2026 Aston-Deakin Cotutelle - International Core Outcomes for Childhood Deafness

Supporting a PhD candidate to assess the transferability of core outcomes set for childhood hearing loss and deafness between Australia (Deakin University) and the United Kingdom (Aston University). Aston is the lead institution.

The Australian National Child Hearing Health Outcomes Registry (ANCHOR) project, based at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, aims to systematically collect data about deaf children in Australia to understand their long-term outcomes, identify areas for improvement, and ensure every child receives the support they need to thrive. As part of the ANCHOR project, the team have developed a Core Outcomes Set (COS) to ensure they measure and track what matters to children, families and service providers in a systematic way across services. In the UK, there are no agreed core outcomes to monitor deaf children’s progress and no systematic measurement or collection of data across services for deaf children. 

Adopting a mixed-methods approach this PhD will examine the transferability of the COS to the UK, adapt as required and develop an implementation plan for UK hearing services roll-out. 

This PhD project has four main objectives: 

• assess contextual differences in Australian and UK hearing services, education systems, cultural attitudes and policy frameworks that may influence COS transferability (literature review)
• explore the relevance, completeness and acceptability of the Australian COS with UK children, adults, families and service providers (qualitative methods)
• achieve consensus amongst UK stakeholders on the UK COS (survey)
• develop a toolkit with key stakeholders for implementing the COS into UK hearing services (co-production)

• Table of Content
• About Deakin University
• Deakin University PhD Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of Deakin University PhD Scholarship
• Requirements for Deakin University PhD Scholarship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

Deakin University PhD Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of Deakin University PhD Scholarship

This scholarship is available over three years and offers:

• a stipend of £21,838 (UKRI) per annum (2026 - 2027 rate)
• at least 12 months of the total period of the program at Aston University.
• students will be enrolled at their home institution and at their host institution and will receive a Doctoral degree from Aston University and Deakin University.

Requirements for Deakin University PhD Scholarship Qualification

To be eligible you must:

• be either a domestic or international candidate. Domestic includes candidates with Australian Citizenship, Australian Permanent Residency or New Zealand Citizenship
• meet the PhD entry requirements of both Deakin University and Aston University, including equivalence and English language proficiency criteria
• enrol full time
• be able to physically locate to both Aston University (United Kingdom) and Deakin University (Australia)

Other desirable criteria:

• candidates with lived experience of deafness and hearing loss are encouraged to apply

Application Deadline

How to Apply

• Applicants should contact Dr Amie O'Shea to discuss the project before being invited by Deakin University to lodge a formal application.
• If successful you will then lodge a separate PhD application to Aston University via the Aston application page.

For more information, kindly visit Deakin University scholarship webpage.