Routledge/Round Table Commonwealth PhD Studentships 2025/26

If you're a PhD student in the humanities or social sciences with a passion for Commonwealth-related research, the Routledge/Round Table Commonwealth PhD Studentships 2025 offer a unique opportunity. Jointly funded by The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs and Routledge, in association with the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), these studentships support innovative research that enhances understanding of the Commonwealth.

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🗒️ Scholarship Summary

• Location: Any Commonwealth country

• Host Institutions: Universities within the Commonwealth

• Study Level: PhD

• Target Group:

  • PhD students registered at UK universities

  • PhD students registered at ACU member universities in Commonwealth countries other than the UK

• Fields of Research: Humanities and social sciences, including politics, international relations, economics, international history, geography, law, development studies, and area studies

• Value & Coverage: Up to £5,500 GBP

• Duration: Flexible; aligned with the research project timeline

• Application Deadline: 31 July 2025, 15:00 UTC

• Eligible To: PhD students meeting the above criteria

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🎓 Scholarship Overview

The Routledge/Round Table Commonwealth PhD Studentships are designed to support research projects that:

• Relate to the Commonwealth as a whole or to any Commonwealth-wide institution or organisation

• Have a Commonwealth comparative aspect

• Be of relevance to more than one Commonwealth country

Successful applicants are required to:

• Submit an article (4,000–6,000 words) based on their research for consideration in The Round Table journal

• Produce a podcast on their research for publication on the journal’s website

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🎁 Scholarship Benefits

• Financial Support: Each studentship offers up to £5,500 GBP, with £4,000 paid upon award announcement and the remaining £1,500 upon completion of post-studentship requirements

• Mentorship: Opportunity to work with a mentor from a Commonwealth country different from the applicant's own, fostering cross-cultural academic collaboration

• Publication and Dissemination: Potential to publish research findings in a reputable journal and share insights through a podcast, enhancing academic visibility

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✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be registered PhD students at a UK university or an ACU member university in a Commonwealth country other than the UK

• Propose research that meets at least one of the specified Commonwealth-related criteria

• Identify and secure a mentor from a Commonwealth country different from their own

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📝 Application Procedure

Application Submission:

• Review the application guidance page

• Download and complete the application form

• Submit the completed form and a current CV to secretary@commonwealthroundtable.co.uk

📂 Required Documents:

1. Curriculum Vitae

2. Studentship Plan outlining:

   • Proposed research work

   • Intended outcomes and impact

   • Benefit of the award to the research

3. Name of proposed mentor and evidence of their agreement to support the applicant

4. Two references (one academic, preferably the PhD supervisor, and one personal), to be sent directly by referees to secretary@commonwealthroundtable.co.uk

🕵🏻 Selection Process:

• Applications will be assessed based on the relevance and quality of the proposed research, the potential impact, and the suitability of the mentor

• Successful applicants will be notified in September 2025

🔗 OFFICIAL LINK

Routledge/Round Table Commonwealth PhD Studentships 2025/2026

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