Academic Careers Beyond the DPhil: Funding, Publishing, and International Opportunities
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Description
This career development session has been designed in response to feedback gathered during the recent consultation on "The DPhil in the 21st Century" conducted with CSLS students. Participants expressed a strong interest in learning more about academic career pathways, funding opportunities, and professional development beyond the UK context. As a result, this session forms part of a broader series of career-focused events that will take place throughout the year, each addressing a different aspect of academic life and professional development. These events are intended as unique opportunities and will not be repeated.
The session will bring together senior scholars to discuss key dimensions of building an academic career after the doctorate. Dr Agnieszka Kubal will provide an overview of the postdoctoral funding landscape in the United Kingdom, covering major funding bodies, fellowship schemes, and strategies for developing competitive applications. Particular attention will be given to opportunities available to socio-legal scholars and interdisciplinary researchers.
Professor Adriaan Bedner will introduce the Dutch academic system and funding landscape, offering insights into career trajectories, institutional structures, and research opportunities in the Netherlands. This will provide students with a valuable perspective on academic careers beyond the UK and an introduction to one of Europe's most dynamic research environments.
Professor Fernanda Pirie will discuss publication strategies for early-career researchers, addressing practical questions about academic publishing, developing a publication profile, and navigating the expectations of the contemporary academy.
The session will conclude with an extended Q&A, allowing participants to engage directly with the speakers and discuss individual career aspirations, challenges, and opportunities.
About this Event
This session forms part of the Advanced Masterclass in Socio-Legal Studies (29 June – 1 July 2026), jointly organised by the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS), University of Oxford, and the Van Vollenhoven Institute for Law, Governance and Society (VVI), Leiden University.
Convenors: Adrian Bedner (VVI), Agnieszka Kubal (CSLS), Fernanda Pirie (CSLS), and Maartje van der Woude (VVI).
The masterclass is an intensive programme for advanced research students, designed to foster in-depth engagement with key themes in contemporary socio-legal scholarship through expert-led sessions and participant contributions.
While the masterclass itself is a closed workshop with attendance by application, this session has been opened to students and interested members of the university community.
