PhD Studentship in Law or Criminology
Explore innovative research in law or criminology with a fully funded PhD studentship at the University of Reading.
Best for:Best for aspiring legal scholars or criminologists with a strong research proposal, academic excellence, and a passion for advancing knowledge in law or criminology.
Overview
This fully funded PhD studentship at the University of Reading’s School of Law invites applicants to pursue original research in law or criminology within a supportive and interdisciplinary environment. The School hosts four active research centres, including Law, Justice and Society, Global Law at Reading, and the Crime and Justice Research Cluster, providing a vibrant community for doctoral researchers. The position offers a four-year award covering full tuition fees and a stipend aligned with UKRI standards, along with a research training allowance. Applicants must propose a high-quality research project with clear analytical questions and demonstrate academic excellence, including relevant qualifications or publications. Supervisory support will be tailored to the candidate’s research focus.
What you'll do
- Conduct original and innovative research in law or criminology under the guidance of assigned supervisors.
- Develop and refine a research proposal with clear analytical questions and a strong methodological foundation.
- Contribute to the vibrant research community within the School of Law, engaging with ongoing projects and seminars.
- Present research findings at conferences, workshops, and internal seminars within the university.
- Collaborate with peers and faculty to advance interdisciplinary research in legal and criminological fields.
- Participate in doctoral training programs and professional development activities offered by the university.
Requirements
Degree required: Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Law, Criminology, or a related discipline.
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English; proficiency sufficient for academic research and thesis writing (no specific test mentioned).
Instruction: English
- Strong research proposal with clear analytical questions and originality.
- Evidence of academic excellence, such as relevant qualifications or publications.
- Ability to conduct independent and rigorous research in law or criminology.
- Proficiency in legal research methods and analytical writing.
- Commitment to advancing knowledge in the chosen field of study.
- Applicant must have an offer of admission for a PhD at the School of Law for a September 2027 start or later in the 2027/28 academic year.
- Candidates must not hold any other scholarship supporting the proposed PhD research.
- No restrictions on nationality or residency, but academic excellence and research proposal quality are key criteria.
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2027-01-08
Applicants must first apply for a PhD position through the university’s online portal by 12 noon on January 8, 2027. During the application, select 'PhD in Law' and quote the reference ‘DRC27-002’ in the funding section. In a second step, submit a fully referenced research proposal (max 1000 words) and a two-page CV by email to phdstudentship@reading.ac.uk by 12 noon on February 4, 2027.
- Research proposal (max 1000 words, excluding references and title)
- Two-page CV outlining qualifications, experience, and relevant publications/funding
- Offer of admission for a PhD at the School of Law (for September 2027 or later)
Contact
Dr. Nora Honkala· Deputy Director of Postgraduate Research
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