PhD studentship in Water Governance Legal Frameworks and Regional Outcomes UWE, Bristol in United Kingdom

[Fully funded studentship with a tax-exempt stipend of £21,805 per annum and full-time home/international fees for 3 years, subject to satisfactory progress.]

UWE Bristol’s College of Business and Law is inviting applications for a fully funded interdisciplinary PhD studentship on Water Governance Legal Frameworks and Regional Outcomes. This project sits at the intersection of law, governance, environmental policy, and regional development, and is aimed at candidates interested in how institutional design shapes water-sector outcomes across the UK.

The studentship responds to a timely policy moment. Following the Independent Water Commission’s 2025 report, England is moving toward a major overhaul of its water regulatory architecture, including proposals for a single integrated regulator. Wales is considering parallel reforms, while Scotland continues with a publicly owned model. The project offers a comparative opportunity to investigate how ownership structures, statutory frameworks, and governance arrangements affect investment, environmental performance, catchment management, agricultural pollution, climate adaptation, and the distribution of costs and benefits across regions and communities.

Possible research directions include comparing the English, Welsh, and Scottish systems; analysing whether legal frameworks such as the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 shape outcomes; assessing the effects of integrated regulation; and exploring the transformative potential of legal innovation such as rights of nature. The successful applicant will contribute to an important policy-relevant research area with strong societal and environmental relevance.

This is a fully funded PhD studentship available from 1 October 2026 for three years, subject to satisfactory progress. Funding includes a tax-exempt stipend of £21,805 per annum and full-time home/international fees. The application deadline is 9 August 2026 at 6pm UK time, and interviews are expected to take place online in late August.

Eligibility requirements include at least a 2.1 degree in environmental management, economics, sustainability studies, environmental law, or a cognate discipline. A Masters degree is preferred, with an average programme mark of at least 65% (or international equivalent). Applicants must also hold a recognised English language qualification, with IELTS 7.0 overall or equivalent.

To apply, candidates must prepare a research proposal of no more than 5 pages, covering the research context and rationale, literature review, research questions, proposed methodology, and expected contribution. Applicants are advised to develop the proposal in consultation with the potential supervisor and to contact the supervisor with an advanced draft to confirm support before submitting the application. Required attachments include the proposal, degree certificates, transcripts, proof of English language proficiency, and details of two referees. One referee must be an academic from the institution that awarded the applicant’s highest degree. Use reference number 2627-OCT-CBL01 when applying via the UWE Bristol postgraduate research portal.