Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Routledge/Round Table Commonwealth Studentships in the UK for 2023/2024

Routledge/Round Table Commonwealth Studentships are supported by The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs and its publisher, Routledge, in collaboration with the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU). Applications from a variety of humanities and social science fields are encouraged, but preference may be given to fields that the Round Table journal typically covers, such as (but not limited to) politics, international relations, economics, international history, geography, law, development studies, and area studies.

Studies about science and health policies are encouraged, however, applications in the pure sciences and medicine will not be taken into consideration.

The proposed study must:

• connect to any institution or organization that is a part of the Commonwealth as a whole, or 
• have a comparative element to the Commonwealth, or 
• be pertinent to more than one Commonwealth nation.

For instance, a study on the revision of colonial-era anti-LGBT laws in India or the comparison of LGBT rights in South Africa and Uganda would both be acceptable, while a study on Stonewall’s role in promoting LGBT rights in the UK would not. A project contrasting Canada with Jamaica or Australia would be acceptable instead of one on Canadian media bias or election laws.

It is not anticipated that the applicant’s Ph.D. or DPhil work has a Commonwealth emphasis already. Applications that will enable the applicant to add a Commonwealth dimension to the work are especially encouraged.

Courses

• Social Science

Routledge/Round Table Commonwealth Studentships – Benefits

Research projects on Commonwealth-related topics are supported by the Routledge/Round Table Commonwealth Studentships.

Each year, there are two studentships with a maximum value of £5,500 each.

• One for pupils enrolled at British universities
• One is for university enrollees from other Commonwealth nations.

On the day the prizes are announced, £4,000 GB will be paid. Upon fulfillment of the post-student criteria, the remaining £1,500 will be paid.

Routledge/Round Table Commonwealth Studentships – Eligibility

The first studentship is available to enrolled Ph.D. students from UK universities, albeit they need not be residents.

The second is accessible to enrolled Ph.D. candidates from ACU member institutions in Commonwealth nations other than the United Kingdom, as well as to former Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarship recipients who are now pursuing their PhDs at any Commonwealth institution outside of the United Kingdom.

Mentorship

Choosing and working with a mentor at a university in a Commonwealth nation other than their own country is a requirement of the studentship for applicants. This individual should be a subject-matter authority with knowledge of the applicant’s proposed area of study who can offer guidance and assistance throughout the studentship. Before submitting their application, candidates should approach at least one possible mentor informally. If their application is accepted, they will then need to have their mentor’s endorsement by getting them to sign a letter of support before their studentship is officially confirmed.

The role of the mentor

During the studentship, the mentor will be required to meet with the student virtually at least twice. They will be required to communicate with the student via email to share their expertise in the area, offer guidance on publishing, discuss current events and industry trends, and encourage and challenge the student to think beyond the box.

A £500 honorarium will be granted to the mentor after the studentship and they will both be asked to contribute to the podcast or article that the student is required to produce at the end of the studentship (see below). Mentors are required to study and follow the mentor code of conduct guidelines.

Post-studentship requirements

Successful applicants will need to submit an article of between 4,000 and 6,000 words based on their research no later than twelve months after accepting the scholarship to be considered for publication in the Round Table journal. Additionally, those selected for consideration must create a podcast on their research for posting on the journal’s website.

Procedure for Application

Are you qualified for and interested in the Routledge/Round Table Commonwealth Studentships? To apply, visit the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) at www.acu.ac.uk.

By Friday, July 28, 2023, at 17.00 BST, applicants must download the Routledge/Round Table Studentship Awards application form to secretary@commonwealthroundtable.co.uk along with a current CV.

On the application form, you must:

• Describe your suggested study area in brief (100–400 words) for the Routledge/Round Table Studentship grants;
• Describe in brief (100–400 words) what you hope to achieve if you are awarded the prize;
• Write a 100–400 word summary of the likely impact of your research, why you think it is significant, and how the award would advance your work.

Your responses can be supplied as attachments or entered into the form.

Your suggested mentor’s name is requested on the form.

Along with asking for your name, the form also requests the names of two referees, one of whom should be your current Ph.D. or DPhil supervisor. Asking these referees for references is your responsibility. To forward them together with the completed application, they can either send them to you, or they can send them to secretary@commonwealthroundtable.co.uk, no later than Friday, July 28, 2023, at 17.00 BST.

Visit the ACU website for further information.

Interview date, Process, and Venue for ACU Routledge/Round Table Commonwealth Studentships

• Applications must be submitted by 17.00 BST on July 28, 2023.
• Winners will be announced in September 2023.
• Award acceptance: from November 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024.

Not interested in this particular scholarship? See other UK scholarships here.