State-Sponsored Mis/Disinformation Campaigns and International Law

The College of Business and Law at UWE Bristol invites applications for a fully funded PhD studentship with the Research in Public International Law group.

Reference: 2526-JAN-CBL07.

The expected start date of this studentship is Thursday 1 January 2026.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 12 October 2025.

The College of Business and Law is host to a vibrant and rigorous PhD programme. Applicants in the Law programme will join a passionate and supportive PGR student cohort. In the latest Postgraduate Research Experience Survey, Law achieved an overall satisfaction score of 100%.

Students benefit from modern facilities and a welcoming research environment comprising diverse research groups and centres.

The studentship reflects an ongoing commitment of the College to the development of its doctoral programmes.

Doctoral students at the College benefit from comprehensive support and guidance from UWE Bristol's Doctoral Academy, including an extensive professional development programme, research skills training and careers advice.

In recognition of the growing spread of state-sponsored mis/disinformation across various fields and the increasing sophistication of the technologies used to disseminate such information, this project engages transnational mis/disinformation from a public international law perspective.

Within this overarching framework, applicants are invited to devise their own proposal with a clear research question and focus. Applicants have the flexibility to further define their projects, and topics may include, but are not limited to, state responsibility, information warfare, human rights implications, the regulation of digital technologies (including AI), trade implications, and the role of international institutions in combating false narratives.

Focus could be on how international law addresses the spread of harmful content across borders and its impact on democratic governance, conflict and global security. Projects do not need to be limited to focusing on states and international organisations: they could also, or alternatively, focus upon companies or other non-state actors. This could include a focus on legal actors and/or processes, given that mis/disinformation can present significant challenges for the application of the law itself (for example, evidence gathering).

Whatever its focus, the project must deliver an original contribution to the understanding of international law’s relationship with state-sponsored mis/disinformation campaigns. With regard to methodology/methods, the project is likely to involve a combination of doctrinal and socio-legal approaches, although this will depend on what is most appropriate for the specifics of the project designed by the applicant.

For an informal discussion about the project proposal contact Professor James Green at james14.green@uwe.ac.uk.

For an informal discussion about the studentship contact College Director of Doctoral Research, Dr Paweł Capik at pawel.capik@uwe.ac.uk.

The studentship is available from Thursday 1 January 2026 for a period of three years, subject to satisfactory progress, and includes a tax-exempt stipend of £20,780 per annum (25/26 academic year) and full-time home/international fees.

Applicants must have at least a 2.1 degree in international law or a cognate discipline, and preferably a Master’s degree with an average programme mark of no less than 65%, UK grading scale or international equivalent.

A recognised English language qualification is required. IELTS score of 7.0 overall, or equivalent.

Please submit your application online. When prompted use the reference 2526-JAN-CBL07.

Supporting documentation

Prepare your research proposal – no more than five pages all-inclusive; font size 11, 1.5-spacing, 2-inch margins. Indicative contents: research context and rationale, brief literature review, research focus (objectives/research questions), proposed methodology and expected contribution of the project. Development of research proposal should happen in consultation with the potential supervisor. You should contact the potential supervisor with an advanced draft of the proposal to confirm they are willing to support your application.

You will need to upload your research proposal, all your degree certificates and transcripts and your proof of English language proficiency as attachments to your application, so please have these available when you complete the application form.

References

You will need to provide details of two referees as part of your application. At least one referee must be an academic referee from the institution that conferred your highest degree. Your referee will be asked for a reference at the time you submit your application, so please ensure that your nominated referees are willing and able to provide references within 14 days of your application being submitted.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 12 October 2025 at 18:00 GMT.

Interviews will take place online in November. If you have not heard from us by Sunday 30 November 2025, we thank you for your application but on this occasion you have not been successful.