Kent Law School (KLS) invites applications for postgraduate research studentships in the field of socio-legal and critical legal studies as part of the ESRC South East Doctoral Training Centre. 

KLS is proud to be part of the South East ESRC Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) in partnership with the Universities of Reading, Royal Holloway and Surrey. This centre of excellence in social science postgraduate research training has studentships across the consortium for students commencing their studies in the 2014/2015 academic year. Studentships (£13,726 in 2013/2014) are available to Home and EU students only and are available full time for 3 or 4 years, or part-time for 5 years. There are no teaching obligations attached to this funding. For further details see the University of Kent’s ESRC webpage: http://www.kent.ac.uk/scholarships/postgraduate/research_council/esrc.html

Research at KLS
Kent Law School was ranked the 6^th best law school in the UK in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise. It enjoys a pluralistic intellectual environment for research, where both traditional and critical legal scholarship, theoretical and empirical work, and interdisciplinary studies all flourish. 

It would be an advantage if applicants could demonstrate how their research will contribute to existing debates in their field, as well as how the candidate will contribute to our vibrant postgraduate community at KLS. It is expected that successful applicants will undertake their studies in areas of research strength of the School. We particularly welcome research proposals in socio-legal, law and the humanities, and critical legal studies.

Click here for research specialisations: http://www.kent.ac.uk/law/research/Researchareas.html

Facilities for Research Students
KLS has a lively and integrated postgraduate research community. There is substantial annual funding available, within determined limits, including for those PhD students without studentships, to attend conferences and present their research. The community of postgraduate students is provided with a common room and a facilitator to help them present, explore and develop their research ideas within a supportive community of their peers. They also take a compulsory research methods module, together with an anchor workshop offered by the Graduate School as part of their Transferable Skills Programme. Many students also participate in regular reading groups

Eligibility Criteria
Studentships will be awarded on the basis of the academic excellence of the candidate and the research proposal.

Applicants should normally have obtained, or be about to obtain an undergraduate degree of at least Upper Second Class Honours level (2:1 or equivalent from other countries), or a postgraduate degree.

How to apply

Candidates are advised to contact Ms Maria Drakopoulou well in advance of the deadline to discuss their application

Candidates must complete the South East DTC application pack available at http://www.kent.ac.uk/law/postgraduate/research/DTCapplication.html and must apply for a place to study for a postgraduate degree at the University through the online process at the Apply button below.

Informal enquiries may be directed to:

Ms Maria Drakopoulou
Director of Postgraduate Research
Kent Law School, University of Kent
Canterbury CT2 7NS
Kent
Telephone 01227 827949, e-mail m.drakopoulou@kent.ac.uk

Closing date: Friday 31 January 2014