125th Anniversary Scholarships for Black British Researchers

The University of Birmingham is proud to celebrate its remarkable 125-year journey and announce the launch of a groundbreaking scholarship initiative designed to empower and support Black British researchers in their pursuit of doctoral education.

These newly established 3.5-year scholarships aim to address under-representation and create opportunities for talented individuals from diverse backgrounds to excel in academia.

We recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion in higher education. In line with our commitment to fostering an environment that celebrates differences and promotes equal access to education, we are excited to introduce the 125th Anniversary Scholarships for Black British Researchers programme.

The deadline for round one applications closed at 23:59 (UK time) on Tuesday 30 April 2024. Successful applicants from round one will commence their studies from September 2024.
The deadline for round two applications closed at 23:59 (UK time) on Wednesday 9 October 2024. Successful applicants from round two will commence their studies from January 2025.

Key features of this innovative scholarship initiative include:

Financial Support: Recipients of these scholarships will receive substantial financial support, including a stipend at UKRI rates, which is set at £19,237 per year for the 2024/25 academic year, and will be paid to you in regular instalments. Successful awardees will also have their tuition fees covered at a minimum of £4,786 per year. This support is designed to alleviate the financial burden often associated with pursuing a doctoral degree, such as covering tuition fees, living expenses, and research-related costs.
Mentorship and Guidance: Scholarship recipients will benefit from mentorship opportunities and guidance from accomplished faculty members who are dedicated to helping them succeed in their academic and research endeavours.
Research Opportunities: We are committed to providing an exceptional research environment. Students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge resources, and a vibrant scholarly community.
Community Building: A key component of the scholarship programme is the creation of a supportive community of Black British researchers pursuing PhDs. This network will foster collaboration and peer support among scholars.
Research Training Support Grant: In addition to financial support, scholarship recipients will receive a research training support grant at £2,250 across the duration of the PhD. This grant is intended to support conference attendance, fieldwork, and other essential activities that enhance their research and academic growth.
Commitment to Inclusivity: We are dedicated to building an inclusive academic environment that values diversity and ensures equitable access to education.

Who can apply?

These scholarships are designed to create opportunities and address the under-representation of talented Black or Black mixed heritage students in academia. We welcome applications for both full-time and part-time study. Applicants who meet all of the following criteria are eligible to apply:

Students classified as 'Home' for tuition fee payments
Members of one of the following ethnic groups:
- Black African
- Black Caribbean
- Black Other
- Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
- Mixed – White and Black African
- Other mixed background (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or Black Other)
Not already enrolled on a PhD programme at the University of Birmingham
Applying to one of the twelve eligible PhD projects applicable to the scheme:
- A new toolbox to monitor molecular switches
- Between 'Global Britain' and national health: The role of Parliament in tackling immunisation inequities of minoritized groups
- Connecting Communities and Promoting Inclusion: Black Majority Churches as Alternative Anchor Institutions
- Space-based solutions for improved space sustainability
- Recycling of Carbon Fibre Composites with Deep Eutectic Solvents
- Exploring Antimicrobial Resistance in the human GI Microbiome
- Energy, efflux and resistance in bacteria
- ‘WHOSE AFRICA?’: Connecting Art and Communities through the University of Birmingham’s African Collection
- Christian Connections and Faithful Citizenship: Black Majority Churches in Birmingham
- Transforming the development and use of diagnostics to optimise and accelerate clinical care pathways
- Mathematical modelling of biotechnologies for clean water
- Understanding the health benefits of exercise on the liver within the paradigm of small extracellular vesicle crosstalk

Entry Requirements

In addition to the above eligibility criteria of the scholarships, applicants should meet the University's entry requirements; you should familiarise yourself with the specific entry requirements on your project's individual webpage. Typically, applicants are required to hold a good Honours degree (usually a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree) or an alternative qualification, or experience of equal quality. In certain cases, a Masters degree or equivalent may be expected in a relevant subject.

How to apply

Once applicants have familiarised themselves with the individual project's details, they are encouraged to contact the lead PhD supervisor to discuss the project and the applicant's suitability for the project. This is recommended before you submit an application to the PhD project. You can contact the lead supervisor via email on the individual project's webpage as well as viewing their research portal which includes the supervisor's research interests and academic publications.

After applicants have made contact with the lead PhD supervisor, you will then need to apply to the PhD project using our online application portal. You will find the application link on the individual project's webpage. You will need to create an account for the online application portal and you will be prompted to sign-in upon your return to the portal.

You do not need to complete your application in one session; you can save your application at each stage and return to the portal at any stage before submission, particularly if you do not have all of the necessary documents when you begin your application.

As these are 'advertised PhDs', in which you will studying one of the above projects that has already been provided by the academic supervisor(s), you do not need to submit a research proposal. Your personal statement will suffice for determining your suitability for the PhD project as well as your previous academic, professional and personal experiences.

If you are successful in being made an awardee, all scholarship offers are bound by the terms and conditions which you are encouraged to familiarise yourself with before applying to and accepting the 125th Anniversary Scholarship for Black British Researchers.

