How Arnab earned a rare chance to pursue a joint PhD

Photo: Courtesy

When Arnab Bhattacharyya first approached the idea of pursuing a PhD, he knew his research interests extended beyond the boundaries of a single legal system. What he did not know was that this ambition would eventually lead him to a rare opportunity to pursue a joint doctorate at two renowned law schools, the University of Glasgow (UofG) and the University of Sydney (USYD).

Arnab has received the UofG–USYD Collaborative PhD Scholarship, which allows him to pursue a single doctorate under joint supervision at both universities through a cotutelle arrangement.

Beyond access to the libraries, academic resources and expertise of two institutions, the arrangement offers an opportunity for cross-jurisdictional collaboration, particularly valuable in comparative legal research.

The possibility first emerged during an interview with a prospective supervisor from the University of Glasgow.

"When I came across my current supervisor in a University of Glasgow interview, he recommended exploring the collaborative PhD offered jointly by Glasgow and Sydney. I was inspired to apply because my research interests extend beyond a single legal system," Arnab said.

For him, the scholarship represents the culmination of years spent questioning how law operates, how states exercise power and how legal systems negotiate the tension between national security and individual freedom.

How it all began

Arnab spent most of his childhood in Chattogram where he completed his schooling before enrolling at the School of Law at BRAC University in Dhaka.

At BRACU, he discovered that legal education extended far beyond textbooks and classrooms. Moot court competitions, legal research, student leadership in university clubs and a semester working as a course assistant gradually shaped his understanding of the discipline.

These experiences encouraged him to see law not merely as a collection of rules but as an institution capable of shaping society.

After completing his LLB, he returned to Chattogram to pursue an LLM at Premier University, where his academic interests began to take shape.

He became increasingly drawn to criminal law, constitutionalism, national security and human rights, particularly the ways legal systems balance state security with individual liberty. He was troubled by how states could silence dissent, suppress civil society and legitimise extraordinary measures in the name of "national security" and "public order".

Over time, these questions developed into a doctoral research proposal examining the weaponisation of criminal law in postcolonial South Asia.

"I often say that I entered law school hoping to find answers, but I left with far better questions and those questions continue to guide my journey today," he said.

The long road to a joint PhD

For Arnab, pursuing a PhD at a university ranked among the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings had been a goal from the beginning. Yet turning that ambition into an offer of funded doctoral study required months of preparation, revisions and uncertainty.

Finding a suitable supervisor proved to be the most demanding part of the process.

He first developed a research proposal on his chosen topic before approaching potential supervisors. He then began sending cold emails to academics, seeking feedback and exploring whether his research interests aligned with their expertise.

The responses helped him understand his proposal more critically. Some academics suggested refining his arguments, while others encouraged him to reconsider aspects of the project.

He received positive responses from professors at several universities, including Cambridge, the University of British Columbia, Warwick and Birmingham. However, not every response was encouraging. Some academics could not secure funding, others were not interested in the subject, and some were unable to take on new doctoral candidates that year.

Rather than treating these setbacks as reasons to abandon his plans, Arnab came to see them as redirections.

Once he had received encouraging responses from prospective supervisors, the formal application process began.

Although requirements vary between universities, PhD applications in law generally involve a research proposal, statement of purpose, CV, academic transcripts and certificates, proof of English-language proficiency, letters of recommendation and interviews.

For Arnab, the process involved months of dedicated work, multiple rounds of interviews and repeated efforts to strengthen his application. Last month, he finally received confirmation of his funding.

Reflecting on the experience, he compares doctoral applications to a marathon rather than a sprint.

"Pursuing a PhD, regardless of the institution or core subject, is a marathon rather than a 100 or 400 metre sprint race. It requires perseverance, commitment, patience, and countless sleepless nights, as each stage helps you grow both academically and personally," he said.

Making law matter beyond academia

One book that significantly shaped Arnab's interest in criminal law is Understanding Criminal Law by Professor Joshua Dressler.

"If I had to name one book that truly sparked my interest in criminal law, it would be Understanding Criminal Law by Prof. Joshua Dressler. It fundamentally changed the way I thought about criminal responsibility and showed me that every legal rule has a story, a philosophy, and a consequence behind it," he said.

As he prepares to begin his doctorate, Arnab looks forward to learning from leading scholars and joining two law schools with distinct intellectual traditions. He hopes that working across two universities in different jurisdictions will broaden his perspective and strengthen the comparative dimensions of his research.

"Pursuing a PhD, regardless of the institution or core subject, is a marathon rather than a sprint. It requires perseverance, commitment, patience, and countless sleepless nights, as each stage helps you grow both academically and personally."

Arnab Bhattacharyya

His long-term ambition is to build a career in academia, teaching students, supervising research and investigating questions concerning criminal law, criminology, human rights, comparative constitutional law, postcolonial legal theory, critical legal studies and national security laws.

He is particularly interested in the intersection of criminal justice, democratic governance and the rule of law in the Global South.

However, he wants his research to extend beyond university campuses. He hopes it will contribute to discussions on legal reform, judicial accountability, constitutional governance and evidence-based public policy.

After completing his PhD, he intends to pursue postdoctoral research to deepen his expertise before returning to academia as a teacher and researcher.

For Arnab, the value of doctoral research lies partly in its potential to influence the world beyond scholarship.

"If my work can help inform legal debate, support evidence-based policy, or encourage stronger protections for procedural justice and the rule of law, I would consider that a worthwhile contribution," he said.

Looking five years ahead, he hopes people will remember his journey as an example of how curiosity can create opportunities even when the path forward is uncertain.

He did not have every step planned from the beginning. Instead, he continued asking questions, learning from setbacks and embracing opportunities to grow.

He also hopes his achievement will encourage young Bangladeshis to see themselves as contributors to international academic conversations, regardless of their backgrounds.

"Regardless of where we come from, irrespective of gender, thoughtful research, perseverance, and intellectual honesty can open doors that once seemed beyond reach," he said.

"If my journey encourages even one young legal mind to believe that their ideas matter and that they, too, can contribute internationally and represent Bangladesh, I would be truly grateful."