Externalisation and Securitisation of Asylum and Migration

The project focuses on the worrying trend of outsourcing asylum responsibilities to third countries but also externalisation at the borders of wealthy countries. The student will work on such questions with a focus on UK law and policy and in particular on the UK-Rwanda partnership and in comparison with Australian externalisation initiatives.  A legal degree at a postgraduate level is desirable.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying for the above PhD topic please follow the steps below:

1. Contact the supervisor by email or phone to discuss your interest and find out if you woold be suitable. Supervisor details can be found on this topic page. The supervisor will guide you in developing the topic-specific research proposal, which will form part of your application.
2. Click on the 'Apply here' button on this page and you will be taken to the relevant PhD course page, where you can apply using an online application.
3. Complete the online application indicating your selected supervisor and include the research proposal for the topic you have selected.

Good luck!

This is a self funded topic

Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. See more information here: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/research/Research-degrees/Research-degree-funding. The UK Government is also offering Doctoral Student Loans for eligible students, and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Ermioni Xanthopoulou - Ermioni is a senior lecturer in law at Brunel Law School, where she is currently teaching criminal law, migration and refugee law, and where she is also participating in the European Commission's Horizon 2020 ITFLOWS research project. Her research focuses on the EU's area of freedom, security and justice – particularly in EU criminal, migration, and asylum law, as well as human rights. She is the author of 'Fundamental Rights and Mutual Trust in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice: A Role for Proportionality?' published with Hart Publishing in 2020 and of several other publications. Her article, 'Mutual Trust and Rights in EU Criminal and Asylum Law: Three Phases of Evolution and the Unchartered Territory beyond Blind Trust', was awarded the 2017 Common Market Law Review Prize for young academics. Ermioni conducted her doctoral research at King's College London (2012-2017) with a scholarship from the Centre of European Law.  Ermioni was granted the Athena Swan Research Award to conduct her individual research project on externalising trends of asylum law and she will be working on this project during 2022-2023 with the support of CBASS funds.   Before joining Brunel, Ermioni was a lecturer in law at the University of Hertfordshire for three years. During her doctoral studies at KCL, Ermioni was also a visiting lecturer at London School of Economics. She also volunteered at Amnesty International and completed her Legal Practice Training in Greece.