ERC Doctoral Scholarship 2026

The ERC Doctoral Scholarship in these postings refers to full-time PhD scholarship positions at the University of Antwerp in Belgium. The positions are embedded in the European Research Council-funded project WALLS2BRIDGES – Media Production of Prison Communities, led within the Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Communication, and the Visual and Digital Cultures Research Center.

These scholarships support doctoral-level research in Media & Prison Studies. The project examines how prison communities, including incarcerated people, their families, NGOs, and anti-prison activists, produce media and how these practices reshape understandings of justice. The advertised doctoral topics focus on country-specific research connected to France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, including prison journalism, prison education, abolitionist groups, and media infrastructures.

The scholarship is described as a full-time doctoral scholarship. Exact financial details are not stated in the reference postings, but the position is clearly funded and tied to an ERC research project. It is hosted by the University of Antwerp, so the degree is taken up in Belgium, while the research may involve archival and qualitative fieldwork in other countries relevant to the project.

Applicants are generally expected to hold a master’s degree in media studies, journalism, sociology, anthropology, criminology, history, education, or a related field. Strong English skills are required, and some tracks also require French. The postings emphasize experience with archival or qualitative methods such as interviews, ethnography, and discourse analysis, alongside sensitivity to ethical issues and interest in creative or media-based materials.

To apply, candidates should monitor the University of Antwerp vacancies portal for ERC-funded doctoral openings under the WALLS2BRIDGES project and submit the requested application materials through the university’s recruitment system.