UCL Research Opportunity Scholarship 2023/24

Windsor Fellowship is working with University College London (UCL) to launch a scholarship programme to support Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic postgraduate research degree students – the UCL Research Opportunity Scholarship (UCL-ROS). The scheme offers full financial support and a skills development programme, both designed to promote academia as a more attractive career option.

The Opportunity

The UCL-ROS programme also offers a comprehensive personal and professional development support package. This includes:

  • Standard UK/Home postgraduate rate fees.
  • A maintenance stipend.
  • Coaching, mentoring support and advocacy.
  • Enhanced training and skills development from UCL’s Organisation Development Team, through UCL’s Doctoral Skills Development Programme (including the “Brilliant Club” scholars programme) and the Windsor Fellowship.

Eligibility

You must meet the two following eligibility criteria:

  • you must be a UK-permanent resident
  • you must be from one of the following BAME ethnic groups:
    • Black or Black British – Caribbean
    • Black or Black British – African
    • Other Black background
    • Asian or Asian British – Bangladeshi
    • Asian or Asian British – Pakistan

There are 5 scholarships available in total. You can also ‘register your interest‘ here to ne notified about the scholarship.

You must apply for admission no later than 12 January 2024, inform your department that you wish to be considered for this scholarship.  Please be aware that some academic departments set their own deadlines which may be earlier than this date, so make sure you check with them directly. 

Award Value: benefits and duration

  • The scholarships consist of fees equivalent to the standard postgraduate UK/home rate (2023/24: £5,860 – 2024/25:  to be confirmed) plus a maintenance stipend (2023/24: £20,622 – 2024/25: to be confirmed) for full-time study (benefits are calculated ‘pro rata’ for part-time students). The scholarship also includes additional research costs of up to £1,200 per year for the stated duration of the programme plus a one off conference cost of £1000.
  • Awards are normally tenable for years 1, 2, and 3 of a full-time MPhil/PhD/Eng. degree programme (or years 1-5 of a part-time programme), subject to annual review and renewal.
  • Where students are undertaking integrated four-year doctoral programmes, the award will be extended to the final year of study.
  • If granted, funding begins at the start of the next academic year.

The UCL-ROS scholarships also offer a comprehensive personal and professional development support package.

  • Coaching, mentoring support and advocacy;
  • Training and skills development through UCL’s Doctoral Skills Development Programme (including the “Brilliant Club” scholars programme) and the Windsor Fellowship.

See ROS scholars testimonials to see how this scholarship has helped our community of ROS scholars.

Selection criteria

Candidates will be selected by a panel from UCL and the Windsor Fellowship on the basis of:

  • ​Holding an ‘offer’ of a place/admission on an eligible UCL research degree programme.
  • Academic attainment – as demonstrated by prior results, references, publications and research proposal.
  • Financial need based on socio-economic background.

How to apply

Prospective UCL postgraduate research students:

  • Apply for admission.
  • Submit a complete application for admission onto an eligible research degree programme by the specified deadline. You do not need to have secured an offer of a place at UCL in order to apply for the scholarship, but you must have submitted your admission application by 12 January 2024.

The subsequent steps will be detailed here once we have confirmed the application process. We recommend regularly checking this web page for updates on how to apply.

Current UCL postgraduate research students:

We will update the application process soon as it is confirmed.

Results

UCL and the Windsor Fellowship will make the final decision in March 2024.  UCL will contact the scholarship awardees in April 2024.

Further Information

If you require assistance with completing your UCL-ROS application form and/or you would like more information on the programme, please contact Karlene Mahoney at: MahoneyK@windsor-fellowship.org