Research scholarships

Full project title: Pro-natalist government policies and the ethics of procreation in the climate crisis

About the scholarship

Birthrates are declining in many high- and middle-income countries. As they fall below replacement rate, two effects are expected:

1. the ratio of working age adults to retirees will fall, with implications for government programs – such as pensions – that rely on redistribution from young to old
2. eventually, the country’s population will itself start to drop.

In response to the challenges posed by demographic change, many countries are pursuing pro-natalist policies aimed at encouraging citizens to reproduce. These include:

• expanded parental leave support
• increased child benefit payments
• expanded health care for parents and children
• pro-marriage policies
• subsidies for fertility treatment and egg freezing.

In recent years, philosophers have raised many questions pertaining to the ethics of procreation. Some argue that procreation is always unethical because of the suffering that every human life includes. Others argue that it is unethical for individuals in wealthy countries to reproduce, given the enormous environmental footprint of each person. In view of prior and anticipated carbon emissions per person, they argue that adding to the population of wealthy countries is not sustainable.

Possible topics for exploration include:

• the relationship between the ethics of individual procreation and the ethics of government policy. If it is unethical for individuals in high-income countries to reproduce, does that mean that policies incentivising procreation are unethical or unjust? What difference does it make if the environmental effects of procreation depend on other government policies (eg policies to accelerate societal transition to “net zero”)? Should individual states prioritise their own national survival or prosperity, even if doing so makes matters worse for other countries?
• the right to reproductive autonomy in the context of climate crisis. It is widely accepted that individuals have negative rights against some forms of state interference in their reproductive plans and activities, and debated whether they have positive claims against the state for assistance in reproducing. Does the environmental impact of procreation make any difference to what a right to procreative autonomy entails? How should states reconcile their obligations to ensure access to reproductive health care (SDG 3) with their obligations to ensure sustainable consumption (SDG 12) and combat climate change (SDG 13)?
• the relevance of immigration policy to pro-natalist policies. Would pro-immigration policies be ethically preferable to encouraging procreation? Or would they be equally problematic, since – among other effects – they would lead existing people to live higher emission lives?

Availability

This scholarship is available to eligible candidates to undertake a direct entry full time 3.5-year PhD program commencing in the 2025-2026 academic year (St Andrews), 2025 academic year (Macquarie).

Students will enrol at both institutions from the outset. In terms of their location for study, the entry point for students:

• beginning at St Andrews is 27 September
• beginning at Macquarie is 1 October.

Eligibility

Admission and scholarship criteria of both universities must be met:

• For St Andrews, see how to apply and entry requirements.
• For Macquarie, see PhD entry and English language requirements, and graduate research scholarship eligibility criteria.

Additional criteria

Applicants must not already:

• hold a doctoral degree; or
• be matriculated for a doctoral degree at the University of St Andrews, Macquarie University, or another institution.

Components

The student will be expected to spend approximately half of the award term at the University of St Andrews and half at Macquarie University. The successful candidate will be expected to have completed the doctorate degree by the end of the award term. The award term excludes the continuation period and any extension periods.

Funding arrangements are made on the basis that:

• for the period spent at the University of St Andrews, the scholarships will comprise of a full tuition fee award and a stipend paid at the current UK Research Council rate (£19,237 each year at 2024-2025 rates. Note: rates will rise annually in line with UKRI stipend rises).
• Macquarie will fund a living allowance scholarship per position at an annual rate of AUD38,500 (2025 rate, tax exempt), paid pro-rata while the student is in Australia.  A tuition fee scholarship will be granted for the period of joint enrolment up to 42 months.

Macquarie will also provide an airfare allowance for flights between the UK and Australia up to a maximum of $4000 AUD to be arranged by the Graduate Research Academy.

Unless otherwise specified, the scholarships do not cover:

• any continuation, extension, or resubmission period/fees
• a research training grant or another equivalent award for research expenses
• support for travel, immigration, health insurance and related charges between the partner institutions.

How to apply

EOIs should comprise:

• CV including information about publications
• transcripts of any relevant degrees
• names and contact information of two academic referees
• statement of suitability as a candidate for the project (max 500 words)
• writing sample of up to 4000 words.

Students are to submit their EOIs to:

• Mianna Lotz (Macquarie supervisor) at mianna.lotz@mq.edu.au
• Joseph Millum (St Andrews supervisor) at jrm39@st-andrews.ac.uk
• and cc gr.globalprograms@mq.edu.au.

The participating schools at St Andrews and the Graduate Research Academy at Macquarie in coordination with the academic supervisors will be expected to complete the selection process.

The Global Office at St Andrews will work with the Graduate Research Academy at Macquarie to arrange official notification of scholarship awards, invite scholarship awardees to formally apply for admission to both universities by mid-January 2025, and conclude contractual arrangements which must be in place prior to the start of the degree.

Students who are nominated for the award will be asked to formally apply for candidature through the Macquarie application portal:

Contact us

Further enquiries about the global PhD scholarships may be addressed to: