Fully Funded PhD Scholarship on Female Entrepreneurship in Asia at Dublin City University 2025

Overview

The School of Law and Government at Dublin City University (DCU), in collaboration with the DCU Ireland India Institute, is offering a fully funded four-year PhD scholarship. The project will focus on female entrepreneurship and the role of the state in one or more of the following countries:

Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Laos, Nepal

This opportunity is open to scholars with a strong interest in gender, development, political economy, and entrepreneurship within Asian contexts.

Supervision and Institutional Support

• Supervisors: Prof. Abel Polese & Prof. Jivanta Schottli

• Host: DCU School of Law and Government

• Partner Institute: DCU Ireland India Institute

• Funding Includes:
  • Full tuition waiver

  • Annual stipend (aligned with Irish Government PhD funding)

  • Fieldwork support

  • Conference travel funding

Research Scope and Rationale

Despite growing economic roles, women in Asia remain underrepresented in entrepreneurial leadership. The proposed research will examine how female entrepreneurship serves as a form of emancipation and empowerment, and how state structures enable or inhibit these processes.

Key themes may include:

• Entrepreneurship and informal economies

• Gender and state policy interactions

• Political participation and leadership

• Entrepreneurial ecosystems and socio-institutional contexts

Candidates are encouraged to explore intersections with informality theory (e.g., “the art of bypassing the state”) and adopt multi-scalar approaches: from micro-business actors to institutional dynamics.

Research should draw on interdisciplinary frameworks including political economy, sociology, anthropology, business studies, and area studies, with a clear geographical focus on one or more of the eligible countries.

Academic Context

The project aligns with the fourth wave of research on female entrepreneurship, focusing on institutional, cultural, and political ecosystems that shape entrepreneurial activity (McAdam & Cunningham, 2021). It will contribute to refining understandings of women’s entrepreneurship in Asia by embracing its diversity and complexity.

About Dublin City University (DCU)

Dublin City University (DCU) is a top-ranked Irish university known for its innovation, research excellence, and global outlook. The School of Law and Government at DCU is internationally recognized for its expertise in politics, international development, and social justice. In collaboration with the Ireland India Institute, it provides a strong academic environment for interdisciplinary research—making it an ideal host for this PhD on female entrepreneurship in Asia.

Application Requirements

Interested applicants should send a single PDF file containing:

• Curriculum Vitae

• Cover Letter (max 2 pages) highlighting relevant experience

• Research Proposal (max 2,000 words)

• Master’s Degree Transcripts (or expected completion confirmation)

• Two Academic Referee Contacts
  (Referees will only be contacted for shortlisted candidates)

Submit applications to:
benjamin_bisimwa.cisagara@lu.lv
CC: abel.polese@dcu.ie and jivanta.schottli@dcu.ie

Important Note on AI Use

Applications generated with artificial intelligence tools (e.g. AI-written research proposals) will be automatically rejected. You may, however, use tools for basic language correction or literature search assistance.

Have Questions?

Before reaching out, please check the details above and conduct a quick web search. If your query remains unresolved, contact:
 abel.polese@dcu.ie

This is a rare opportunity to conduct critical, field-based doctoral research on gender, development, and entrepreneurship in Asia, under expert supervision at one of Ireland’s leading universities.

For more opportunities, visit opportunitiesforyouth.org.