PhDs & Postdocs

CGSC and Polis host a thriving doctoral and postdoctoral community. For examples, please visit the CGSC members page and take a look at Polis' current PhD students. As a centre, we also co-supervise with other Schools in the University, such as LUBS, Media, Earth and Environment, and across health, as well as with other universities in the White Rose network. Many of our PhD students already publish in top journals and work in collaboration with key international organisations. Several graduates go on to secure academic posts around the world, with many working in 'industry' in the field of international politics.

In this video, former PhD student and postdoc, Dr Alex Waterman, talks about his work in CGSC and since.

 

In this video, Dr Ryan O'Connor talks about his time at Leeds and CGSC:

 

We welcome PhD applications and initial enquiry emails from prospective students. And we actively support top students in securing funding to undertake their doctoral research. Here, we list a few opportunities for guidance:

PhD Scholarship Information - Student-Led Postgraduate Research Scholarships:

ESRC WRDTP (open to UK and International) - Pathway awards 50% funded, Advanced Quantitative Methods Studentships 100% funded.

AHRC WRCoAH (open to UK and International) - Competition Studentships 100% funded

Leeds Doctoral Scholarships (UK only) - scholarships allocated among Social Science departments

POLIS Scholarships - Politics of Global Challenges Doctoral Scholarship (UK), Politics of Global Challenges International Doctoral Scholarship (International)

All of the above include fee + maintenance (at the UKRI rate)

Other notable scholarships: China Scholarship Council – University of Leeds, Frank Stell scholarship (Yorkshire residents)

We welcome postdoctoral funding applications, for example through WRDTP, Leverhulme, and UKRI. Please contact potential mentors directly.

CGSC has hosted six postdoctoral fellows since its launch in 2018. Our postdocs have published in leading journals, secured prestigious ESRC funding, coordinated significant impact events, and secured permanent academic posts despite the tough pandemic jobs market.