PhD Studentship in the Stefan Cross Centre for Women, Equality & Law

Southampton University Law School invites applicants for a fully funded PhD studentship within the Stefan Cross Centre for Women, Equality and Law, commencing in September 2027.

The studentship runs for a period of three years and includes an annual stipend in line with UKRI levels (£21,805 in 2026/27, uprated annually) and tuition fees (UK/Overseas).

Southampton Law School is a global Law School, firmly rooted in the UK with a mission to respond to the greatest global challenges that humanity faces. We have a robust internationalisation agenda and as a Law School in a Russell Group University (QS ranked 80th) we are committed to research-driven legal education as well as engaged, innovative and impactful scholarship. Southampton Law School was ranked 16th in the UK in REF2021 for outputs. This places us in the top 25% of Law Schools in the UK, with 81% of all outputs submitted considered to be “world-leading” or “internationally excellent”. Our triple helix approach (people, education, research and enterprise) accentuates the value of our people and exemplifies our constant pursuit of solidarity and social cohesion among staff members, who comprise a diverse international cohort of renowned leading as well as early career researchers.

The Stefan Cross Centre for Women, Equality and Law is one of eight research centres which together serve as essential clusters for the achievement of our objectives. The Centre was launched in 2018 with a generous donation from Southampton Law School alumnus, Mr Stefan Cross KC. The goal of the Centre is to increase understanding and awareness of discrimination against women and girls, investigate the causes of this discrimination and seek effective solutions to gendered inequalities.

Successful applicants will be assigned two supervisors and will join the Stefan Cross Centre contributing to its objectives and continued success. They will be part of, and help develop our vibrant PhD community.

We are keen to foster the Equality Law scholars of the next generation and are interested in proposals to work on legal topics related to women and equality in the broadest sense. We particularly welcome research proposals that address intersections of women’s equality and the law with the following areas:

• employment
• AI/new technologies
• human rights
• sustainability
• criminal justice
• equal pay

For an initial conversation regarding the Stefan Cross Studentship, please contact the Directors of the Stefan Cross Centre:

Dr Joe Atkinson J.R.Atkinson@soton.ac.uk and Dr Megan Pearson M.R.Pearson@soton.ac.uk.

How to apply

Apply online at: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/law/postgraduate/research_degrees/law-phd.page and specify in the funding section of the on-line application that you wish to be considered for the Stefan Cross Centre studentship.  

For further information on our doctoral programme, including the application process, English language  and entry requirements, please see: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/law.  

You will need to submit your completed application form, academic transcripts, CV and provisional research proposal, of up to 1500 words (excluding bibliography). If you have questions about the application process please contact the Doctoral College Admissions team, at: doctoralcollege-admissions@soton.ac.uk . 

We are an equal opportunity employer and applicants from backgrounds underrepresented in academia are encouraged to apply.

Closing date: 31 January 2027.

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