Global St Andrews and Macquarie Doctoral Scholarship - Sustainable Development and Social Sciences

Project

Australia and the UK are both among the top 10 recipient countries of people on the move (migrants and refugees) globally, while migration control is also high in their respective national policy agendas. Local and city-level governing bodies in the two countries are often at the coalface of migrant and asylum seeker/refugee engagement, yet have little sway in national- level decision making and migration programs.

This project asks how the two countries can move toward more socially sustainable migration policies that are led by their respective local governments, building on existing sanctuary and ‘welcome’ programs, and working alongside community, NGO and third-sector organisations. The project will directly contribute to our understanding of social sustainability through migration: while an inevitable – and desirable – feature of all developed societies, migration is often misconceived in public discourse and policy. The anti-immigration riots that shook parts of the UK in mid-2024 are an acute reminder of the dangers lurking in such misconceptions. As the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute’s annual Australian Cohesion Index (2023) has found, key to social cohesion and sustainable communities, is a sense of belonging for migrants within their communities. The role of local-scale migration governance, through forms of welcome and sanctuary, is therefore crucial.

Methodologically, our project will comparatively examine the role of local- level initiatives in creating socially sustainable forms of settlement, sanctuary and/or ‘welcome’ across Australia and the UK. Specifically, the successful doctoral candidate will conduct:

(a) a literature review of relevant academic approaches to cross-scale (national/ local/ urban) approaches to migrant integration;

(b) comparative analysis of national policies of migrant and asylum/refugee welcoming programs in the two countries; and

(c)  field-based, ethnographic investigation of selected programs in both Australia and the UK.

The project innovates at the level of scale, and in its internationally comparative approach. Specifically, the  project builds on the  burgeoning literature on local government level initiatives of migrant reception in the two countries (including Australia’s Refugee Welcome Zones and  Welcoming Cities initiative, and the  UK’s City of Sanctuary).

While there is extensive academic work examining sanctuary city programs, notably in North America, there is little by way of an understanding of how these localised initiatives may contribute more broadly to social sustainability either at a local, or an international level. Our proposed internationally comparative perspective will provide novel and valuable insights for local authorities and communities, both in Australia and the UK, as well as internationally, examining best practice policy, and contributing to the social sustainability for local communities regarding migration and refugee settlement, reception and integration.

The project’s research focus promises significant societal impact and thereby, added value: it is fully expected that the research process and findings alike will directly engage local governments and key local stakeholders, informing best practice in migrant and refugee settlement and social sustainability. The successful student will be guided to develop a Migration and Social Sustainability Information and Policy Network featuring academics and key stakeholders in the two countries, thereby strengthening its potential societal impact and ensuring its legacy, while helping establish the candidate as a future leader in their domain.

The project will be managed jointly between the School of Geography and Sustainable Development at St Andrews and the School of Social Sciences at Macquarie. The student will be supervised by Dr Antonis Vradis (St Andrews) and by Dr Andrew Burridge (Macquarie).

Informal enquiries regarding this scholarship may be addressed to Dr Antonis Vradis (antonis.vradis@st-andrews.ac.uk) or Dr Andrew Burridge (andrew.burridge@mq.edu.au).

Value of award (per year)

The funding comprises a scholarship equivalent of a full-fees award and stipend for a period of up to 3.5 years. It is expected that the student will spend half of the scholarship term at the University of St Andrews and half at Macquarie University:

• For the period spent at the University of St Andrews, the scholarship will comprise a full fees award and a stipend paid at the current UK Research Council rate (£19,237 each year in 2024–2025)
• For the period spent at Macquarie University, the scholarship will comprise a stipend at an annual rate of AUD $38,500 (tax exempt, 2025 rate), paid pro-rata. A tuition fee scholarship will be granted for the period of joint enrolment up to 42 months. Macquarie University will also provide an airfare allowance for flights between Scotland and Australia up to a maximum value of $4,000 AUD to be arranged in accordance with the University’s travel policy.

Unless otherwise specified, the scholarships do not cover:

• Any continuation, extension, or resubmission period/fees.
• Support for travel, immigration, health insurance and related charges between the partner institutions.

Given the high cost of living in the UK, the stipend in this call will cover cost of living expenses for the successful candidate (one person) but is not sufficient to additionally cover costs for any of their dependants. If you are considering bringing dependants, please be aware that you need an alternative source of funding. Also note that the stipend does not cover visa or relocation costs and that you will be required to cover those yourself. See here for an approximate estimate of costs: cost of living expenses.

Duration of award

Up to 3.5 years. The student will be expected to spend approximately half of the award term at the University of St Andrews and half at Macquarie University. The successful candidate will be expected to have completed the doctorate degree by the end of the award term. The award term excludes the continuation period and any extension periods.

Additional criteria

Admission and scholarship criteria of both universities must be met.

Applicants must not already (i) hold a doctoral degree; or (ii) be matriculated for a doctoral degree at the University of St Andrews, Macquarie University, or another institution.

How to apply

Submit an application/expression of interest to Dr Antonis Vradis (antonis.vradis@st-andrews.ac.uk) and Dr Andrew Burridge (andrew.burridge@mq.edu.au).  Applications/expressions of interest should include the following documents:

• CV including information about publications.
• Transcripts of most relevant/recent degrees.
• Information about thesis components (thesis mark, word count, weight/length in comparison to the degree overall).
• Statement of suitability as a candidate for the project (max 500 words). Please note here that you are invited to indicate the appropriate scale (policy/government or community intervention) that you wish your project to focus on.

Applications for a scholarship will be assessed jointly by the co-supervisors. Following a successful application for the scholarship, candidates may be invited by the co-supervisors to submit an application to each university for admission into the program and award of the scholarship.

Please indicate in your application that you wish to be considered for this Global doctoral scholarship (Burridge-Vradis). Applications should be submitted to the co-supervisors via email to: Dr Antonis Vradis (antonis.vradis@st-andrews.ac.uk) and Dr Andrew Burridge (andrew.burridge@mq.edu.au).

Please contact us should you have any questions regarding the scholarship: pgscholarships@st-andrews.ac.uk or gr.globalprograms@mq.edu.au

Next steps

The successful scholarship applicant will be invited to apply for admission to both universities from mid-January 2025, and then formal outcomes of the position will be made, subject to provision of full application details and materials for entry to the programme on 27 September 2025 (for St Andrews starts) or 1 October 2025 (for Macquarie starts).

The successful scholarship applicant must meet all relevant entry requirements for admission including any immigration requirements that may be in place. Please see the advice on applying for research degree programmes at St Andrews and the PhD application guidelines at Macquarie.

Terms and conditions

Please read the University of St Andrews scholarships terms and conditions (opens in new tab).

These are applicable during the St Andrews duration of the award; please consult the partner institution for their terms and conditions relating to scholarships.

When will I know the outcome?

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview, and the final decision will be announced by mid-January 2025. Awards are subject to final signatures of contracts between the parties and successful admission to both institutions.