Two PhD Research Studentships

The School of Law is delighted to announce two PhD studentships, funded as Collaborative Studentships by the Department for the Economy (DfE) and the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ). Queen’s has a proud history of conducting innovative, impactful, and world-leading research changing people’s lives for the better.  To find out about our research, you can view our video 'Dealing with the past in Northern Ireland'.

The successful candidates will focus their research within the parameters of either:

• Dealing with the Past in Northern Ireland: Truth, Accountability and the Rule of Law (Supervisors Professor Kieran McEvoy and Dr Kevin Hearty)

                                                                                                        Or

• The Role of Oral History in Dealing with the Legacy of Conflict (Supervisors Dr Anna Bryson and Dr Lauren Dempster)

Queen’s has an excellent track-record of collaborating with the third sector to successfully deliver high-impact, user-informed research. In this instance the student will work closely with the leading human rights NGO,CAJ.  CAJ has won the Reebok award for human rights and the Council of Europe Human Rights Prize and worked closely with colleagues at Queens (including members of the supervisory team) in shaping the legal and political outworking of legacy debates in Northern Ireland.

CAJ will be jointly involved in devising each PhD research programme and will provide additional workplace supervision.

 

WHAT THE STUDENTSHIP WILL COVER:

• The funded studentship may cover UK tuition fees for a maximum of three years. For further details re eligibility criteria (including academic, citizenship and residency criteria) please click on the DfE Research Eligibility Guidance Notes For UK domiciled students the value of an award includes the cost of approved fees as well as maintenance support. In academic year 2021-2022 the basic rate of maintenance support for a Research Studentship is £15,609.
• The School of Law has a world-leading research environment. It is ranked 85th in the world (THE Subject Rankings 2020) and was joint fourth in the UK for research impact in REF 2014. The School has longstanding expertise in transitional justice and hosts a vibrant community of transitional justice academics and doctoral researchers.
• In addition to the training and other resources available at the School of Law and the QUB Graduate School, the students will be fully embedded in the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global, Peace and Security. The Institute is a world-leading inter-disciplinary research institute for the study of conflict and peace..
• At CAJ the researcher will have access to desk space and will be fully embedded in the workplace for a minimum of three months. During this time they will work closely with a leading human rights expert (CAJ Director, Deputy Director and / or solicitor). CAJ has been the primary litigating human rights NGO for successful NI legacy related cases taken to the ECtHR. Much of their work has developed in collaboration with colleagues at QUB Law (as part of the Model Bill Team). These studentships will expand and develop this collaboration, enabling students to experience the mutual benefits of combining academic and human rights advocacy approaches. Any student who completes a doctorate under this team with the additional experience of having been embedded within CAJ will be extremely well placed for a future career as either an academic or a human rights activist.

To apply, please complete an application form on the Queen’s University Postgraduate Applications Portal including a curriculum vitae (CV) and a proposal of up to 3000 words (including references but excluding bibliography). In the proposal, applicants should demonstrate their understanding of key concepts and the relevant academic literature concerning either Dealing with the Past in Northern Ireland: Truth, Accountability and the Rule of Law or The Role of Oral Testimony and Narrative in Dealing with the Legacy of Conflict. They should also identify potential research questions and identify methods they propose to apply if awarded this studentship. Candidates may be considered for both awards.

Details of the posts are available here.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 31 May 2022 at 4pm.

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed (online) during June (time and date tbc).

Candidates will be notified of the outcome by the end of June/beginning of July.

Please insert LAW/CAJ into the Funding section within your application form.

 

ELIGIBILITY

• UK residents: fees plus stipend. 
• Other EU residents: fees only.
• Please note this studentship is not available to international students.
• Qualifications:

For further details re eligibility criteria (including academic, citizenship and residency criteria) please click on the DfE Research Eligibility Guidance Notes

• Study can only be undertaken on a full-time basis from October 2022

• An Upper Second or First Class Honours degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) in law or another relevant discipline, plus a Master's degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) with an average above 65%.

·         Applicants with an Upper Second or First Class Honours degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) in law or another relevant discipline who are currently studying a Master’s degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) may also be considered.

• Applicants with an Upper Second or First Class Honours degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) in law or another relevant discipline plus evidence of ability to conduct independent and original research will be considered on a case by case basis.

• For further details re eligibility criteria (including academic, citizenship and residency criteria) please see the DfE Research Eligibility Guidance Notes.