Political representation is one of the most debated and pressing issues in modern democracies. As societies become increasingly diverse, ensuring that all citizens—particularly those from marginalized and underrepresented communities—have a meaningful voice in democratic decision-making has become more important than ever.

To address this challenge, UCLouvain (Université catholique de Louvain) in Belgium has announced applications for a fully funded PhD in Political Science under the prestigious WEAVE Project: Co-Designing Inclusive Political Representation. The doctoral position is funded by the FNRS and FWO, bringing together leading researchers from UCLouvain and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).

This unique doctoral programme offers aspiring political scientists an exceptional opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research on democracy, political representation, participatory governance, and social inclusion while earning a joint doctoral degree from two internationally recognized Belgian universities.

Applications are open until 31 August 2026.

About the PhD Programme

The doctoral research position is hosted by the Political Sciences Institute within the Louvain-Europe Institute of the Social Sciences and Humanities sector at UCLouvain.

The selected PhD researcher will become part of an ambitious European collaborative project exploring how democratic representation can be redesigned to better reflect the voices and experiences of people living in socio-economic precarity in Brussels.

Unlike traditional political science projects that examine democratic systems from institutional or elite perspectives, this project adopts a bottom-up research approach, allowing individuals from structurally underrepresented communities to actively shape the research process.

Participants will not simply serve as research subjects but will collaborate with researchers in:

• Identifying democratic challenges
• Sharing lived experiences
• Co-designing solutions
• Developing policy recommendations
• Reimagining political representation

The project therefore combines rigorous academic scholarship with practical societal impact.

About the WEAVE Project

The PhD is part of the internationally funded research initiative:

Co-Designing Inclusive Political Representation

The project is jointly conducted by:

• UCLouvain
• Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)

Funding is provided through:

• FNRS
• FWO

The project examines questions such as:

• Who feels politically represented?
• Why do some citizens feel excluded from democratic systems?
• How can democratic institutions better include marginalized voices?
• What innovative forms of representation can strengthen democracy?
• How can communities participate in designing political reforms?

The research combines several methodological approaches including:

• Democratic theory
• Participatory research
• Community-engaged scholarship
• Qualitative longitudinal research
• Co-design methodologies
• Policy-oriented research

Researchers continuously move between empirical findings and theoretical reflection using an iterative abductive research design.

What Makes This PhD Unique?

This doctoral programme stands out because it combines academic excellence with real-world societal engagement.

Instead of relying solely on traditional academic methods, the project actively involves community members in shaping the research itself.

Successful candidates will:

• Work directly with communities in Brussels
• Collaborate with NGOs
• Engage with policy stakeholders
• Develop democratic reform proposals
• Produce academically rigorous research with practical relevance

The programme also offers international collaboration through two major universities and exposure to leading experts in democratic theory and political science.

Research Focus

The successful doctoral candidate will conduct original research focusing on topics such as:

• Political representation
• Democratic participation
• Social inclusion
• Socio-economic precarity
• Participatory democracy
• Community-engaged governance
• Democratic innovation
• Inclusive policymaking
• Qualitative political research

The candidate is expected to develop an original doctoral dissertation contributing new knowledge to political science while supporting the broader objectives of the WEAVE Project.

Doctoral Supervision

The PhD researcher will receive supervision from distinguished scholars including:

• Prof. Virginie Van Ingelgom
• Prof. Karen Celis
• Dr. Kenza Amara Hammou

The supervisory team represents expertise across democratic theory, political participation, representation studies, and qualitative political research.

Main Responsibilities

Throughout the four-year programme, the doctoral researcher will undertake a wide range of academic and field-based responsibilities.

These include:

Developing an Original PhD Dissertation

The successful applicant will design and conduct an independent research project that contributes original knowledge to political science.

Conducting Participatory Fieldwork

The project places strong emphasis on qualitative research.

The doctoral researcher will:

• Conduct interviews
• Organize participatory workshops
• Facilitate panel discussions
• Lead co-design sessions
• Engage directly with research participants

Fieldwork will primarily take place in Brussels.

Collaborating with Community Organizations

The researcher will establish partnerships with:

• Local NGOs
• Community organizations
• Civil society groups
• Local stakeholders

These collaborations will ensure that research findings remain grounded in community experiences.

