Kent Law School is one of the UK’s leading law schools: ranked 8th for Research Intensity in the 2014 Research Assessment Exercise, with a scholarly environment judged as supporting world-leading research. Our work draws upon doctrinal and interdisciplinary methodologies, diverse critical, contextual and socio-legal approaches, and a range of theoretical perspectives in order to contribute to a broad range of legal sub-disciplines.
Kent Law School Next Generation Law Doctoral Scholarships
Our prestigious new scholarship, the Kent Law School Next Generation Law Doctoral Scholarship, will be awarded to up to two candidates with research proposals of the highest quality. We particularly welcome proposals in socio-legal studies, law and the humanities, and critical approaches to law. Research students awarded the KLS Next Generation Law Doctoral Scholarships will aim to transform our understanding of law, in order to reshape its future relevance and build better legal answers to pressing questions about the theoretical, social, environmental, political, economic or technological challenges that define our times.
KLS has been a pioneer in legal research and was one of the first UK law schools to offer postgraduate research degrees. We are committed to developing the highest quality legal scholarship and to widening access to careers in legal academia. KLS Next Generation Law Scholarships will be targeted to support more students from under-represented backgrounds to undertake doctoral degrees in KLS and to enter legal academia. Accordingly, in 2021, one of the KLS Next Generation Law Scholarships will be reserved for a UK-based candidate of Black or mixed-Black heritage. This targeted award is a positive action measure under s. 158 of the Equality Act 2010. The other scholarship is open to all UK and International candidates.
The scholarship covers course fees (at the Home/EU and International rate) and will provide a stipend for living costs at the UK research council rate (at least £15,285 per year).
Those awarded KLS scholarships are not required to teach. However, as part of our commitment to support the next generation of legal academics, all doctoral students have the opportunity to undertake paid teaching on an undergraduate law module, at the direction of the Head of School.
Deadline for applications: 15 February 2021 (see ‘How to Apply’ below).
University of Kent Scholarships
There are four further scholarships schemes to which prospective KLS doctoral students may wish to apply:
- Kent is part of the Consortium for the Humanities and the Arts South-East England (CHASE), funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Law students are eligible if their proposed research fall within arts and humanities, such as legal theory or legal philosophy. Apply for a PhD place at Kent by 11 January 2021
- Kent is also part of the South-East Network for Social Sciences (SeNSS) funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. Law students are eligible if their proposed research is on a socio-legal topic, in particular, legal research projects which have an empirical component. SeNSS also offers funding for a combined Masters + PhD (1+3) award. Apply for a PhD place at Kent by 18 January 2021
- Kent is delighted to invite applications for up to ten Global Challenges Doctoral Centre (GCDC) research scholarships. GCDC research projects must be ODA-compliant (UK Office for Development Assistance). This means the research must directly and primarily benefit the economic and social problems faced by developing countries on the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Deadline for applications is 18 January 2021
- Alumni Postgraduate Research Scholarship – exclusively for Kent graduates. This scholarship is funded entirely through gifts from alumni and friends of the University. Selection criteria are academic excellence, achievements to date in the chosen field, communication skills and contribution to the life of the University community. Deadline for applications is 11 April 2021
SeNSS, CHASE, GCDC and Alumni scholarships include a doctoral stipend (equivalent to the Research Councils UK National Minimum Doctoral Stipend, £15,285, 2020/21 rate (2021/22 rate to be announced)) and tuition fees. SeNSS, CHASE, GCDC scholarships also include access to further research funding. IMPORTANT: Visit the scheme’s websites for up to date information about deadlines & selection criteria.
How to Apply
Applicants for all scholarships must first apply for admission to the PhD or LLM by Research degree. Applicants are advised to discuss their project with a prospective supervisor or with the Director of Postgraduate Research prior to submitting a formal application for admission. For prospective supervisors, see the list of KLS academic staff and their areas of research and explore our KLS research centres and groups:
(Along with your application, please submit a research proposal, and personal statement explaining the reasons you wish to undertake the research degree – the ‘Reasons for Study’.)
KLS Next Generation Law Scholarship
To apply, please submit a completed PhD application (including ethnicity information) by 15 February 2021 and you will be automatically considered. Applicants will be shortlisted for the Next Generation Scholarship based on the academic and intellectual quality of their proposal, its contribution to the aims and objectives of the scholarship scheme, and its fit with the proposed or potential KLS academic supervisor(s).
All applicants for admission, including applicants for SeNSS, CHASE, GCDC and Alumni scholarships, will also automatically be considered for the KLS Next Generation Law Scholarship.
Timeline:
- 11 January 2021: deadline for CHASE scholarships
- 18 January 2021: deadline for SeNSS and GCDC scholarships
- 15 February 2021: deadline for KLS Next Generation Law Scholarships
- 11 April 2021: deadline for Alumni scholarship.
Informal enquiries may be directed to:
Dr Luis Eslava, Co-Director of Postgraduate Research, Kent Law School. E-mail: klspgroffice@kent.ac.uk
Explore our postgraduate research programmes:
We also offer a PhD programme at Kent’s centre in Brussels, the Brussels School of International Studies.