Overview
Doctoral studies at CAHR
After studying the MA in Applied Human Rights, I was keen to continue in the Centre's PhD programme. The fieldwork experience I gained during the MA visit to Cape Town inspired my PhD's exploration of transitional justice, masculinities and male victimisation. Additionally, it gave me a head-start on the PhD by facilitating links with a network of practitioners.
Lucy Harding, MA Student 2009/10; PhD awarded 2015
The Centre for Applied Human Rights welcomes applicants who wish to pursue a PhD in Politics and International Relations or a PhD in Law under the supervision of academic staff associated with CAHR.
CAHR has an active interdisciplinary and impact-generating research agenda and a growing number of PhD students. We are happy to entertain applications for doctoral studies on a wide range of topics, and particularly on:
- Human rights defenders, activism and practice - We specifically encourage applications focusing on socio-economic rights and environmental activism.
- Human rights and sustainable development.
- Human rights and the arts.
- Human rights and/in cities.
- Actors, norms, processes in armed conflict and crisis situations.
- Intersection between international humanitarian law, international human rights law, international criminal law.
- Transitional justice and transformative justice.
- Environment and indigenous people.
- Global health rights and justice.
At CAHR we embrace a range of methodologies and theoretical perspectives. We welcome proposals that use qualitative and quantitative methods across political science and law, including co-productive research and participatory action research, legal-doctrinal or socio-legal methods, and different theoretical lenses, including feminist, intersectional, TWAIL, Marxist, Foucauldian, and other critical approaches.
We particularly encourage applications from individuals with practical experience relating to the topic of their research who wish to engage in reflexive work.
In keeping with the international nature of CAHR and its staff, we welcome applications from individuals from around the world. For current supervised topics, please see current PhD student profiles.
Research environment
The Centre, both independently and through its affiliations with the Department of Politics and International Relations and the York Law School, has an active programme of research and knowledge exchange. We view our doctoral students as key participants in the research activities at CAHR and the wider university and practitioner communities in which the Centre locates itself.
As such, we facilitate PhD students’ access to academic-practitioner networks and encourage their involvement in CAHR’s three key signature programmes of knowledge exchange - the UNESCO Human Rights Defenders Hub, the Generating Respect Hub and the Human Rights City Hub - as well as in other projects relating to our six research and innovation themes. We facilitate exchanges between PhD students and human rights activists hosted by the CAHR Protective Fellowships for human rights defenders at risk.
CAHR regularly programmes lectures, workshops and conferences on various human rights issues and hosts the Journal of Human Rights Practice. We provide support for funding applications and publication activity, and seek to nurture our doctoral students’ active contribution to the Centre’s vibrant research environment.
Applying for a PhD
Applying for a PhD
The University of York has an online application process for PhD applications. To work with a CAHR staff member and therefore be associated with the Centre, applications can be made either via the online option for the PhD in Politics and International Relations, the PhD in Environment and Politics or the PhD in Law depending on your disciplinary preference.
In either case, before submitting a formal application, we recommend that you identify the particular CAHR academic staff member who can provide supervision. We strongly encourage you to first discuss with them your interest in doctoral studies - we recommend that you email them with a Draft dissertation proposal (PDF , 153kb) and your CV.
For an indication of areas of doctoral supervision available, please see the range of topics listed above and the academic staff pages of the Centre. For specific advice on applying and the possibility of supervision please contact the member of academic staff by whom you would like to be supervised. Further information about the formal application process is available from the pages of the Department of Politics and International Relations and the York Law School. Co-supervision is also available with academic staff in other departments and at other research centres.
PhD Supervision
PhD Supervision, Progress, Dissertation and Examination
Doctoral students meet regularly with their supervisor/s and attend a Thesis Advisory Panel twice a year. The purpose of these meetings is to provide guidance, support and feedback on their research and discuss the student's academic and professional progress. At CAHR, we place an emphasis on the wellbeing of human rights researchers and practitioners, hence why our supervision meetings consider wellbeing aspects.
In their first year of study, doctoral students will receive formal training in research methods conducted by the Department of Politics and International Relations and the York Law School. The training includes regular sessions on theory, ethics and methodology. In addition, doctoral students are invited to attend faculty research seminars and other academic events on campus.
The PhD programme does not include any formal coursework, yet doctoral students are eligible to audit any of the postgraduate courses offered by CAHR and partner departments: the MA in Applied Human Rights or the LLM in International Human Rights Law and Practice. Arrangements can also be made with other departments to audit additional courses.
All PhD students are subject to formal reviews of progress, which take place at the end of the first year and at the end of the second year (or part-time equivalent). Full-time PhD students are expected to have completed and submitted their dissertation within 3 years of commencing studies. This deadline for part-time students is 6 years. After submission, the student must attend an oral examination. There are usually two examiners, at least one external to the University (in most cases a member of the academic staff of another higher education institution in the UK). The internal examiner is normally a member of the academic staff of the University other than the candidate’s supervisor/s.
Funding
Funding
The Centre’s staff has consistently made time to talk with me about my work -- as well as any other concerns that arise. My supervisor has been fantastic. He helped me secure full funding for my PhD. He has also provided both academic opportunities and the chance to engage with, and contribute to, human rights practice.
Lucy Harding, MA Student 2009/10; PhD awarded 2015
Once they have applied and have been accepted into the PhD programme, students are eligible for consideration for financial assistance, which is available both from the University and from external funders. In recent years, the Centre has successfully supported and advocated on behalf of students for competitively awarded university and UK Research Council scholarship funding. This funding, in the case of UK students, covers tuition and provides a basic stipend. Funding for international students through these routes does not cover the full tuition fee. In all cases, students seeking funding should apply early. Most university and Research Council funding decisions are made by April so in order to be considered a complete application is recommended by the end of November the previous year. We are happy to support applications for external funding by prospective students, for example by working together with applicants to develop strong submissions and providing letters of support for this purpose.
Some opportunities for part-time employment as tutors or graduating teaching assistants and as research associates on various CAHR projects and programmes may also be available.
WRoCAH studentships
White Rose Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership (WRDTP) studentship
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESCR) White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership is a regional consortium of seven universities with social science research excellence and involves the universities of Sheffield, Leeds and York as well as Bradford, Hull, Manchester Metropolitan and Sheffield Hallam. The WRDTP has been accredited by the ESRC to offer PhD scholarships across a range of schemes, available for doctoral research students. Applicants for an WRDTP studentship with the University of York must have applied for a place of PhD study first. The studentship application form and details of how to apply are available from the WRDTP website.
The White Rose College of the Arts & Humanities (WRoCAH) studentship
The White Rose College of the Arts & Humanities is a Doctoral Training Partnership of the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York. It is responsible for the distribution of AHRC-funded studentships for these universities and for the coordination of a doctoral training programme. WRoCAH is able to offer over 50 AHRC studentships per year to candidates with a place for doctoral study at the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield or York.
Applicants for a studentship must have applied for a place of study in an eligible School, Department or Centre and may only apply for funding at one of Leeds, Sheffield or York. The studentship application form and details of how to apply are only available from the WRoCAH website.
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