PhD Study : Activism and its role in changing Abortion Law in Northern Ireland

Summary

Until recently Northern Ireland presented as an outlier in the global north, with the absence of legal reform of the restrictive Offences Against the Persons Act (OAPA), leading to less than 20 legal abortions per year, 800+ per year travelling to England, many others self-managing abortion at home and criminalisation of others (Bloomer et al, 2018).  Following a lengthy campaign, legal cases, national and international inquiries, abortion was decriminalised in October 2019 (Aiken and Bloomer, 2019).

This project seeks to examine the role of activism in bringing about legal change.  It seeks to establish the narratives used by activists organisation over a 10 year period leading up to 2019.  By identifying why and how the discourse within their programmes of work changed over this time period, the research will illuminate ways to rethink the role of activism in facilitating legal reform.

The study is expected to comprise a highly innovative mixed methods design. Such an approach may include the incorporation of thematic textual analysis of documents produced by activist organisations (including briefing papers, press releases, consultation responses reports, training material, information leaflets), semi-structured interviews with key informants, and online asynchronous focus groups.

Participants are expected to include activists, abortion providers, health professional organisations, non-governmental organisations, and politicians.

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