PhD Study : The Multilingual Government

Summary

Some countries or regions have more than one official language, e.g. Wales, Scotland, Catalonia, Ireland, Belgium, Canada, and Switzerland, just to name a few. While government may claim it practices benign neglect with respect to religion, it cannot practice it in regard to languages. A government, at any level, must decide on a language in which it conducts its business and provides public goods and services such as police, administrative forms, and institutional websites. Deliberate decisions (or non-decisions) on these matters constitute an essential part of government language policy. In certain cases language policy can entail real or perceived political disenfranchisement in the population, unfair treatment of citizens wishing to apply for jobs in the public administration, and in extreme cases also violations of human rights (e.g. violation of the right to a fair trial). To function in more than one language, however, the government must rely on a multilingual public administration. This means to have multilingual staff and language mediation services such as translators and interpreters. The lack of such requirements can become a public issue and therefore the object of public policy.

The goal of the project is to study the challenge of multilingualism in the public administration in a comparative perspective. This is still a largely uncharted area with few contributions published to date. Given the project topic, an interdisciplinary approach is needed. In the first place, the project reviews and systematise the most important policy issues related to multilingualism in the public administration, e.g. the question of representation of linguistic communities in staff, and effectiveness of multilingual communication on the workplace. Secondly, the project studies the various policy measures and instruments that have been adopted in different countries to actively promote multilingualism in the public administration, it examines them in a comparative perspective and singles out successful practices. Finally, the project studies the use of monetary incentives in promoting language learning and language use in public administration. Such incentives are usually embodied in special salary schemes for staff. The project investigates the use of this instrument, and it collects and systematises evidence on its effectiveness.

This is an interdisciplinary project at the interface between public policy studies, public administration, sociolinguistics and economics.

Candidates are welcome from any of these areas of research, and they are invited to develop their personal approach to the topic. A variety of theoretical approaches to the issue are possible, depending on the background of the candidate, including comparative studies, grounded theory and formal modelling. Research methods can be both quantitative and qualitative. Considering the international scope of the project, access to scientific literature and policy documents in more than one country is central. Therefore, knowledge of languages other than English, in particular French, is an asset.

Essential: A minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject from a UK institution (or overseas award deemed to be equivalent via UK NARIC); and desirable: A Masters’ degree in a relevant subject, or equivalent professional experience.

Essential criteria

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.

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

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.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• 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.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living