Sydney Law School and Glasgow Law School offering joint PhD scholarship

The University of Sydney Law School and Glasgow Law School have unveiled a new joint PhD project, which will involve conducting research on artificial intelligence and its potential impact on criminal responsibility. The project provides a unique opportunity to study across both institutions, unlocking a wide range of opportunities, experiences, and connections. The successful candidate will be jointly enrolled at both institutions, with Glasgow as the home institution and the University of Sydney as the host institution.

The emergence of AI technologies has the potential to transform the landscape of criminal responsibility, raising fundamental questions about the legitimacy of assigning blame and accountability in systems increasingly influenced by autonomous and algorithmic decision-making. As AI systems are integrated into law enforcement, judicial processes, and even the commission of crimes, traditional concepts of criminal responsibility, which rely on concepts like human agency, intentionality, and moral culpability, face significant challenges. The state’s role as the arbiter of justice is equally tested, particularly in ensuring that doctrines of responsibility adapt to the complexities introduced by AI in a criminal legal system designed to operate in a democratic welfare state. Questions arise as to whether the attribution of responsibility remains legitimate when AI agents operate outside human control or when their deployment reflects systemic state-driven choices. 

This PhD research will explore the interplay between criminal responsibility, AI, and the state, interrogating the philosophical, legal, and policy implications of these developments. It will employ theoretical and/or critical research methods, and is expected to draw on scholarly developments in fields such as jurisprudence, cognitive science, criminology and sociology.

Project will be co-hosted by:

• Professor Arlie Loughnan, University of Sydney Law School
• Professor Lindsay Farmer, Glasgow Law School, University of Glasgow
• Dr Louise Kennefick, Glasgow Law School, University of Glasgow

Find eligibility requirements for:

• Prospective or current domestic students
• Prospective or current international students

For more information, please visit the University of Glasgow Student Funding Opportunities page.

The scholarship is available as a full-time +3 (3 year) Joint PhD programme only. The programme will commence in October 2025. The funding includes:

• An annual stipend at the UKRI rate
• Fees at the standard home or international rate
• Students can also draw on a Research Training Support Grant, usually up to a maximum of £940 per year
• A one-off travel grant of up to £3,000 to facilitate the required travel between Glasgow and Sydney

Candidates with the relevant research interests from across the world, are encouraged to apply. Applications close on 31 March 2025.

Banner image: An image of the University of Sydney New Law Building by John Gollings, alongside an image of the University of Glasgow by Adobe Stock Images.