Funded by The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs and the journal’s publisher named Routledge, in association with the ACU provide support for research projects on Commonwealth-related themes.
Two Commonwealth-related studentships are available each year for study in the UK. One for UK-registered students (to the value of £4,000), and one for Commonwealth students in other countries to undertake a short study placement in the UK (to the value of £8,000).
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.
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.
An outline of the intended use of the funds are to be provided with the application. This should include information such as the intended period of study; the specific topic of the proposed research; explanation of why the applicant is hoping to undertake this research; what Commonwealth value the findings might have; and what the applicant intends to do after obtaining a doctorate.
Benefits
The first studentship for UK-registered student has a value of £4,000.
The second studentship for Commonwealth students to travel to the UK has a value of £8,000.
Eligibilities
The first studentship is open to registered PhD students from UK universities, who are resident in the UK at the time of applying for the award, although not necessarily UK citizens.
The second is open to registered PhD students from ACU member universities anywhere in the Commonwealth, and to Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarship alumni who are PhD students at any Commonwealth university outside the UK, who wish to travel to a UK university for their period of research, before returning to complete their PhD at their home university.
Chevening alumni would need to wait at least two years after the end of their Chevening award before applying for a Routledge/Round Table Commonwealth Studentship, in order to satisfy the criteria for the Chevening award.
Research should fall within the broad range of humanities and social sciences disciplines.
Eligible Regions: ACU (The Association of Commonwealth Universities) Members
APPLICATION PROCESS
One has to submit the application before the deadline via online application form.
The application should include:
Applicant’s CV
A studentship plan, outlining:
The work he/she plans to carry out during the studentship, in non-technical language
The likely impact of his/her studentship work, and how it will advance knowledge in his/her 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 PhD/DPhil supervisor) and one personal
An outline of the intended use of the funds
Applicants from outside the UK will also need to provide a letter from a UK university willing to provide academic mentoring support. It will be the responsibility of the successful applicants to arrange flights, accommodation, and visas.
