PhD Studentship: Masters plus PhD in Sustainability Law University of Essex in United Kingdom

[Fully funded studentship with home tuition fee waiver, annual living costs stipend at the UKRI recommended level (£21,805 for 2026-27), and a £10,000 research allowance in total for authorised research costs. Also includes £2,500 via Proficio for training courses and additional research/training support.]

This is a fully funded Master’s plus PhD studentship at the University of Essex under the Sustainable Transitions – Leverhulme Doctoral Training Programme. The opportunity combines a funded LLM Law starting in January 2027 with progression to an interdisciplinary PhD.

The project area is broadly defined and sits at the intersection of sustainability law, environmental law, human rights, and related legal questions. Successful applicants will develop their proposal further during the Master’s year and continue refining it in close consultation with the supervisory team during the PhD phase.

Applicants with an undergraduate degree in Law are invited to propose a PhD project focused on environment and sustainability as it relates to law or human rights. The programme particularly encourages interdisciplinarity: applicants must choose one additional discipline to integrate into their research from Government/Political Science, Business, Sociology, or Life Sciences. Prior experience in the second discipline is not required, as training will be provided.

Funding is comprehensive: all tuition fees are covered, and scholars receive a living costs stipend at the UKRI recommended level. For 2026–27, the stipend is £21,805 per year, alongside a £10,000 research allowance for approved research costs such as supplies, equipment, and fieldwork. Doctoral scholars also have access to £2,500 through Proficio for training courses and additional development.

The programme offers structured support throughout both phases, including interdisciplinary research methods, secondary discipline training, and ongoing development. Scholars can also engage with the University of Essex’s Centre for Environment and Society, benefiting from events and networking opportunities.

Eligibility is restricted to UK domiciled applicants who do not already hold a Master’s degree and who meet the access criteria based on low-income background and/or specified ethnicity categories. The application deadline is 14 September 2026 at 11:59pm BST.

To apply, submit a 1000-word maximum project area proposal through the University of Essex application page. The proposal should clearly outline the intended research area and the chosen interdisciplinary component.