The European Policies Research Centre within the School of Government & Public Policy at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow plans to award a PhD studentship on the governance and effectiveness of EU Cohesion policy in Scotland.
The studentship will be co-funded by the Scottish Government and the University of Strathclyde. Successful applicants will receive an annual award for three years of £13,590 and their fees at home/EU rates will be waived. The scholarship is for one year in the first instance and, subject to satisfactory progress, will normally be renewed up to the maximum of a further 2 years.
The studentship provides an outstanding opportunity to study at Europe's leading centre of expertise for comparative research on EU Cohesion policy, and to benefit from the School of Government & Public Policy's excellent provisions for supporting and supervising postgraduate research. The student will be expected to engage actively on an ongoing basis with high-level policy makers and practitioners in the Scottish Government and other policy organisations.
The main focus of the research will be the Scottish experience, but there will also be potential to explore experience in other EU Member States. The studentship will focus on the implementation and delivery of EU Cohesion policy programmes, with the aim of comparing, assessing and evaluating different approaches, and identifying different options for the future in Scotland. While theoretically informed, the PhD will be expected to develop policy-relevant conclusions that will feed into Scottish Government thinking for Cohesion policy programmes after 2013.
The deadline for applications is Friday 30 September 2011. Applicants should submit:
- A research proposal of approximately 1,000 words, identifying a specific research question and including a literature review, an outline methodology and a statement of intended outcomes in terms of contribution to both conceptual/theoretical debates and Cohesion policy in Scotland;
- A curriculum vitae with the names and addresses of two referees;
- Evidence of academic qualifications (a first or upper second class Honours degree or equivalent in an appropriate discipline);
- In the case of applications from non-native English speakers, evidence of English language proficiency (with a minimum score of IELTS of 7.0);
- A covering letter outlining the motivation for the application.
Applicants are encouraged to direct informal enquiries to Dr Martin Ferry (Martin.Ferry@strath.ac.uk or +44 (0)141 548 3920) or Dr Sara Davies (Sara.Davies@strath.ac.uk or +44 (0)141 548 3932). Applicants are also advised to refer to the websites of the Scottish Government and the European Commission for information on current issues in EU Cohesion policy.
All applications will be evaluated on a competitive basis by the Postgraduate Committee within the School of Government & Public Policy.
Applications should be sent to: Janet Riddell (Cohesion policy Scholarship), Graduate School Manager, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Room LT205, Livingstone Tower, 26 Richmond Street, Glasgow, G1 1XH
Alternatively, applications may be e-mailed to: hass-postgrad@strath.ac.uk Visit www.strath.ac.uk/postgrad for general information on postgraduate research study at the University of Strathclyde and our education page for further information on research degrees at the European Policies Research Centre.