Scholarships & funding

CoSS PhD Scholarship - Law in a complex world

Information on the School/Research Group 

The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary team of researchers in the “Civic Finance” project. Civic Finance is an ambitious research project led by Professor Javier Solana and funded by a European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant (Grant Agreement No.: 101165302). The overarching objective of Civic Finance is to develop a complexity-informed theory of law and finance that can underpin the foundations of a civic financial system; in particular, a financial system that refrains from enabling unsustainable levels of CO2 emissions. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Prof. Javier Solana. They will also work closely with other members of the Civic Finance team and they will engage with a small interdisciplinary group of world-leading scholars who sit on the project’s Advisory Board.

The successful candidate will have ample opportunities to plan and develop their career during the PhD. Most notably, the successful candidate will be able to design a bespoke development programme with the guidance of Prof. Solana and the Research Support Office to identify the most relevant learning and development opportunities available at the University. Moreover, the successful candidate will be able to build a global professional network of academic researchers and practitioners, benefiting from the international networks of the Civic Finance team and the University of Glasgow more broadly. Lastly, the successful candidate will be invited to join relevant research clusters within the School of Law, such as the Corporate & Financial Law, the Just Transitions and the Glasgow Legal Theory research clusters, including their regular research seminars, as well as other relevant research clusters across the University. Where appropriate, the successful candidate will also have the opportunity to develop new projects and to engage in teaching opportunities to support their career planning.

Supervisory Team

Prinicipal Supervisor: Professor Javier Solana

Project details

Civic Finance aims to investigate the impact of law on the financial system; in particular, law’s potential to support a financial system that better serves people and planet. Importantly, Civic Finance draws from systems thinking and complex systems science to conceptualise the financial system as a complex adaptive system, i.e. a system comprised of interdependent actors whose interactions give rise to emergent phenomena. It also draws from socioecological systems research to conceptualise the financial system, the economy and the climate system as complex systems that are inextricably coupled and co-evolve. This conceptualisation challenges views of the regulatory impact of law being deployed top-down and calls for explorations of that regulatory impact from a bottom-up perspective.

The School of Law is inviting applications from highly motivated and ambitious candidates to develop a doctoral research project that will contribute to the overarching objective of Civic Finance. In particular, candidates are invited to submit a research proposal that explores how the complexity of the systems that law seeks to influence (e.g. the financial system, the economy, the climate system, or the close interaction between these systems) may impact the legal system itself. Some of the questions that candidates may want to consider for their projects include, for example: How does complexity affect legal institutions that underpin modern capitalist economies, such as contract, tort, property, or the corporation, and the concepts that underpin those institutions, such as rights, remedies or causation? Should judges and legislators rethink doctrine in light of such complexity? For instance, how might this complexity affect the interpretation and application of the principle of proportionality? How might this complexity inform the nature and scope of judicial review?

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Applicants will have a good Masters degree (or overseas equivalent)
• Applicants will have a demonstratable interest in the topic area under investigation
• Applicants can study part-time or full-time

Please note that all applicants must also meet the entry requirements for the Law, PhD. 

Additional information

Prior knowledge of systems thinking and/or complex systems science would be considered an advantage but is not necessary. The successful candidate will be supported in the exploration of these research fields. Candidates are encouraged to think about knowledge of these fields, and an understanding of their relevance for legal scholarship and practice, as an outcome of their project, not a pre-requisite.

Number of Scholarships

1

Value

The scholarship is available as a full-time +3 (3 year) PhD programme only. The programme will commence in October 2026. The full funding package includes:

• An annual maintenance grant (stipend) at the UKRI rate
• Fees at the standard home or international tuition fee rate
• Students can also draw on a Research Training Support Grant, usually up to a maximum of £940 per year 

How to apply

Applicants must apply via the Scholarships Application Portal (please see Scholarships Application Portal - Applicant Guide for more information).The funding opportunity is under 'College of Social Sciences Postgraduate Research Funding > COSS-26-005') uploading the following documentation:

• CoSS PhD Scholarship - Law in a complex world application form (in Word format)
• Academic transcripts (All relevant Undergraduate and Master’s level degree transcripts (and translations, if not originally in English) – provisional transcripts are sufficient if you are yet to complete your degree).
• Academic Prizes
• Contact details for two referees (where possible your referees should include an academic familiar with your work (within the last 5 years). Both referees can be academics but you may include a work referee, especially if you have been out of academia for more than 5 years). Please note, a CoSS PGR Funding Reference template will be sent to your referees for completion)*. Note that no member of this project's supervisory team can act as your referee. Please see CoSS PGR Funding Reference request guide for further guidance
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) (academic where applicable)

*Please note that when you enter your referees contact details on the Scholarships Application Portal and send the reference request, your referees are expected to provide their references by the closing date of the Scholarship (below). It is strongly recommended you complete this as soon as possible, as late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application Closing Date: 23 March 2026

References due no later than 30 March 2026

Selection process

Applications will be assessed by the project team. Shortlisted applicants may be requested to attend an Interview.

All scholarship awards are subject to candidates successfully securing admission to a PhD programme in the School of Law. Successful applicants will be invited to apply for admission to the relevant PhD programme after they are selected for funding.

For more information contact: Javier.Solana@glasgow.ac.uk