Apply now for PhD research studentships beginning September 2022 at Kent Law School

Funding opportunities include Kent Law School's Next Generation Law Doctoral Scholarships

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Applications are invited for an exciting range of full-time PhD scholarships at Kent Law School (KLS) including our prestigious Next Generation Law Doctoral Scholarships.

Begin your doctoral studies in September 2022 at one of the UK’s leading law schools – Kent Law School (KLS) is ranked 15th in The Guardian University Guide 2022 and 16th in The Times Good University Guide 2022. 

Our world-leading research draws upon doctrinal and interdisciplinary methodologies, diverse critical, contextual and socio-legal approaches, and a range of theoretical perspectives from the humanities and social sciences in order to contribute to a broad range of legal sub-disciplines.

Kent Law School Next Generation Law Doctoral Scholarships

Application deadline: Monday 14 February 2022

Kent Law School Next Generation Law Doctoral Scholarships will be awarded to up to three candidates with research proposals of the highest quality. These Scholarships are designed to support research that  aims 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.

One of these challenges is to support more students from under-represented backgrounds to undertake doctoral degrees at KLS and to enter legal academia. Accordingly, one of the KLS Next Generation Law Doctoral Scholarships is reserved for a UK-based candidate of Black or mixed-Black heritage in 2022. This targeted award is a positive action measure under section 158 of the Equality Act 2010. The other two scholarships are open to all UK and International candidates.

  • We particularly welcome proposals in sociolegal studies, law and the humanities, critical approaches to law, law and political economy, law and health, law and intellectual property, and law, science and technology
  • The scholarship covers course fees (at the Home and EU/International rate) and will provide a stipend for living costs at the UK research council rate (at least £15,609 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
  • Applicants will be shortlisted for the Next Generation Law Doctoral 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).

University of Kent Scholarship: CHASE

Application deadline: Sunday 5 December 2021

The University of 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 falls within arts and humanities, such as legal theory or legal philosophy
  • Any applicant who wishes to be considered for CHASE funding for 2022 entry will need to have a PhD place confirmed at Kent by Sunday 5 December 2021
  • This scholarship includes a doctoral stipend (equivalent to the Research Councils UK National Minimum Doctoral Stipend, £15,609, 2021/22 rate) and tuition fees
  • CHASE scholarships also include access to further research funding.

Please visit the CHASE website for the latest information about deadlines and selection criteria

University of Kent Scholarship: SeNSS

Application deadline: Sunday 2 January 2022

The University of 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
  • This scholarship includes a doctoral stipend (equivalent to the Research Councils UK National Minimum Doctoral Stipend, £15,609, 2021/22 rate) and tuition fees
  • SeNSS scholarships also include access to further research funding.

Please visit the SeNSS website for the latest information about deadlines and selection criteria

University of Kent Scholarship: Alumni Postgraduate Research Scholarship

The Alumni Postgraduate Research Scholarship is exclusively for University of Kent graduates and 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.
  • This scholarship includes a doctoral stipend (equivalent to the Research Councils UK National Minimum Doctoral Stipend, £15,609, 2021/22 rate) and tuition fees

Please visit Kent’s Scholarships page for more information

How to apply

Applicants for all scholarships must first apply for admission to the PhD or LLM by Research degree.

Apply online >

All applicants, including applicants for SeNSS, CHASE and Alumni scholarships, will automatically be considered for the KLS Next Generation Law Doctoral Scholarship.

Prior to submitting a formal application for admission:

Together with your application, please also submit:

  • a research proposal
  • and a personal statement explaining the reasons your reasons for choosing to undertake a research degree (your ‘reasons for study’)

Postgraduate research programmes at Kent Law School

Explore our postgraduate research programmes:

We also offer a PhD programme at Kent’s centre in Brussels, the Brussels School of International Studies.