Leverhulme Doctoral Training Programme – Sustainable Transitions

[Fully funded masters and PhD studentship; £20,780 per year, plus £2,500 for training and £10,000 for research costs and further training.]

This fully funded PhD studentship at the University of Essex offers a unique opportunity for UK-domiciled applicants from underrepresented groups to pursue both a master's and a PhD under the 'Sustainable Transitions – Leverhulme Doctoral Training Programme.' The project, 'Building Energy Commons: Law, Governance, and Community Power in African Renewable Energy Transitions,' focuses on the development and scaling of renewable energy communities (RECs) in East and West Africa. It aims to investigate the institutional, social, and environmental conditions that enable effective local energy governance, with a particular emphasis on how environmental rights frameworks can guide equitable and participatory REC development.

The research is interdisciplinary, integrating sustainable energy governance, cooperative management, and environmental law. Key themes include organisational democracy, community ownership models, and participatory energy decision-making. The methodology involves case studies, qualitative interviews, stakeholder workshops, and policy and regulatory analysis, linking organisational practice with rights-based governance.

Successful applicants will first undertake a relevant master's degree (such as MSc Management (Social Economy) or MSc Corporate Sustainability) before progressing to the PhD. The programme provides comprehensive training in interdisciplinary research methods and ongoing support from the Sustainable Transitions management team and the Centre for Environment and Society. Scholars benefit from £2,500 for training courses and £10,000 for research costs and further training, in addition to a stipend of £20,780 per year.

Eligibility is restricted to UK-domiciled candidates who do not already hold a master's degree and are from a low-income household and/or specific underrepresented ethnic backgrounds. No prior legal training is required, as this will be provided. Applicants are encouraged to develop their own research proposal within the broad project area, with further refinement in consultation with the supervisory team.

The application deadline is 13 April 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the University of Essex website using the provided link.