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Bennett PhD Studentship: Urban Sustainability

Bennett Institute PhD Studentship in AI Governance OR Geospatial AI (2025)

What you get

For 3.5 years, you will receive a tax-free stipend at a standard rate of £19,795 (2025-26 rate) per year and your fees will be waived (at the UK, EU, or International rate). In addition, you will receive a one-off Research and Training Support Grant of £2,000. 

Type of award

Postgraduate Research

PhD project

The PhD project will either address the Global Governance of AI or advance geospatial AI methods for urban sustainability.

Topic Global Governance of AI: Current platform models and power concentration of big tech lead to an unregulated arms race with high risks for democracies, emergent dictatorial power, existential risks of AGI, but also more mundane consequences for the future of work and planetary stability. The PhD may scrutinize the game theoretic background and psychological issues underpinning the arms race, and develop proposals of how international cooperation and strategic changes in the rule of the game could mediate risks and allow for beneficial use of AI.

Topic Geospatial AI: The team of Felix Creutzig has developed a geospatial AI model that addresses induced car transport demand in urban planning and heat modifying effects of green, grey, and blue infrastructures. The PhD may further develop this model and make it applicable to UK settlements and towns, potentially also while considering the Labour government’s building policies.

The PhD will be supervised by Professor Felix Creutzig as main supervisor.

Eligibility

Applicants must hold, or expect to hold, at least a UK upper second-class degree (or non-UK equivalent qualification) in Science, Humanities, or a closely-related area, or else a lower second class degree followed by a relevant Master's degree.

This award is open to UK and International students. UK candidates include UK nationals resident in the UK for the last 3 years and EU nationals with pre/settled status in the UK.

If you are not a UK national, nor an EU national with UK settled/pre-settled
status, you will need to apply for a student study visa before admission.

Candidates for whom English is not their first language will require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with not less than 6.0 in any section - English language requirements

The ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ believes that the diversity of its staff and student community is fundamental to creative thinking, pedagogic innovation, intellectual challenge, and the interdisciplinary approach to research and learning. We celebrate and promote diversity, equality and inclusion amongst our staff and students. As such, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Number of scholarships available

One.

Deadline

How to apply

Please follow the guidelines below on how to apply: 

Apply on our Postgraduate Admissions system here 

• Start a new application and choose Science & Technology Policy Studies Integrated PhD start date September 2025 
• In the “Finances/Funding” field write “Bennett Institute&°ù»å±ç³Ü´Ç; &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
• Upload all required documents (CV, personal statement, degree certificates and transcripts and English Language Certificate as applicable)
• In the personal statement clarify the motivation for the topic selected and work out a key idea or research question that you want to address

Contact us

For further information about the PhD Studentship at Sussex contact 

For questions about the application form please contact business-researchstudents@sussex.ac.uk. 

Timetable

Deadline for applications 31^st March 2025

Interviews: Commencing April 2025

Offers made: April/May 2025

Start: September 2025