How can Distributed Ledger Technologies enhance business processes within the London Insurance Market and what are the legal and regulatory implications of using DLT in this context?

CCLS/Lloyd’s of London/ESRC LISS DTP CASE Studentship – Insurance Law & IT Law

Studentship Award
The Insurance Law Institute at the Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS) at QMUL, in partnership with Lloyd’s of London and the ESRC LISS Doctoral Training Programme is funding a 4 year studentship (1 year MRes programme + 3 year PhD) to support research in the field of insurance and IT law.

Topic of Research
Distributed ledger technologies (DLT), of which the block-chain is one protocol, have caused a stir in financial circles in view of the wide range of opportunities they offer for business development. This great potential extends to the insurance sector, an intermediary-led and direct sale market where business-to-customer relations may be greatly facilitated and enhanced by the use of these new technologies. At the same time, the use of these technologies may carry with it implications in both the sphere of private law (contractual relations) as well as that of public law and policy (regulation).

The successful candidates will undertake research for a PhD degree within the field of Insurance and IT law under the supervision of Dr Miriam Goldby and Prof. Christopher Reed.


Research Question
The question to be answered by this research project is as follows: How can Distributed Ledger Technologies enhance business processes within the London Insurance Market and what are the legal and regulatory implications of using DLT in this context?

About the award & Eligibility Criteria
• The award will cover tuition fees at the Home/EU rate, and provide an annual stipend of £16,553 per year. Thus, applicants who are classed as ‘overseas’ or ‘international’ for fees purposes are not eligible for these funding awards.
• Only applicants to our MRes programme in International Economic Law for entry in September 2017 will be eligible to be considered for this award, and the recipient for the award will first take and complete the MRes programme before commencing the 3-year PhD programme. However, applicants who have met the ‘Foundation Training Requirements’ in social science research training of the LISS DTP scheme already (https://www.liss-dtp.ac.uk/studentships/foundation-training-requirements/) via previous degrees taken may be eligible to start directly on the PhD programme, and not take the MRes degree. However, all applicants must apply via the MRes route initially and, to be eligible to start directly on the PhD programme, an applicant must also have met that programme’s academic entry requirements
• The applicant must meet the QMUL academic entry requirements for the MRes in International Economic Law.
• Preference will be given to applicants who can show a working knowledge of computer science and information technology.

Deadline
The deadline for Studentship applications to the School of Law is Wednesday 19th July 2017.

You must have submitted both your application to the IEL MRes programme (including all required supporting documents) and your ESRC LISS DTP Collaborative (CASE) Studentship 2017-18 Application form by this date.

Further Information
Any informal inquiries about the research area of the Studentship can be directed to Dr Miriam Goldby, at [Email Address Removed]

If you have any queries relating to the funding application process, please e-mail Mr Gareth Skehan, the School of Law Research Admissions Administrator, at [Email Address Removed]

To download the ‘LISS DTP Case for Support’ application form and for information about the funding scheme and its residency requirements, please see:
• https://www.liss-dtp.ac.uk/case-studentships-student-applicants/

For more detailed information on this award, its eligibility criteria, and the application process, please see the relevant information on our web-page:

http://www.law.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding/cclslloyds-of-londonesrc-liss-dtp-case-studentship/#d.en.375660

For information on how to make an application to the MRes in International Economic Law pprogramme, about the entry requirements and what supporting application documentation is required, please see our web-page:

http://www.law.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/items/191572.html