PhD in Public Consultation and Policy-Making at Queen's University Belfast

Queen's University Belfast is offering a fully funded PhD opportunity in Public Consultation and Policy-Making, supervised by Dr Jamie Pow. This project will empirically examine the role of public consultation in policy-making within the devolved context of Northern Ireland, focusing on the Northern Ireland Executive’s 2024-27 Programme for Government (PfG). Applicants will use frameworks from democratic theory to analyze the nature, implementation, and impact of public consultation, potentially focusing on one or more of the PfG’s nine priorities, such as economic growth, early learning, health, social housing, safer communities, environmental protection, and public service reform. The School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics at Queen's University Belfast is internationally recognized for its research strengths in political science, governance, public policy, deliberative democracy, and related fields. The PhD programme aims to develop independent researchers, encouraging dissemination of research at seminars, conferences, and through publication. Students benefit from a vibrant research culture, international outlook, and a diverse postgraduate community. Funding is available through the Department for the Economy (DfE) Postgraduate Studentship scheme, which covers tuition fees and provides a stipend. Applicants should quote DFE26/AHSS26 in their application to be considered for funding. Additional scholarships may be available through the NINE DTP and Northern Bridge DTP. The programme is full-time for three years, culminating in an 80,000-word dissertation. Entry requirements include a strong academic background in political science, public policy, or a related discipline, with a good undergraduate degree and preferably a relevant master's. Research potential and interest in policy-making or democratic theory are important. English language proficiency is required for non-native speakers. Applicants should contact Dr Jamie Pow to discuss the project and submit an online application by 9 March 2026, quoting the project reference and funding code. Interviews may be held after the deadline. This opportunity is ideal for those interested in public consultation, policy-making, governance, and democratic participation, offering excellent research resources, career development, and international collaboration within a leading UK university.