School of Law, Education and Society PhD Studentship 2026–27

School of Law, Education and Society PhD Studentship 2026–27

One Fully Funded PhD Research Studentship (start date 1 March 2027; closing date for applications 4 January 2027)

The University of Hertfordshire sits in the top 25% of all UK universities—and ranks as the top post-92 university—for research impact in the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). In REF 2021, 90% of the University's research impact was classified as ‘outstanding’ (4*) or ‘very considerable’ (3*), and 78% of its overall research was rated ‘world-leading’ (4*) or ‘internationally excellent’ (3*). More recently, the University achieved the highest possible ranking in the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF 2025) for research partnerships and an above-average 82% overall satisfaction rating in the 2025 Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES).

The School of Law, Education and Society invites applications for one fully funded PhD studentship. Offered full-time for three years or part-time for six years from March 2027 (subject to satisfactory progress), it provides a minimum annual bursary of £21,805 (pro-rata for part-time study) and a full tuition fee waiver for three years (or six years part-time). The bursary is reviewed annually in line with UKRI recommendations.

Please note that this studentship is only available to applicants who are permanently resident in the UK and qualify for Home student fee status. The University particularly welcomes applications from British Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates.

Research Project Areas

Applications are welcome on any of the three research project areas set out below. Please note we will not be able to consider applications outside of these specific areas for this particular studentship:

• Criminal justice and rehabilitation
• Working in multi-agency partnerships to reduce harms
• Prevention strategies

Entry Requirements

Applicants must hold a UK Honours degree (First-Class or Upper Second-Class / 2:1) or an equivalent qualification in a relevant field. An appropriate postgraduate qualification (e.g., LLM, MA, or MSc in a related social science or legal discipline) is desirable.

How to Apply

Applicants are required to submit the following documents:

• A completed application form (Download the application form here).
• A research proposal (maximum 2,000 words excluding references and bibliography) including a literature review, research goals, problem statement, research questions, methodology, and original contribution to knowledge.
• A cover letter explaining your interest in the studentship and the relevance of your background to the chosen project title.
• An up-to-date CV.
• Two academic references – these must be sent directly by the referees to the Doctoral College.
• Copies of degree certificates and academic transcripts.

Please send completed applications, clearly stating your chosen project title from the options above, to the Doctoral College at doctoralcollegeadmissions@herts.ac.uk. Please use the following email subject line: “School of Law, Education and Society PhD Studentship”.

Informal enquiries regarding these projects should be directed to Associate Professor Felipe Romero-Moreno (f.romero-moreno@herts.ac.uk) and Associate Dean (Research and Enterprise) Dr Barbara Henry (b.henry@herts.ac.uk).

Key Dates

• Closing date for applications: Monday 4 January 2027 at 23:59
• Interviews will be held: To be confirmed
• Studentship start date: Monday 1 March 2027