The Feminist Political Economy of the Global South

Award Award	Duration Duration	Start dates Start dates	Application Application
PhD (MPhil also available) PhD (MPhil also available)	Full-time: 3–4 years Part-time: 6–8 years Full-time: 3–4 years Part-time: 6–8 years	February and October February and October	January to April January to April

The Feminist Political Economy of the Global South encompasses questions such as how gendered, racialised and class inequalities are produced through labour processes in households and other production units, as well as through state formation, markets, policies and violence. At the OU, this is a vibrant interdisciplinary field spanning sociology, geography, economics and development studies.

Distinctive strengths lie in feminist and development economics; social reproduction and care; gendered labour and agrarian change; patriarchy; race/ethnicity and state formation; global commodity chains; financialisation and uneven development; and critical approaches attentive to colonialism. Researchers combine qualitative, quantitative, mixed, and participatory methods, working with academic, policy, and grassroots networks to create strong potential to influence debates on inequality, work, care, and development policy.

Research students are valued members of the School of Social Sciences & Global Studies community within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, contributing to seminars, research groups, and collaborative projects.

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English.

Indicative postgraduate research projects for the 2026/2027 intake may include:

UK fee UK fee	International fee International fee
Full-time: £5,006 per year Full-time: £5,006 per year	Full-time: £12,705 per year Full-time: £12,705 per year
Part-time: £2,503 per year Part-time: £2,503 per year	Part-time: £6,353 per year Part-time: £6,353 per year

Some of our research students are funded via The Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership; others are self-funded.

For detailed information about fees and funding, visit Fees and studentships.

To see current funded studentship vacancies across all research areas, see Current studentships.

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