UofG-USYD Collaborative PhD Scholarship: Weaponising Criminal Law, National Security, Dissent, and Constitutional Protection in South Asia
This collaborative PhD scholarship, offered jointly by the University of Glasgow and the University of Sydney, investigates the weaponisation of criminal law in South Asia, focusing on national security, dissent, and constitutional protection. The project critically examines how colonial-era criminal laws, such as sedition and conspiracy, are used by contemporary governments to suppress dissent, often under the guise of emergency powers. It explores the ongoing influence of colonial legal frameworks in post-colonial states, highlighting how these statutes are reconstituted to privilege state security over individual liberty and embed authoritarian tendencies within democratic systems.
The research will address four key questions: (1) the mechanisms by which colonial laws and emergency powers are weaponised in South Asian states; (2) the interpretation of national security and its impact on constitutional protections; (3) the historical evolution of criminal laws in both South Asian jurisdictions and the UK; and (4) the implications of decolonising law and legal thought. The project aims to illuminate the neglected dimension of comparative constitutionalism, showing how colonial legal inheritances are actively reshaped to influence democracy, rights, and accountability in the Global South.
Students will benefit from the combined expertise of the University of Glasgow's School of Law and the Sydney Law School. Glasgow Law School is a leading UK centre for criminal and public law scholarship, offering a supportive environment and access to the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research (SCCJR). Sydney Law School provides a vibrant academic community, with major research hubs including the Centre for Asian and Pacific Law and the Sydney Institute of Criminology. The supervision team, led by Professor L Farmer and Dr PS Scott, offers extensive research networks and guidance across both institutions.
The scholarship covers a full-time, three-year PhD programme commencing in January 2027. Funding includes an annual maintenance grant at the UKRI rate, tuition fees at the standard home or international rate, a Research Training Support Grant (up to £940 per year), a one-off travel grant (up to £3,000), and a tuition fee waiver for the USYD PhD programme. The successful candidate's home institution will be the University of Glasgow, with years one and three spent there and year two at the University of Sydney.
Eligibility requires a First Class Honours degree or a Master's by Research with outstanding results (at least 80%) or overseas equivalent. Applicants must be able to study full-time, demonstrate interest in the research topic, and commit to enrolling at both institutions and spending time physically based at each during the PhD. Entry requirements for both Law, PhD (UofG) and Doctor of Philosophy (Law) (USYD) apply.
Applications should be submitted online via the FindAPhD link by April 21, 2026. Prospective candidates are encouraged to review eligibility criteria and prepare supporting documents. For further information, contact the relevant department.
