Tyrone Kirchengast

This collaborative PhD scholarship, offered jointly by the University of Sydney and the University of Glasgow, investigates the weaponisation of criminal law in South Asia, focusing on the intersection of national security, dissent, and constitutional protection. The project critically examines how colonial-era statutes, such as sedition and conspiracy laws, continue to be used by post-colonial states to suppress dissent, often under the guise of emergency powers and national security. By exploring the historical and contemporary use of these laws, the research aims to illuminate how legal inheritances from the colonial period are reconstituted to privilege state security over individual liberty, embedding authoritarian tendencies within democratic frameworks. The PhD will address four core questions: (1) the mechanisms by which colonial-era laws are weaponised and emergency powers are deployed in South Asia; (2) the conceptualisation of national security and its influence on constitutional protections in post-colonial states; (3) the historical trajectory of criminal laws in South Asian jurisdictions and the UK, including their interpretation and application over time; and (4) the implications and possibilities for decolonising law and legal thought. This research contributes to comparative constitutionalism by highlighting how colonial legal frameworks continue to shape democracy, rights, and accountability in the Global South. The supervisory team includes Professor Lindsay Farmer (UofG), Professor Arlie Loughnan (USYD), Dr Paul Scott (UofG), and Professor Tyrone Kirchengast (USYD), providing expertise in criminal law, constitutional law, and comparative legal studies. The scholarship covers a full-time, three-year PhD programme commencing January 2027, with funding from the University of Glasgow's College of Social Sciences. The package 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), and a one-off travel grant (up to £3,000) for travel between Glasgow and Sydney. Notably, no tuition fees are charged for the USYD PhD programme. Applicants should have a strong academic background in law or a related discipline, with demonstrated interest in criminal law, constitutional law, or comparative legal studies. English language proficiency must meet the requirements of both institutions. The application deadline is April 21, 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the official project page.