The deadline for round two applications closed at 23:59 (UK time) on Wednesday 9 October 2024.

For your application you will need to submit the following documents:

References

On your application, you will have been asked for contact details of one or two references. For some courses, you will need the references before a decision to be made.

Please make sure you tell your references to expect contact from the University of Birmingham via email, requesting their reference. Please note that the contact email address of the referee must be an official email address and not a personal one (for example, gmail). We recommend that the referee sends back the reference in a PDF format as it is preferred if:

The reference is on official headed paper with the organisation or university’s logo and address
It includes the date, your details and the details of the referee
A summary of how they know you and confirm your suitability for studying on the course you have applied for
It should be signed by the referee with their official contact details.

If both your referees send back references which are not on official headed paper, you may be asked to send in additional references.

If you already have a written reference(s) and want to upload it on behalf of your referee(s), make sure the reference is a scanned copy of the original and that it is on official headed paper.

If you input your referee details, your referees will receive a reference request email from us as soon as you submit your application. When a referee provides the reference by clicking on the link in the reference request email, it will be automatically uploaded to your application.

Your online portal will be updated when a reference has been received and processed but please allow at least 15 working days for this. If your portal has not been updated, this does not necessarily mean that the references have not been received as there can be a delay with the processing of references.

Please note that for the vast majority of our programmes, we do not require references in order for a decision to be made and your application will still be processed as usual. If an offer is made and the references are still outstanding, they will form part of the conditions of the offer.

Academic certificate and transcript(s) for all prior degrees

If you have graduated

You will have been asked to upload a scan of your original or certified copies of your degree certificate(s) and transcript(s) on the Postgraduate Application Portal.

If you have not done so already, you can go back into the portal to upload your documents. Otherwise your application cannot be considered.

Please be prepared to send in your original or certified copies of your documents if the Admissions team requests to verify them.

If you don’t have certified copies of your documents and would prefer not to send the original, you can get copies certified by either the institution where you studied or by a notary.

If you are currently a student

You will have been asked to upload an interim transcript from your latest exams.

If you have not done so already, you can go back into the portal to upload your interim transcript. Otherwise your application cannot be considered.

Please be prepared to send in your original or certified copies of your degree certificate and final transcript upon graduation if the Admissions team requests to verify them.

If you don’t have certified copies of your documents and would prefer not to send the original, you can get copies certified by either the institution where you studied or by a notary.

Sample Work

If you are required to submit a piece of example work— usually a short written piece (common for programmes such as Creative Writing or English Literature); music composition or performance for those looking to study music related programmes— you will be notified by the academic tutor before they can access and make a decision on your application.

Please make sure you submit these as soon as possible and in the format requested by the academic tutor.

Research Proposal

A research proposal is only required if you are applying to the project 'Christian Connections and Faithful Citizenship: Black Majority Churches in Birmingham' due to the choice of pursuing one of four thematic focuses.

A research proposal is a concise and ‭coherent summary of your proposed research. ‭It is a key part of your application, on which ‭potential supervisors will decide if your ‭research is something they can support. This is typically between 1,000 and 1,500 words in length.

A research proposal generally consists of an outline of your proposed research project, including your main research questions and the methods you intend to use. You should also comment on the potential impact and importance of your intended research and on how your work would interact with current trends in your academic field.

We have prepared further guidance on writing your research proposal including what it should include; how to structure your proposal; and top tips to ensure your proposal demonstrates originality and its research impacts.

Application portal tips

You don’t need to complete your application in one session. Simply save it and come back to it when you’re ready.
Avoid delays by checking all your information is accurate and complete.
Your application won’t be processed until you’ve completed all the relevant sections and submitted it.
If you have any issues, visit our Admissions FAQ hub where you can find support for a range of queries or you can submit a form response for further help.

What happens next?

Once you’ve submitted your application, we’ll send you details on how to access your applicant portal. You’ll be able to track the progress of your application, update your personal information, view decisions and accept offers.

Your application will be ‘pending’ on your portal while we check your application. You will be contacted by Monday 18 November 2024 with an update on whether your application has been successful.

You can add or edit some details or documents within your application after it’s been submitted through your applicant portal.

FAQs

Which projects are available in each round? Which round did I apply in?

In round one, applications were open for all twelve PhD projects. If you applied before 30 April 2024, you would have applied during the first round if you submitted an application for any of the following projects:

A new toolbox to monitor molecular switches
Between 'Global Britain' and national health: The role of Parliament in tackling immunisation inequities of minoritized groups
Connecting Communities and Promoting Inclusion: Black Majority Churches as Alternative Anchor Institutions
Space-based solutions for improved space sustainability
Recycling of Carbon Fibre Composites with Deep Eutectic Solvents
Exploring Antimicrobial Resistance in the human GI Microbiome
Energy, efflux and resistance in bacteria
‘WHOSE AFRICA?’: Connecting Art and Communities through the University of Birmingham’s African Collection
Christian Connections and Faithful Citizenship: Black Majority Churches in Birmingham
Transforming the development and use of diagnostics to optimise and accelerate clinical care pathways
Mathematical modelling of biotechnologies for clean water
Understanding the health benefits of exercise on the liver within the paradigm of small extracellular vesicle crosstalk

For the second round of applications, the following projects are open for applications:

Mathematical modelling of biotechnologies for clean water
Understanding the health benefits of exercise on the liver within the paradigm of small extracellular vesicle crosstalk

Can I apply to more than one project?

