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​MotherHubs: Understanding the Role of Immersive Technologies in Community Driven Approaches to Support Postpartum Maternal Mental Health.

Doctoral Training Grant Funding Information 

This funding model includes a 36 month fully funded PhD Studentship, set in-line with UK Research & Innovation values. For 2025/6, this will be £20,780 per year. The tax-free stipend will be paid monthly. This PhD Studentship also includes a Full-Time Fee Scholarship for up to 3 years. The funding is subject to your continued registration on the research degree, making satisfactory progression within your PhD, as well as attendance on and successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Practice.    

All applicants will receive the same stipend irrespective of fee status. 

Application Closing Date: 


Midday (UK Time) on Wednesday 17th September 2025 for a start date of 2nd February 2026.  

How to Apply 

To apply, please follow the below steps:  

  1. Complete the BCU Online Application Form. 
  2. Complete the Doctoral Studentship Proposal Form in full, ensuring that you quote the project ID. You will be required to upload your proposal in place of a personal statement on the BCU online application form.  
  3. Upload two references to your online application form (at least one of which must be an academic reference). 
  4. Upload your qualification(s) for entry onto the research degree programme. This will be Bachelor/Master’s certificate(s) and transcript(s). 
  5. International applicants must also provide a valid English language qualification. Please see the list of English language qualifications accepted here. Please check the individual research degree course page for the required scores. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

To help support you to complete your application, please consult the frequently asked questions below: 

Project title: MotherHubs: Understanding the Role of Immersive Technologies in Community Driven Approaches to Support Postpartum Maternal Mental Health

Project Lead: ​​Dr Maite Frutos-Pascual​

Project ID: ​​21 - 45375931 ​ 

Project description:

​​Becoming a mother is life-changing, but it can also be overwhelming. Many new mothers experience emotional, physical, and social challenges that affect their wellbeing. In fact, up to 37% of new mothers report mental health difficulties such as anxiety, depression, psychological distress, or insomnia. And while these are deeply personal experiences, they also have a wider impact on families, workplaces, and society. In the UK alone, maternal mental health issues cost over £8 billion every year. These struggles can affect everything from returning to work to bonding with a baby, breastfeeding, and even a child’s early development. 

​While support is available, many mothers still feel isolated, unheard, or misunderstood. That’s where technology, and this research, could come in. 

​Immersive technologies like Virtual and Augmented Reality (known collectively as XR) have started to show promising results in supporting mental health. In pregnancy, XR has already been used to help manage labour pain, reduce anxiety and support general mental wellbeing. It offers a sense of presence, empathy, and immersion that can’t be replicated through traditional digital platforms such as mobile phones or tablets. However, women, especially mothers, have been historically underrepresented in XR research and design. As a result, their needs, bodies, and experiences are often not considered in these tools. 

​This PhD project will be the first longitudinal study to explore how XR could support mothers in expressing and sharing their lived experiences in immersive, safe, and creative ways. This project will work directly with mothers at different stages of their journey, including those navigating early parenthood and those who’ve experienced postnatal depression, as well as their support networks and care professionals. 

​The successful PhD candidate will co-design and test new immersive experiences with these groups, using a mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods. They will build prototypes, gather feedback, and explore what really works when technology is shaped by the voices of those it is meant to serve. 

​This is a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge HCI research, develop real-world impact in mental health and digital inclusion, and publish findings in leading conferences and journals. 

Anticipated findings and contributions to knowledge:

​​Expected Outcomes: ​ 

  1. ​Empirical evidence on the effectiveness of XR interventions in maternal mental health – Through the first longitudinal study exploring the potential of immersive technologies in this area.  

  1. ​Insights into the accessibility and usability of XR for postpartum populations – Including a wide set of target audience incorporating underrepresented populations. 

  1. ​A framework for designing inclusive, supportive XR experiences tailored to maternal well-being. 

​These findings will be widely disseminated through academic journals, conferences, and engagement with healthcare and charity partners.​ 

Person Specification:

Entry Requirements: 

  • ​To apply for our Computing PhD Research Degree you should have, or expect to be awarded, a Master’s degree in a relevant subject area from a British or overseas university.  
  • ​Exceptional candidates without a Master’s degree, but holding a first class or upper second class Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject area, may be considered.  
  • ​We also welcome enquiries from potential PhD researchers with appropriate levels of professional experience.  ​ 

​Essential Criteria: 

  • ​Strong understanding of user-centred design, usability, and interaction design methods. 
  • ​Experience with prototyping and/or software development, particularly in relation to interactive systems or digital experiences. 
  • ​Demonstrated competence with qualitative research methods, especially in HCI or applied user research contexts. 
  • ​Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to engage clearly with both academic and non-academic stakeholders. 
  • ​Ability to collaborate across disciplines and engage respectfully with diverse and potentially vulnerable populations. 
  • ​A demonstrated commitment to inclusive, ethical research practices and interest in the role of technology in supporting care, creativity, and community. 
  • ​Interest in or experience with extended reality (XR) technologies (e.g. VR, AR, MR), and their application in wellbeing or creative settings. 

Desirable Criteria: 

  • ​Experience conducting participatory design, co-creation, or community-based research. 
  • ​Familiarity with accessibility guidelines and inclusive design frameworks. 
  • ​Practical skills in interactive prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Unity, WebXR) and/or creative coding environments. 
  • ​An understanding of intersectional design approaches, particularly those engaging with issues of gender, mental health, and parenthood. 
  • ​Experience designing or researching XR experiences, creative tech, or digital platforms for social impact. ​ 

​The ideal candidate will demonstrate initiative, interdisciplinary curiosity, and an empathetic, critical lens on how technologies can support everyday lived experience. 

Overseas applicants:

International applicants must also provide a valid English language qualification, such as International English Language Test System (IELTS) or equivalent with an overall score of 6.5 with no band below 6.0.

Contact:

If you have any questions or need further information, please use the contact details below: 

- For enquiries about the funding or project proposal, please contact: maite.frutos@bcu.ac.uk​ 

- For enquiries about the application process, please contact:research.admissions@bcu.ac.uk