Subject areas:
Politics and economics.
Geography and the environment.
Policy and society.
Funding type:
Stipend.
Tuition fee.
Research Training & Support Grant.
Awarding body:
London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (LISS DTP).
Applications are invited for a fully funded London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership CASE studentship (LISS-DTP), starting October 2025.
Award details
To develop novel research investigating changes in the provision of library services in England and the impact of such changes on relevant socio-economic indicators in local communities.
The Arts Council England will be the non-academic partner for this research, providing support including, logistics and data facilities. The research will combine quantitative and qualitative methods, and require knowledge in relevant research or methodological areas.
Overview:
Between 2010 and 2020 the number of service providers who have reportedly ceased the statutory provision of library services in their area has tripled. This dramatic change in the landscape of English libraries has attracted numerous news headlines but has not been researched academically. The closure of numerous local authority libraries and the emergence of new subjects aiming at delivering library services, like community-run libraries, is acknowledged, but data remain scarce and disconnected. This academic project will address these policy changes, providing: 1) an updated mapping of current provision across geographies; 2) a systematic analysis of models adopted (connected to funding and geographies); 3) an understanding of the connection between library services provision and the socio-economic context where libraries are located. Throughout the project, the research will be enhanced by the collaboration with the Arts Council England (ACE) and the wider English Public Library Strategic Working Group (EPL). As development agency for libraries in England, ACE has been working towards establishing data-based evidence for the sector, including through the collection of information spanning the population of library services providers across England. In this respect, the collaboration will benefit from and contribute to the existing data infrastructure, with the dual purpose of producing new research shedding light on English libraries and setting the scope for wider research questions to be answered in the future, including enhanced data availability. Engaging with ACE and EPL, the project has the potential to inform future policy making on library provision for the benefit of communities across England.
Supervisory team
Award value
The Studentship covers:
- Annual Stipend
- Tuition fees
- Paid internship
Students will receive a stipend at the UKRI rate (was £21,237 for the year 2024/25) and UK tuition fees are paid. An International Doctoral Scholar Award will cover the difference between UK and International tuition fees, where the selected candidate is an international student (pending approval). Please note that stipends are tax-free.
The studentship will also provide 3-month placement funding. Opportunities to apply for additional funding, including for the costs of research training and development, will be available during the course of the studentship. Please see the following LISS-DTP webpage for further information.
Eligibility criteria
MA/MSc qualification in relevant study area (e.g., public policy economics, economic geography). Please submit the following as specified in the Application Process.
Subject Areas:
Public policy, economics, economic geography, cultural policy.
Award conditions
This opportunity is primarily available as 3-year full-time PhD studentship. We may consider suitable candidates currently studying at master's level for a 1+3-year Master's and PhD studentship (please see here for more details).
Application process
Applicants should submit a completed application form (please download the form below) and the required documents to salvatore.dinovo@kcl.ac.uk by the deadline on Friday, 7th March 2025 (5 pm UK Time).
The required documents are as follows:
- Application form
- Curriculum Vitae (including details of Final Marks and contact of two referees)
- Copy of transcripts from previous and/or current degrees (full or partial)
- A copy of your dissertation (or sample from a previous academic assessment if a dissertation is not available yet)
- Max 1-page personal statement (font size: 12) highlighting why you are suitable for the project (including prior experiences) and your specific research interests in this area of work.
- Complete the Diversity Monitoring Form, available to the LISS DTP only for reporting purposes
- English-as-a-foreign-language qualification (if non-native speaker).
Contact
Please contact Dr Salvatore Di Novo, Lecturer in Culture, Media and Creative Industries, salvatore.dinovo@kcl.ac.uk.
Application forms
CASE Application Form_2025 Entry (0.12 MB)
full_project_details_liss (0.11 MB)
Selection process
Interviews will take place between the third and fourth week of March 2025.
Applications from people from global majority ethnicities, women, LGBTQ+identities, and from people with disabilities are encouraged.