The Association of Commonwealth Universities invites you to apply for Routledge/Round Table Commonwealth Studentship Awards! Apply now!
The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs has had a dual function. First, it is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal, now published six times a year. The UK’s oldest international affairs journal, The Round Table provides analysis and commentary on all aspects of international affairs, and is the major source for coverage of the policy issues concerning the contemporary Commonwealth and its global role. Secondly, The Round Table is a forum for Commonwealth debate and advocacy. It hosts periodic dinner and other meetings, with invited speakers, and organizes seminars and conferences on a regular basis. It works closely with a range of other Commonwealth organizations.
Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities Android or iOS App here.
The PhD studentships provide support for research projects on Commonwealth-related themes. Two studentships are available each year, one for UK-registered students and one for Commonwealth students in other countries. Applications are welcomed from a broad range of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, but preference may be given to disciplines usually covered by the Round Table journal, including (but not exclusively) politics, international relations, economics, international history, geography, law, development studies, and area studies. The studentships are funded by The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs and the journal’s publisher, Routledge, in association with the ACU.
The research must be conducted in the applicants’ country of residence. Proposed research must fulfill at least one of the below criteria:
- Relate to the Commonwealth as a whole or to any Commonwealth-wide institution or organization
- Have a strong Commonwealth comparative aspect
- Be of relevance to a Commonwealth country other than the UK.
For example, a research project comparing LGBT rights in South Africa and Uganda would be eligible, as would a project on the reform of colonial-era anti-LGBT legislation in India, but a project on the role of Stonewall in advocating for LGBT rights in the UK would not.
Mentorship:
As part of the studentship, applicants are required to identify and work with a mentor at an ACU member university in a country other than their own. This should be an expert in a subject linked to the applicant’s subject of research, who will be able to provide support and advice during the studentship. Before applying, applicants are encouraged to informally approach at least one potential mentor and, if their application is successful, will then be required to obtain a letter of support from their mentor to agree to the mentorship before their studentship is confirmed.
Benefits
- The studentships have a maximum value of GBP 5,500 each.
- Due to the pandemic, the studentship will not fund travel.
Eligibilities
The two requirements for this grant are-
- The first studentship is open to registered PhD students from UK universities, although not necessarily UK citizens.
- The second is open to registered PhD students from ACU member universities in Commonwealth counties other than the UK, and to Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarship alumni who are PhD students at any Commonwealth university outside the UK.
Post-studentship requirements:
- Successful applicants will be required to submit an article of between 4,000 and 6,000 words based on their research no more than 12 months after the take-up of the award. The article will then be for considered for publication in the Round Table journal
- Successful applicants will also be required to make a podcast on their research, for publication on the journal’s website.
Application Process
To apply for this grant, you must first create a MyACU account. This will enable you to save a draft application, and to log back in to see the status of your application once it is submitted. Applications should be submitted by deadline via the online application form. Please click on Apply Now to start the application process.
As part of the application, applicants should submit:
- A CV
- A studentship plan, outlining:
- The work you plan to carry out during the studentship, in non-technical language
- The likely impact of your studentship work, and how it will advance knowledge in your field and contribute to greater understanding of the Commonwealth
- The planned outcomes and outputs of the studentship
- Letters of support from referees, one academic (preferably your PhD/DPhil supervisor) and one personal
- An outline of the intended use of the funds
Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities Android or iOS App here.
Application Deadline: July 23, 2021
Application ClosedOfficial link
