From early years through to higher education, it is a hub for innovation and knowledge advancement in childhood and young people’s development and learning.

Our work is embedded in practice and informed by cutting-edge research by leading academics and expert practitioners. We also work with decision makers and colleagues to lead and influence policy, as well as practice at local and national levels.

Project Title: No Masking Required: Subcultural spaces, reduced social demand, and autistic belonging

This project aims to explore why interest-based subcultural communities – video gaming, D&D, Warhammer, anime and broader fandom, and alternative and metal music scenes – appear to hold particular meaning and appeal for autistic people. Moving beyond a deficit account of withdrawal, it will examine the affordances these spaces offer: shared monotropic interests, explicit and rule-governed structures that reduce social ambiguity, alternative norms in which autistic ways of relating are not pathologised, and a corresponding reduction in the pressure to mask. In doing so, it seeks to reframe what is often described as "safety" as a question of belonging, affinity and autistic sociality and to consider what these spaces reveal about the limitations of mainstream social environments.

To apply you need to meet our entry requirements and provide:

• A complete online application form for the desired intake, available here. This includes: A research proposal. Maximum word count: 1,500 words. A personal statement. We want to learn more about you. In the personal statement you must answer these four questions. Please include the title of the project in the Personal Statement section of the application form. We recommend no more than 200 words for each question and including specific examples from your previous experiences (academic and professional):
  1. What relevant skills and experience do you have which you feel would help you undertake this research project?
  2. How did you come up with your project proposal?
  3. What opportunities do you think the doctorate will give you?
  4. Provide an example demonstrating your approach to engaging with new experiences or ideas. This can be an example from your studies, work, or personal experiences.
• Copies of qualifications, certificates, and results transcripts (All applicants should hold a strong, relevant undergraduate degree (2.1 minimum) and/or a relevant master’s qualification (merit minimum)).
• Details of two referees who can comment on your academic ability and readiness for PhD study.
• Copies of your passport and any relevant visas.

International Students

International students* will be required to demonstrate their English language proficiency through:

1. Recent academic IELTS demonstrating an overall score of 7.0 or above with no score below 6.5 in the other components or equivalent. Recent means that your IELTS results must have been awarded two years preceding your doctoral programme's start date; or
2. Educated with a UK Master's degree level (merit minimum) within two years preceding your doctoral programme's start date.

* UKVI provide a list of countries exempt from the language entry requirements. If you're a national of one of these countries, you won't need to provide evidence as listed above.

For further information regarding our entry requirements, please visit the course page.

Funding

Please note that this is a self-funded project.

Please e-mail doctoralschool-ssa-pgr@shu.ac.uk if you have any questions.

From early years through to higher education, it is a hub for innovation and knowledge advancement in childhood and young people’s development and learning.

Our work is embedded in practice and informed by cutting-edge research by leading academics and expert practitioners. We also work with decision makers and colleagues to lead and influence policy, as well as practice at local and national levels.

Project Title: No Masking Required: Subcultural spaces, reduced social demand, and autistic belonging

This project aims to explore why interest-based subcultural communities – video gaming, D&D, Warhammer, anime and broader fandom, and alternative and metal music scenes – appear to hold particular meaning and appeal for autistic people. Moving beyond a deficit account of withdrawal, it will examine the affordances these spaces offer: shared monotropic interests, explicit and rule-governed structures that reduce social ambiguity, alternative norms in which autistic ways of relating are not pathologised, and a corresponding reduction in the pressure to mask. In doing so, it seeks to reframe what is often described as "safety" as a question of belonging, affinity and autistic sociality and to consider what these spaces reveal about the limitations of mainstream social environments.

To apply you need to meet our entry requirements and provide:

• A complete online application form for the desired intake, available here. This includes: A research proposal. Maximum word count: 1,500 words. A personal statement. We want to learn more about you. In the personal statement you must answer these four questions. Please include the title of the project in the Personal Statement section of the application form. We recommend no more than 200 words for each question and including specific examples from your previous experiences (academic and professional):
  1. What relevant skills and experience do you have which you feel would help you undertake this research project?
  2. How did you come up with your project proposal?
  3. What opportunities do you think the doctorate will give you?
  4. Provide an example demonstrating your approach to engaging with new experiences or ideas. This can be an example from your studies, work, or personal experiences.
• Copies of qualifications, certificates, and results transcripts (All applicants should hold a strong, relevant undergraduate degree (2.1 minimum) and/or a relevant master’s qualification (merit minimum)).
• Details of two referees who can comment on your academic ability and readiness for PhD study.
• Copies of your passport and any relevant visas.

International Students

International students* will be required to demonstrate their English language proficiency through:

1. Recent academic IELTS demonstrating an overall score of 7.0 or above with no score below 6.5 in the other components or equivalent. Recent means that your IELTS results must have been awarded two years preceding your doctoral programme's start date; or
2. Educated with a UK Master's degree level (merit minimum) within two years preceding your doctoral programme's start date.

* UKVI provide a list of countries exempt from the language entry requirements. If you're a national of one of these countries, you won't need to provide evidence as listed above.

For further information regarding our entry requirements, please visit the course page.

Funding

Please note that this is a self-funded project.

Please e-mail doctoralschool-ssa-pgr@shu.ac.uk if you have any questions.