School of Law

Three-year Faculty of Social Sciences PhD studentship

School of Law, University of Nottingham

In connection with Rising from the Depths

Applications are invited for a Faculty of Social Sciences and International Office funded International PhD studentship granted in connection to a recent GCRF/AHRC-funded research project, Rising from the Depths Network: utilising marine cultural heritage in East Africa to help develop sustainable social, economic and cultural benefits. Applicants for the studentship must be African nationals, preferably but not limited to the countries which are the focus of the project, namely Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania or Madagascar.

The Rising from the Depths projects aims to identify ways in which marine cultural heritage can directly benefit coastal communities in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Madagascar.

The subject matter of the PhD proposal should in line with the scope, aims and objectives of Rising from the Depth project. Topics could include research relating to aid agreements, public private partnership, business sand human rights, investment law, public procurement and human rights or any aspect of the so-called Blue Economy in one or a combination of the countries which are the focus of the project - Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania or Madagascar. Though not necessarily driven by heritage the proposed topic should demonstrate its relevance to Marine Cultural Heritage in the region and express how the research could help create wider benefits for local communities. 

The studentships will be based at the University of Nottingham (there is no provision for distance-learning PhDs) with a period, or periods, of research in the proposed study location if required. This studentship is available for three years full-time study (subject to satisfactory progression each year) and will be supervised by Dr Annamaria La Chimia (Law) and another academic selected dependent on the details of the chosen proposal. It will cover international tuition fees and provide an annual maintenance grant (stipend) matching Research Innovation UK recommendation – for 2017/18 £14,777 per annum, pro rata.

Applicants should have a degree in a relevant discipline (minimum requirement 2i UG level – or international equivalent) and a masters level degree, preferably LLM with a minimum of 65% in both the taught and dissertation elements (or international equivalent) in law or a related discipline. Our English language requirements are IELTS 7.0 overall (with 6.0 for listening and speaking; 6.5 for reading and 7.0 for writing).

Applications should be submitted by 30 November 2018 and we hope to interview short-listed candidates shortly afterwards (skype and video conferencing available). Successful applicants will be expected to start the PhD programme in January 2019.

The University of Nottingham's Graduate School's Research Training Programme offers a broad and comprehensive range of research training courses from 'Using Archives in Your Research', to 'Pathways into Publishing'. The Graduate School also runs training targeted specifically at Faculty of Social Sciences students and the Arts and Social Sciences Graduate Centre coordinates training and events that are relevant and useful to research postgraduates in law.

How to apply

Applicants must be African nationals, preferably but not necessarily from m Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania or Madagascar.

Applicants should submit a full application - including a research proposal, two academic references, a writing sample (approximately 5,000 words) and transcripts from your previous degree(s). Additionally a curriculum vitae (no more than two pages) and a brief letter (no more than two pages) outlining qualification for the studentship will be required. Your full application and supporting documents must be received by 30 November 2018. Please note on your research proposal that you wish to be considered for the 'Rising from the Depths' studentship.

Informal enquiries may be directed to annamaria.lachimia@nottingham.ac.uk - candidates wishing to make an application are strongly recommended to get in touch with Annamaria before submission.

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed (interviews can be conducted over Skype of video conference for those unable to attend in person).

Find out more about applying.

Posted on Friday 19th October 2018

School of Law

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University of Nottingham
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Nottingham, NG7 2RD

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