About the Project

Are you interested in how ageing affects language and cognition? This PhD studentship offers the opportunity to investigate age-related hearing loss (ARHL), a common condition affecting over half of older adults. Did you know that this condition might influence not just listening, but also speaking, reading, and writing?

In this project, you will gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge methods including eye-tracking and computational linguistic text analysis. You will develop skills in experimental design, advanced data analysis, and multimodal research, while contributing to real-world applications that improve assessment, intervention, and support for older adults.

This project is ideal for students with a strong interest in ageing, cognition, language, or neuroscience, and those keen to combine theory with practical, translational research. Beyond technical training, you will have opportunities to collaborate across research groups, present at conferences, and contribute to publications. Join us to explore how sensory decline shapes cognitive and language processes and make a tangible impact on healthy ageing research.

Funding

Students who have, or are expecting to attain, at least an upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, are invited to apply. Funding is available for Home (UK) students to cover tuition fees, a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate (indicative amount in year 1 in 2026-27, £21,805) and research costs, for four years. Applicants normally required to cover International fees will have to cover the difference between the Home and the International tuition fee rates. There is no additional funding available to cover NHS Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) costs, visa costs, flights etc.

Funding for this studentship is awarded on a competitive basis and is not guaranteed; availability will depend on the outcome of the selection process and subject to final approval by the University.

HOW TO APPLY

Please complete the following application form – Google Form

Applicants can only apply for 1 project; any additional applications will not be accepted.

Applicants should send the following documents to FMSstudentships@newcastle.ac.uk:

a CV (including contact details of at least two academic (or other relevant) referees).
a Cover letter – stating your project choice, as well as including additional information you feel is pertinent to your application.
copies of your relevant undergraduate degree transcripts and certificates.
a copy of your IELTS or TOEFL English language certificate (where required)
a copy of your passport (photo page).

A GUIDE TO THE FORMAT REQUIRED FOR THE APPLICATION DOCUMENTS IS AVAILABLE

Please submit your documents in the following format only:

each document should be submitted as a separate attachment and should be named as follows: candidate surname, candidate name – document type. For example: Jones, Jamie – CV; Jones, Jamie – cover letter.
Please submit .pdf documents where possible for your CV, cover letter, transcripts and certificates. Do not submit photos of certificates.
Do not combine documents into one pdf. You may zip separate documents into a zip file to send via email if required.
When emailing your application, please use the email subject header: FMS PhD Application 2026

Applications not meeting these criteria may be rejected.

Informal enquiries may be made to the lead supervisor of the project you are interested in.

The deadline for all applications is 12 noon BST (UK time) on Wednesday 20th May 2026.

An investigation of language abilities and neurocognitive mechanisms in older adults with age-related hearing loss

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Newcastle, United Kingdom