Qualitative Data Analysis

Responsibilities include:

• Coding interview data
• Thematic analysis
• Interpretation of qualitative findings
• Integrating empirical evidence into theoretical discussions

Academic Publishing

The doctoral candidate will contribute to:

• Journal articles
• Research reports
• Collaborative publications
• Conference papers

Conference Participation

Researchers will present findings at:

• National conferences
• International conferences
• Doctoral seminars
• Academic workshops

This provides excellent opportunities to build international research networks.

Public Engagement

The project encourages researchers to communicate beyond academia.

Activities include:

• Policy engagement
• Community dissemination
• Public presentations
• Stakeholder workshops
• Co-developed policy outputs

Joint Doctoral Programme

One of the strongest features of this opportunity is its joint institutional structure.

The candidate will be enrolled in a collaborative doctoral programme between:

• UCLouvain
• Vrije Universiteit Brussel

This arrangement offers:

• Joint doctoral degree
• Access to academic resources at both universities
• Dual supervision
• International networking
• Broader research opportunities
• Doctoral seminars at both institutions

The programme structure includes:

Years 1–2

Based at UCLouvain.

Years 3–4

Based at Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

Funding and Benefits

The position includes comprehensive financial support.

Benefits include:

• Fully funded four-year doctoral scholarship (48 months)
• Funding according to FNRS and FWO regulations
• Dedicated budget for qualitative fieldwork
• Conference participation funding
• Professional training support
• Research dissemination funding
• International academic networking opportunities
• Joint doctoral degree from two prestigious Belgian universities
• Supervision by leading political science scholars
• Access to seminars and doctoral training at both institutions
• Opportunity to collaborate with NGOs and policymakers
• Participation in a major European research collaboration

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants should possess the following qualifications.

Academic Background

Applicants should have:

• A Master’s degree in Political Science

or

• A Master’s degree in a related social science discipline.

Final-year Master’s students are also encouraged to apply.

Research Interests

Applicants should demonstrate strong interest in:

• Political representation
• Democracy
• Qualitative research
• Participatory research
• Community-engaged research

Language Requirements

Applicants must possess:

• Excellent spoken French
• Excellent written English
• Excellent spoken English

Knowledge of Dutch is considered an advantage but is not mandatory.

Additional Skills

Successful candidates should demonstrate:

• Intellectual curiosity
• Initiative
• Independent working ability
• Teamwork skills
• Willingness to conduct extensive qualitative fieldwork in Brussels

Required Application Documents

Applicants should combine documents into a single PDF whenever possible.

The application package should include:

1. Cover letter (maximum two pages)
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
3. Statement of research interests and project ideas (maximum one page)
4. Master’s thesis or another writing sample
5. Academic diploma
6. Contact information for two academic referees

Recommendation letters are not required at the application stage.

Important Application Instructions

Applicants should note the following requirements carefully:

• Use the email subject line:

PhD Position (4 years) in Political Science – Co-Designing Inclusive Political Representation

• Applications submitted without the required subject line may not be considered.
• Late applications will not be accepted.

Recruitment Timeline

Applicants should take note of the following schedule:

• Application Deadline: 31 August 2026
• Shortlisted candidates informed: Early September 2026
• Interviews: Second half of September 2026
• Starting date: 1 October 2026

APPLY HERE

Why You Should Apply

This PhD offers considerably more than a traditional doctoral programme.

It allows researchers to:

• Work on a highly relevant democratic issue
• Influence public policy
• Engage directly with communities
• Conduct innovative participatory research
• Gain international academic experience
• Build collaborations across universities
• Receive generous doctoral funding
• Publish internationally
• Develop expertise valued in academia, policy institutions, NGOs, and international organizations

For anyone passionate about democracy, political participation, and social justice, this programme provides an exceptional platform to build an impactful academic career.

Visit HERE to learn more about the Fully Funded PhD in Political Science at UCLouvain 2026 in Belgium

Conclusion

The UCLouvain PhD in Political Science under the WEAVE Project represents a rare opportunity to contribute to transformative research on democratic inclusion and political representation while studying within an internationally collaborative environment. Through generous funding, expert supervision, joint training at UCLouvain and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, and extensive engagement with communities, policymakers, and civil society organizations, doctoral researchers will gain the academic and practical skills needed to become future leaders in political science. If you are motivated by research that combines theoretical excellence with real-world impact, this fully funded doctoral opportunity is well worth considering. Be sure to prepare a strong application and submit it before the 31 August 2026 deadline.

For more global schorlarship opportunities visit OFY HERE