PhD Scholarship Opportunity for Law Graduates: Green Fellow PhD Scholarship in Comparative Constitutional Law | UNSW Australia

The Faculty of Law & Justice, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia, has invited applications for the Green Fellow PhD Scholarship in Comparative Constitutional Law under the supervision of Associate Professor Gautam Bhatia.

This scholarship is an excellent opportunity for aspiring legal academics and researchers interested in comparative constitutional law, constitutional theory, public law, and political economy.

🎓 Scholarship Benefits

• Stipend: Equivalent to the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship.
• Value: AUD 39,206 per annum (2026 rate).
• International recipients may also be eligible to apply for a tuition fee waiver.
• Duration: 3.5 years, subject to satisfactory academic progress.

📚 Research Areas

Applicants are encouraged to propose research in areas such as:

• Comparative Constitutional Law
• Constitutional Theory
• Socio-economic Rights
• Federalism and Constitutional Design
• Indigenous Constitutionalism
• Latin American Plurinational Constitutionalism
• Authoritarian Constitutionalism
• Emergency Powers and States of Exception
• Law and Political Economy
• Constitutionalism and Extractivism
• Constitutions as Power Structures

Research focusing on jurisdictions such as India, South Africa, Kenya, Jamaica, Latin America, the United States, and other comparative constitutional systems is particularly welcome. Proposals incorporating political economy are especially encouraged.

👩‍⚖️ Eligibility

Applicants may be:

• Australian citizens
• Permanent residents
• International applicants

Applicants should have:

• An undergraduate law degree with a substantial research component (minimum Honours II Division I or equivalent); or
• A postgraduate law degree with a substantial research component and a distinction-equivalent average; or
• Equivalent professional or research experience supported by references and a detailed CV.

Previous research in constitutional law, a Master’s thesis, or publications will be considered an advantage.

📝 Application Requirements

Applicants must submit:

• Academic transcripts
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Relevant publications (if any)
• Cover letter addressing the selection criteria and explaining their interest in comparative constitutional law
• Five-page research proposal
• Contact details of two academic or professional referees

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview (in Sydney or online) and may also be asked to complete a short research or writing exercise.

📍 Residency Requirement

The PhD must be undertaken full-time in Sydney, Australia. International applicants are responsible for obtaining the necessary student visa.

📅 Application Deadline: 21 August 2026 (Midnight AEST)

For law graduates and researchers interested in constitutional law, public law, comparative constitutionalism, democracy, human rights, and political economy, this scholarship provides an opportunity to pursue fully funded doctoral research at one of Australia’s leading law schools under the supervision of a renowned constitutional scholar.