Elsewhere on Ulster
This project is funded by:
Ulster University is pleased to be awarding a new doctoral scholarship based within the School of Law that will support a postgraduate researcher pursuing research in law and social justice. The studentship is one of six associated with the AHRC-funded Centre for People’s Justice, a coalition of more than 45 organisations from community, business, philanthropic, cultural, artistic, charitable, legal, government and university sectors. The Centre works across the UK, and in partnership with the Universities of Liverpool, Sheffield, Glasgow, Swansea, Wrexham, Ulster and the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies London.
The successful applicant will be part of the Centre for People’s Justice (CPJ). The Centre’s mission is to pursue change-making research that responds to the public’s need and desire for fairer, safer and more inclusive societies. Its work seeks to connect the public more closely with the ways in which the law is made, improve accountability for how the law is put into practice, and enhance people’s understanding and use of their legal rights.
Through membership of the CPJ’s ‘People’s Justice Network’, the recipient of the scholarship will receive specialised training and support (including in the centre’s values of empowerment, trust, care, action and change), networking and collaboration opportunities across the Centre’s partners, and one-to-one and group mentoring in the Centre’s developing social justice methodology.
School of Law
The School of Law has a number of research groups, including the Social Justice Institute and the Human Trafficking Research Network, and works with a vibrant community of PhD researchers, in partnership with the Doctoral College. The latest Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES 2025) has placed Ulster University 2nd in the UK for postgraduate researcher satisfaction. Research supervision and mentorship are provided by an international, multidisciplinary team researching contemporary legal issues, using law to promote social justice and human rights. The School of Law is ranked in the Top 15 Law Schools in the UK (Times Good University Guide 2025) and is home to the unique, multiple prize-winning Ulster University Law Clinic.
How to be considered
Applications for the scholarship at Ulster University are welcomed on the role of law, legal systems and legal services (broadly defined) in producing a fairer, safer and more inclusive society.
We have drafted guidance on developing a research proposal which you may find helpful.
Applicants are invited to develop proposals in the areas of work, welfare and care and in particular projects that relate to:
Applicants may also apply to either (or both) of the individual project proposals listed below:
1. There oughta’ be a law against it: creating a legal pathway out of destitution
In 2023 the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) reported that approximately 3.8 million people experienced destitution in 2022, including around one million children. These figures come from the fourth report published by JRF since 2017 which measures destitution in the UK and shows that the number of people in destitution has more than doubled while the number of children in destitution has nearly tripled.
Following a comprehensive analysis of destitution provisions within the common law, social rights treaties and the European Convention on Human Rights, Simpson et al concluded that the law is extremely weak in protecting against destitution and argued that a specific statutory duty is required to address this failure of rights protection. What remains to be established is how this duty could best be delivered.
Simpson et al (2023) highlight the issues to be considered in developing a positive duty on the state, while JRF propose a number of policy measures. These include the creation of an essentials guarantee within Universal Credit, alongside other social security reforms, as well as cash-first emergency financial assistance and advice services to address the debt, benefits and housing issues that keep people destitute. This project is designed to help push forward thinking on how a legal pathway out of destitution could be developed and delivered.
2. Fraud detectors: the effectiveness and ethicality of detecting social security fraud
Social security fraud has always been a focus within the social security systems of the UK, pre-dating the creation of the welfare state and fostering an attitude of caution, at best, or suspicion and stigma at worst, in processing social security claims. The creation of a specific offence of social security fraud was introduced by New Labour in 1997, defining the means by which fraud would be detected, prosecuted and punished. The sanctions against fraud have been significantly increased since 1997 alongside the powers for data matching to detect fraud on a routine or, arguably, speculative basis.
Almost 30 years on from its original fraud Act, a new Labour government has, once again, increased fraud detection provisions. These measures operate against a backdrop of other planned social security reforms where a policy intent of building trust between the government and benefit claimants has to be balanced against the narrative and resources devoted to fraud prevention, detection and punishment. This project will consider not just of the legal parameters of the new fraud provisions but what the measures convey about the purpose of social security, addressing the extent to which the state should have access to private data and the use of algorithms and Artificial Intelligence tools to identify suspected fraud.
Projects that are inter-disciplinary (particularly those engaging arts and humanities subject areas) and/or employ arts and humanities methods are especially welcome. Project proposals must demonstrate an alignment with the Centre’s aims and values.
The Centre for People's Justice embeds equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in all its activities and aims to promote a diverse and inclusive research culture to support everyone to reach their full potential. We particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups and from those with lived experience of inequality, as well as practitioners with an evidenced commitment to social justice.
Ulster University welcomes applications from all sections of the community and from persons with disabilities. It is University policy to assess all applications using academic criteria and on the basis of equality of opportunity and you should be assured that reasonable adjustments will be made should you require them.
Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.
We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.
In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.
The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.
Appointment will be made on merit.
This project is funded by:
This fully funded PhD scholarship will cover tuition fees and provide a maintenance allowance of £21,805 per annum for three years* (subject to satisfactory academic performance). A Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of £900 per annum is also available.
This scholarship is open to applicants worldwide, regardless of residency or domicile.
Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.
*Part time PhD scholarships may be available to home candidates, based on 0.5 of the full time rate, and will require a six year registration period.
Due consideration should be given to financing your studies.
Submission deadline
Monday 15 June 2026
04:00PM
Interview Date
29 June 2026
Preferred student start date
14 September 2026
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