PhD Opportunity at Lancaster University: Lancaster University is offering a fully funded PhD studentship at the Centre for Corpus Approaches to Social Science (CASS) under the prestigious North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.
The PhD will explore communicative competence in English language tests, focusing on fairness, accessibility, and social mobility. The programme will begin in October 2026 and is open to UK and international applicants.
PhD Opportunity at Lancaster University – CASS Research Centre (2026 Intake)
Designation
PhD Studentship (Fully Funded)
Funded by ESRC – North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP)
Scholarship Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Lancaster University |
| Centre | CASS Research Centre |
| Funding Body | Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) |
| Funding Coverage | Full tuition fees + £20,780 per year stipend (tax-free) |
| Location | Lancaster, United Kingdom |
| Start Date | 28 September 2026 |
| Interview Date | 24 April 2026 |
| Application Deadline | 10 April 2026 |
| Study Mode | Full-Time |
| Eligible Applicants | UK, EU & International Students |
Research Area
- Corpus Linguistics
- Applied Linguistics
- Language Testing & Assessment
- Quantitative & Qualitative Analysis
- Discourse Analysis
- Social Equity in Education
- English Language Assessment
Location
Lancaster, United Kingdom
(On-campus presence required as part of the CASS team)
Eligibility / Qualification
Applicants should:
- Hold (or expect to obtain) a relevant Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics, Linguistics, Language Testing, or related field
- Demonstrate strong experience in:
- Corpus linguistics
- Quantitative methods
- Statistical analysis
- Corpus design and annotation
- Be proficient in analytical tools such as:
- R
- Python
- #LancsBox X
- Show strong research and analytical skills
- Be willing to relocate to Lancaster and work regularly on campus.
Open to UK and International candidates.
Description
Project Title:
Communicative competence in action: A corpus-based analysis of speaking and writing tasks for the next generation of English language assessment
This PhD project investigates what successful communication looks like in spoken and written English across informal, semi-formal, and academic contexts. Using large-scale corpus methods and discourse analysis, the research aims to:
- Identify linguistic features of effective communication
- Evaluate which test tasks best capture communicative competence.
- Examine fairness and accessibility in English language testing
- Explore links between linguistic patterns and candidates’ social backgrounds
English language tests significantly influence decisions about education, employment, and migration. This research connects test validity with social equity, addressing key issues in applied linguistics and social science.
Supervisors:
- Professor Vaclav Brezina
- Dr Dana Gablasova
The studentship includes advanced training in corpus linguistics, high-stakes assessment research, and quantitative/qualitative methodologies.
How to Apply
Follow these steps:
1 Apply for a PhD at Lancaster University
- Complete the online PhD application form
- Indicate Prof. Vaclav Brezina and Dr Dana Gablasova as proposed supervisors.
- Instead of a full project proposal:
- Describe your experience with corpus linguistics and quantitative methods
- Provide practical examples of skills (corpus design, annotation, statistical analysis, R, Python, #LancsBox X, etc.)
- Clearly state that you are applying for the NWSSDTP studentship on the topic “Communicative competence in action.”
2 Complete the Motivation Form
All applicants must submit the required motivation form as part of the funding application process.
📧 Informal enquiries:
Prof. Vaclav Brezina – v.brezina@lancaster.ac.uk
Last Date to Apply
🗓 10 April 2026
If you’re passionate about language, fairness in assessment, and corpus-based research, this fully funded PhD at Lancaster University is an outstanding opportunity to advance your academic career in applied linguistics.
