PhD studentship in environmental law on the topic of Law, Decolonisation and Climate Change

Closing date for applications is 15 January 2023 

Start date of this studentship is 1st of April 2023

About the Studentship

Historical responsibility for climate change is at the heart of climate change discourse. This includes degradation of the environment facilitated by states of the Global North, decades past. While the phenomenon of climate change is no doubt a global threat, it is arguably being borne disproportionately by those who live in the Global South, where vulnerability to climate change is generally high and adaptation capacity is low. Famine, floods, displacement are the consequences of the unbridled resource extraction and consumption from the Global North, a process with its roots in the systemic exploitation of people and planet by old colonial powers.

With the sight firmly on the future of the legal framework needed for successful climate action, we invite PhD projects that include a decolonial perspective to address systemic inequities and strengthen global adaptation to climate change. Your PhD project proposal should be set out under or across the following topics:

• Climate change litigation and law
• Ecocide and climate change law
• Loss & damage from climate change (legal perspective)
• Climate change law & displacement

Prospective student will be based in the Bristol Law School – home to multidisciplinary research groups detailed here: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/research/centres-and-groups/cbl-research-overview/bristol-law-school

Doctoral students at the College benefit from comprehensive support and guidance from the Doctoral Academy, including extensive professional development programme and research skills training. Find out more at www.uwe.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-study/about-the-graduate-school

Funding details

The studentship is available from 1st of April 2023 for three years, subject to satisfactory progress, and includes tax exempt stipend at £17668 per annum. 

Full-time home/international tuition fees will be covered for up to three years.

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must have at least 2.1 degree in law or cognate discipline, and preferably Masters degree (with average programme mark of no less than 65% UK grading scale or international equivalent).

A recognised English language qualification  is required. IELTS score of 7.0 overall or equivalent.

How to apply

Use the reference number 2223-APR-FBL03

Documentation: you will need to upload your research proposal, degree certificates and transcripts and proof of English language proficiency as attachments to your application.

References: you will need to provide details of two referees as part of your application. At least one referee must be an academic referee from the institution that conferred your highest degree. Please ensure your nominated referees are willing and able to provide references within 14 days of your application. 

Further information

Interviews will take place in February. If you have not heard from us by 31 January, we thank you for your application but on this occasion you have not been successful.

For informal discussion about the studentship, please contact Director of Doctoral Research, Dr Paweł Capik at [email protected]  

For informal discussion of the research proposal contact Dr Onita Das at [email protected]