PhD Studentships in the History of International Development in the Global South

Actually Existing Development: Twentieth Century International Development and the Global South (DEVHIST) is a five-year research project led by Agnieszka Sobocinska and funded by a Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council.

Actually Existing Development systematically examines the encounters between individuals, groups and worldviews that attended and often reshaped international development at points of implementation across the Global South, from the 1950s to the 1990s. Uncovering the complex negotiations that remade international development projects at the point of implementation, this project aims to reveal the viewpoints, agency and impacts of Global South communities and mid-level aid workers on the international system. A more granular understanding of the lived experience of international development, including the coercion, resistance and renegotiation that frequently attended development projects in the Global South, will also facilitate a re-evaluation of historical international development and the broader systems of global governance that emerged in the post-war period. To achieve these outcomes, DEVHIST employs a multiscalar historical methodology that traces international development programmes through every stage of their lifecycle, and draws upon a previously neglected source base including Project Files and Global South-produced accounts. It applies this approach to programmes and projects implemented by a range of development actors, including Western and Eastern bloc state development agencies, multilateral development banks, international organisations, and development NGOs in selected nations within Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The PhD projects:

We are looking for two PhD scholars to conduct original research applying the ‘Actually Existing Development’ project approach to:

1. Southeast Asian Experiences of International Development, with a focus on Indonesia (preferred), Malaysia, Thailand or Philippines, ca. 1950-2000s
2. African Experiences of International Development, preferably with a focus on Ghana, Nigeria or Ethiopia, ca. 1950-1990s.

Each PhD project will uncover and assess the perspectives of specific groups, communities and/or individuals targeted for international development projects/interventions, and how they changed over time. They will trace how aid-recipient communities understood, conceptualised and experienced specific international development projects, how they responded (including whether and how they mobilised for/against the interventions), and the impact of their responses on international development agencies, regional and national governments, and others.

Research will be sensitive to differences in perspectives along class, gender, ethnic, geographical and religious lines, as well as divergences between national elites and grassroots communities. Scholars are encouraged to apply methodologies from social history, global and international history, and economic history.

You will be expected to complete a PhD thesis based on original archival materials and fieldwork research. You will regularly participate in and contribute to activities and events of the project and your associated department including team meetings, reading groups, guest lectures, seminars, conferences, joint publications, etc. You will also have to complete coursework and milestone requirements as required for PhD student cohorts at King’s College London.

You will receive a fee waiver for full tuition and fees at Home, EU or Overseas rates, and a stipend equivalent to the UKRI rate of £24,805 per annum for 3 years. Further funding for approved research activities including fieldwork and conference travel is also available.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates are expected to have a Masters-level qualification in history, development studies, or a related discipline completed by September 2026. Experience with archival research is expected. Research experience in archival collections related to the project, or with oral history techniques, is desirable.

Candidates require strong communication and social skills and the ability and willingness to work as part of a team as well as individually. They need to demonstrate intellectual independence and a proactive attitude.

Applicants must be fully proficient in research languages at the start of their candidature. A high level of English language proficiency is also required.

How to apply

Email the following materials as a single pdf file to agnieszka.sobocinska@kcl.ac.uk by 29 April 2026:

• Research proposal (2,000 words) identifying the areas, groups, projects and/or temporalities to be examined; outlining the historical questions to be addressed and their significance to the relevant historiography; and including a bibliography.
• Sample of relevant written work.
• Personal statement (1–2 pages) explaining academic interests and reasons for undertaking doctoral research.
• Official academic transcript(s) showing subjects studied and marks obtained.
• Two references, at least one of which must be academic. Professional references may be submitted if your qualifications were completed more than five years ago.

Interviews for shortlisted candidates are expected to take place on 13 and 14 May 2026.

Successful candidates will need to submit a formal application to a relevant PhD programme via the King’s Apply portal ahead of the following application deadlines:

Overseas fee status: 1 June 2026

Home fee status: 25 August 2026

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