

EOIs will be reviewed by the Jubilee Centre’s and VEFL. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit a full application through the University of Birmingham’s PhD admissions system for consideration.

4. Interviews

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview.

5. Final Selection

Successful applicants will be notified and offered a place on the PhD programme with the full scholarship.