ARC Discovery Project PhD Scholarship on Artists and Generative-AI: Copyright and Private Regulation of Creativity

About us

UNSW Law & Justice is a top-ranking faculty and a global leader in law and criminology education and research, setting the pace in Australia for 50 years. 

We ranked 12th globally for law and legal studies in the 2025 QS World University Rankings and 1st in Australia for employer reputation by subject. In the most recent round of research excellence rankings, UNSW received an ERA rating of 5 for law, the highest possible score.  

We're inspired by principles of law and justice and grounded in well-established legal skills. UNSW Law & Justice is committed to social justice and human rights, and to making a difference in this world.

Purpose

UNSW Law & Justice wishes to offer a PhD Scholarship for an applicant with outstanding research potential and a demonstrated interest in critical approaches to copyright and AI. The scholarship is for a doctoral topic related to the Australian Research Council Discovery Project led by Professor Kathy Bowrey (Law & Justice, UNSW) with Associate Professor Oliver Bown (Art, Design and Architecture, UNSW), Dr Marie Hadley (Law, University of Newcastle) and Dr Louise Buckingham (Arts Law Centre of Australia).

The Australian Research Council Discovery Project (DP260100770) ‘Artists and Generative-AI: Copyright and Private Regulation of Creativity’ explores the significant power imbalance between artists and tech giants in the age of Generative AI and undermining of the value of copyright to creators. Our research will investigate the connection between licensing terms attached to the digital tools, apps, and platforms used by visual artists and intensification of economic and cultural disruption in the arts. The objective is to enhance transparency around how AI companies exploit creative labour. We will promote responsible AI by working with artists, lawyers, and technologists to create ethical best practice and fairer standards. Legal resources will be developed to empower artists in their decision-making and reduce the impact of unfair contracts. These legal resources will be available to the public through collaboration with the Arts Law Centre of Australia. In the short term, artists will better understand the law and how to protect their rights. In the long term, AI innovation will benefit both creators and businesses, fostering a vibrant and thriving arts sector that benefits all Australians.

The proposed thesis topic should address the intersection between Copyright Law, AI Technology and the Arts. Critical historical, theoretical and socio-legal methodologies addressing AI technology and the regulation of Gen-AI companies, and/or image making practices and visual arts professionals are encouraged. The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate an interest in digital creativity, cultural policy, the Australian creative industries, and media studies. Throughout their candidature they will closely liaise with the Arts Law Centre of Australia to support the provision of legal education for artists to promote more equitable industry-artist partnerships. The scholarship will commence in June 2026, September 2026 or February 2027.

The successful candidate will be supervised by Professor Kathy Bowrey and Dr Louise Buckingham and focus primarily on their own PhD project. They will also be expected to participate in any activities held at UNSW under the ARC Discovery Project. Candidates will be enrolled in the School Law, Society and Criminology at UNSW Law & Justice.

Deadline

Applications are open until Monday 13 April 2026, AEST  17:00.

Amount

The scholarship stipend will be equivalent to the value of a Research Training Program Scholarship (this rate is A$39,206 per annum (2026 rate).  These scholarships generally receive favourable tax treatment and enable international candidates to apply for a fee waiver.

Duration

Three and a half (3.5) years, subject to confirmation of candidature and satisfactory progress. It is anticipated that candidates will commence the program in Term 2 2026 (June), Term 3 2026 (September) or Term 1 2027 (February 2027).

Eligibility 

Applicants may be Australian citizens, permanent residents or international.

The Scholarship is for study on a full-time basis only, unless there are exceptional personal or medical circumstances that would require study on a part-time basis for all or part of the PhD program. This Scholarship is not open to students already enrolled in a PhD program elsewhere.

Residency requirement 

Applicants must pursue their PhD research in Sydney. International applicants are responsible for securing any necessary visas to enable study based in Sydney.

Selection criteria

Applicants must possess:

• excellent academic credentials and a demonstrated interest in studies of law with a focus on intellectual property law; and
• an undergraduate degree in Law with a minimum Honours Class II, Division (I) that includes a substantial research component (or equivalent); or
• a postgraduate qualification in Law (including a substantial research component) with an average that equates to a Distinction average at UNSW (80%); or
• equivalent research or professional experience, supported by references and a detailed CV.

Previous research experience in the arts, and completion of a research thesis and/or publications, will be highly valued.

Selection will be based on:

(a) the applicant’s academic qualifications;

(b) their written and oral communication skills;

(c) the quality of their research proposal and project description;

(d) their research experience and potential;

(d) the fit between the applicant’s proposal and the focus areas of the Discovery Project; and

(e) the applicant’s interest and experience in the arts, cultural production and intellectual property law.

Admission Application details and Project Description

You are required to submit an UNSW Admission Application (Research Plan Form) including a Project Description as set out in the document here.

Your Project Description should be no more than five pages and address the following factors:

• Statement of research problem;
• Proposed methodology;
• Relationship to existing scholarship;
• Relevant prior research.