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EM-SLAM Studentship Programme

East Midlands Sustainable Living and Mental Wellbeing (EM-SLAM) is an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded Doctoral Focal Award offering four year fully funded PhD Studentships to research climate anxiety, ecological grief and mental wellbeing through community storytelling. Application deadline 31 March 2026.

EM-SLAM

The EM-SLAM programme brings together Loughborough, De Montfort, Leicester and Nottingham Trent universities and a host of non-academic partners from across the region to train the next generation of researchers, policymakers and creative practitioners.

Through the EM‑SLAM Doctoral Focal Award, you’ll help explore how people can live sustainably, healthily, and meaningfully—while building inclusive, resilient communities in the face of rising climate anxiety and ecological uncertainty. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to research that empowers individuals, supports wellbeing and inspires hope for a better future.

EM-SLAM will support doctoral research around the intersection of mental health with sustainable living. The programme supports a range of qualitative and interpretative approaches within the overall framework of storytelling. Your research proposal should clearly describe how you will address these issues in relation to your proposed topic of research.

Why Apply?

  • Innovative Training: Gain advanced research skills, professional development, and employer-led training tailored to future careers in academia and beyond.
  • Collaborative Research: Work with diverse stakeholders to co-design projects that address real-world challenges.
  • Placements & Partnerships: Benefit from embedded placements with leading organisations in health, sustainability, and the arts.
  • Community & Support: Join a vibrant, inclusive cohort.
  • Impactful Themes: Focus on urgent issues such as climate anxiety, ecological justice, mental health care, and sustainable living.
  • Four Years of Funding: 4 Year studentship covering UK fees and tax-free stipend, alongside support for individual training and conference attendance.

Who Should Apply?

We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, including those new to research. EM-SLAM is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and actively encourages applications from underrepresented groups. If you are curious, creative, and motivated to make a difference, we want to hear from you.

Funding is available for both full time and part time applicants. In line with UKRI guidance, a maximum of 30% of studentships can be awarded to international applicants.

  • Fully funded AHRC studentships
  • Training and career development programme delivered across the partnership
  • Interdisciplinary supervision across arts, humanities, health, and environmental sciences
  • Practice-based research through short placement opportunities and potential for collaboration with network partners
  • A supportive network of academic and non-academic partners

Join an exciting new Arts and Humanities Research Council–funded project that’s tackling one of the biggest challenges of our time.

  • Candidates will have a background in the arts and humanities or social sciences and be qualified to Masters level.
  • You should normally hold a first or upper second class honours degree from a UK university or an equivalent qualification. We also accept a lower second class honours degree with a Masters degree at Merit level from a UK university or an equivalent qualification.
  • If English isn't your first language, you will need an overall IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.5 with minimum sub-scores of 6.0 in all component sections (writing, reading, listening and speaking). Find out more about the English language requirements for undertaking research at Nottingham Trent University (NTU).

Applications for the first tranche of studentships are now closed, information on the next tranche will be found here ahead of applications opening.

Further information for doctoral applicants

NTU Doctoral

NTU Doctoral provides a multi-disciplinary home for all our researchers, here to support you throughout your entire doctoral degree. Explore our research community.

Support for Researchers

Details about training support, Worktribe and other professional development opportunities for our researchers.

PhD fees and funding

Find out more about the fees and funding options available for research study at Nottingham Trent University.