REAL Supply Research Unit - PhD studentship opportunity 2026/27
Posted on Monday 11 May 2026
We are looking for an exceptional student to apply for a fully funded PhD opportunity to join the REAL Supply Research Unit, led out of the Centre for Health Economics (CHE).
The REAL Supply Research Unit, part of the Health Foundation’s REAL Centre, conducts
independent economic research and analysis to inform long-term decision-making in health and social care. The successful candidate will contribute to an ambitious research portfolio focused on the future supply of health and care in England, equipping health and care leaders and policymakers with the robust economic insights they need to build a more sustainable, equitable and resilient health and care system.
This is an opportunity for an outstanding student with strong quantitative economic skills to work within the largest collective of academic health economists in the country.
Supervision and research environment
The successful candidate will be supervised in CHE by Professor Nils Gutacker, and will be registered through the Department of Economics and Related Studies at the University of York for a PhD in Health Economics.
As one of the world’s largest health economics research centres, CHE offers an exceptional research environment with a longstanding international reputation for producing high-quality research that informs health and social care policy in the UK and beyond. The Centre attracts some of the best and brightest people in the field in the form of PhD students and visitors from overseas, creating a vibrant research environment. The University of York is widely recognised as one of the leading research universities in the UK and is also at the top of the teaching quality rankings.
CHE holds an Athena SWAN Silver award reflecting our commitment to equality, inclusion and supporting the career development of all staff and students. We strive to provide a supportive culture and family friendly work environment and to offer equal opportunities to all staff members. We seek to ensure the policies and procedures in the department are fair and support good work practices for everyone.
The award
One full studentship is offered for the 2026/27 academic year, covering academic fees at the UK (Home) rate plus a maintenance stipend for 3.5 years at UKRI rates.
- For UK (Home) Students: This is a fully funded position.
- For International Students: International applicants are welcome to apply but must include a clear, detailed plan in their application outlining how they intend to fund the difference between home and International fee rates.
Note: This award is not able to support part-time study arrangements.
Eligibility criteria
To register in the PhD in Health Economics at the Department of Economics and Related Studies, the ideal candidate is usually required to hold a Bachelor's degree in Economics with a 2:1 or higher, or a Masters degree (or be about to complete) in Health Economics, Economics with a substantial component of microeconomics with a high average mark (60% or above, including at least 60% in the dissertation component).
The English language requirement is IELTS: 6.5, with no less than 6.0 in each component. Strong quantitative and analytical skills are essential.
Process for application
Applications should be received no later than 30th January 2026 before 16.00h (UTC).
Applications should be made online using the University of York website. Please ensure you choose your start date as September 2026, full-time, and insert reference “RSU PHD 2026” in the “How studies will be funded” field.
Please also provide degree transcripts, a curriculum vitae and two academic references.
In addition, applicants are required to submit a research proposal alongside their application which aligns with the REAL Supply Unit’s aims to tackle long-term health care supply challenges. Professor Gutacker would be particularly interested in proposals that explore the economics of AI in healthcare delivery, the role of incentives to shape the delivery of preventive services, novel developments in the organisation of health care markets (including e.g. greater reliance on private providers and funders of care) and the future supply to healthcare workers.
For examples of potential research projects, please see Pathfinder Topic 1, Topic 3 and Topic 6. However, you are welcome to propose other topics that use microeconomics to explore future or long-standing issues in the supply of health care.
Your PhD proposal should be no longer than 2,000 words and provide details on:
- Your research questions
- The relevant literature and your planned contribution to the current research in the area
- The econometric and/or theoretical modelling methods you plan to use
- Your data source(s) if you plan on conducting empirical research
The research proposal should be submitted in pdf format along with your application. If you have already published academic papers, one of these may also be uploaded.
Interviews
Shortlisted candidate will be invited to interview (in person or via Zoom) on Wednesday 12 August 2026. At interview, candidate will be expected to give a short presentation on their proposed project including relevant literature, potential data sources and applicable methods. It should also focus on their plans for the studentship and the skills they would bring to their doctoral research. The interview will last around 30 minutes to an hour, with plenty of time for you to ask questions and find out what York has to offer.
For further enquiries please contact Professor Nils Gutacker.