Policing PhD project opportunities with PIER

Find out more about self-funded PhD projects in areas where we already have supervisors active and engaged in the research topic in our Policing Institute for the Eastern Region (PIER).

Project outline

This theme explores how intersections such as gender, age, (dis)ability, race/ethnicity, and social class, shape victims’ journeys through the criminal justice system. Victims’ journeys could be thought of as beginning with deciding whether or not to report to the police, through to giving evidence in court.

We welcome proposals covering any crime/victimisation type, but are particularly interested in:

  • Sexual violence
  • Domestic abuse
  • Hate crimes

Where you'll study

Chelmsford

Funding

This project is self-funded.

Details of studentships for which funding is available are selected by a competitive process and are advertised on our jobs website as they become available.

Next steps

If you have an enquiry about applying for a research degree, please email [email protected]

For administrative enquiries about our research courses please email [email protected]

Responsibility for the administration of research degrees is held by the Doctoral School.

Project outline

This theme explores offending patterns in crimes against marginalised or ‘vulnerable’ victims. Potential topics include:

  • Sexual offending
  • Economic abuse
  • Domestic abuse

Where you'll study

Chelmsford

Funding

This project is self-funded.

Details of studentships for which funding is available are selected by a competitive process and are advertised on our jobs website as they become available.

Next steps

If you have an enquiry about applying for a research degree, please email [email protected]

For administrative enquiries about our research courses please email [email protected]

Responsibility for the administration of research degrees is held by the Doctoral School.

Project outline

This social science interdisciplinary research theme draws together supervisory expertise from Criminology and Sociology. Projects may also involve colleagues in Forensics and Data Science. We welcome postgraduate researchers interested in the application of science, technology, and technique to policing. Potential topics include:

  • the social and political dimensions of forensics
  • digital crime
  • computing and policing including data management and predictive systems
  • risk and offender management
  • investigatory techniques

Where you'll study

Cambridge or Chelmsford

Funding

This project is self-funded.

Details of studentships for which funding is available are selected by a competitive process and are advertised on our jobs website as they become available.

Next steps

If you have an enquiry about applying for a research degree, please email [email protected]

For administrative enquiries about our research courses please email [email protected]

Responsibility for the administration of research degrees is held by the Doctoral School.

Project outline

Courtroom practices have an important impact on earlier stages of the criminal justice system, especially policing practices.

This theme focusses on the use of court observation methods. Projects could focus on:

  • The use of digital evidence
  • Intersectional analysis of trial narratives
  • Experiences of disabled victims/witnesses in court
  • Court responses to sexual offences, especially child sexual offences

Where you'll study

Chelmsford

Funding

This project is self-funded.

Details of studentships for which funding is available are selected by a competitive process and are advertised on our jobs website as they become available.

Next steps

If you have an enquiry about applying for a research degree, please email [email protected]

For administrative enquiries about our research courses please email [email protected]

Responsibility for the administration of research degrees is held by the Doctoral School.

If you have an idea for a project that does not align with one of the pre-defined projects above, please contact us at [email protected]