PhD Scholarship in Authoritarian Politics and Computational Social Science at University College Dublin University College Dublin in Ireland

The Ad Astra Doctoral Scholarship at the School of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin, offers an outstanding opportunity for PhD research in authoritarian politics. Under the supervision of Dr. Nikita Khokhlov, successful candidates will explore topics such as authoritarian legitimation, propaganda, disinformation, media and censorship, elite behaviour, public opinion, authoritarian diffusion, democratization, and personalist rule. The program encourages proposals using quantitative, computational, or mixed-method approaches, including natural language processing, machine learning, survey experiments, and network analysis, but is also open to other innovative methodologies.

The scholarship is fully funded for up to four years, covering tuition fees (up to the non-EU rate), a €25,000 annual stipend, and a €4,000 yearly research budget. Applicants must hold or expect to achieve a relevant Master's degree with at least a 2.1 (GPA 3.6), submit a detailed research proposal, and provide evidence of English language proficiency if required. The application process includes submitting a cover letter, thesis proposal, transcripts, CV, and referee details via the official UCD SPIRe application form. The deadline for applications is 6 February 2026.

This is a full-time position, and only new applicants with a SPIRe supervisor are eligible. The School of Politics and International Relations at UCD is highly ranked and offers a dynamic, international research environment.