Yes. You are able to apply to more than one PhD project on offer. However, you should be mindful that each PhD is a unique and specialist project that requires academic excellence and competencies. You should therefore ensure that you meet the entry requirements for each project, and that your application is appropriate to each project that you apply to.

Can I contact the lead supervisor?

Yes. It is recommended that you make contact with the lead supervisor for the PhD project that you intend to apply to. This will give you the chance to learn more about the project proposal, the supervisor and the academic environment at the University of Birmingham. Supervisors may be happy to contact you via email and then may be able to offer you further opportunities to talk with them, such as online video calls. You can contact the lead supervisor via the individual project webpages listed above. Our supervisors have a wide range of responsibilities, duties and commitments so there may be a slight delay in their response to your email as a result; they endeavour to reply back to you as soon as possible.

How many spaces are there on each project?

Each PhD project and its accompanying scholarship will be only available to the one successful student. As postgraduate students make up over 40 per cent of the University's student population, the successful student will be welcomed into a thriving and collaborative research environment that champions innovation and meaningful change.

I have settled status. Can I apply for the scholarship?

Yes, if you have pre-settled or settled status, or indefinite leave to remain, or a similar settled status, you are likely to be eligible for 'Home' tuition fees and therefore may be eligible for the scholarship. You should check the UK government webpages for guidance on settled status; the University is not responsible for this.

If you have settled status, you may need to provide evidence of this to the University when submitting your study application. You should do this as soon as possible to ensure that your tuition fees are classified as 'Home' and thus deem you eligible for the scholarship. You should aim to provide the necessary evidence before any deadline(s) above for the scholarship scheme. If you do not provide evidence to show you are eligible for 'Home' fees before the deadline(s), it may be the case that your scholarship application will not be considered and you will not be eligible for the PhD.

I applied before 30 April 2024. What happens now?

The first round of applications for the scheme closed at 23:59 (UK time) on 30 April 2024. All applicants who applied before the round one deadline would have received an update via email by Friday 10 June to confirm whether they had been made an awardee or reserve, or whether their application had been rejected.

If you were successful, you would have received two emails that required a response: one offering you the scholarship, and another containing your study offer and admission onto the PhD course. Closer to September 2024, you would also be receiving another email to input your bank details so that you can receive your regular stipend instalments.

If you were made a reserve, you would have been updated on your scholarship and study applications' statuses as soon as it were possible.

If you have not received the emails notifying you of an awardee or reserve status by 10 June 2024, it is the unfortunate case that your application was unsuccessful. You would have received emails notifying you that you scholarship application and course application were unsuccessful.

If you were unsuccessful in round one, you are welcome to apply to the PhD projects available in round two. You will need to submit both a new scholarship and course application to be considered for round two. Your application(s) are not carried over between rounds.

I have been offered the scholarship. What happens next?

If you have been successfully awarded the scholarship, you will be notified via email. This email will contain a form for you to respond to: whether you accept or decline the scholarship offer. Typically, you will have a maximum of two weeks to respond to this scholarship offer. Once you have accepted the scholarship offer, you will be issued with another email to offer you admission onto the PhD course. You will then need to ensure that you read this admissions offer letter, including its terms and conditions, and then you will need to accept the admissions offer as per the instructions on the admissions offer letter.

If you do not respond to the scholarship offer by the deadline outlined in the email, your scholarship offer will be reallocated and you will no longer be able to accept the award nor be admitted onto the PhD programme.

Once you have accepted both your scholarship offer and admissions offer, you will receive an email to input your bank details closer to your course's start date. These bank details will be required to pay you your regular stipend instalments.

When will my PhD begin if I'm successfully made an awardee?

If you are made an awardee for the scholarship, you will receive a formal study offer letter for admission onto the PhD programme. This letter will contact the official start date of your PhD.

For PhD projects offered in round one, your course will commence from September 2024.
For PhD projects offered in round two, your course will commence from January 2025.

Research themes

The 125th Anniversary Scholarships for Black British Researchers are innovative PhD projects in the following research areas:

Global Health

Improving the health and well-being of people and communities across the world through the application of advanced analytics, the development of personalised treatments and the delivery of early interventions.

Thriving Planet

Diagnosing the destructive impact of anthropogenic climate change and advance the scalable clean technologies needed to ensure a sustainable future for people, planet and communities.

Connecting Cultures

Fostering intercultural inclusivity and communication by understanding how different cultures shape the world; and to enrich the lives of people and communities through the exploration of human experiences, values and expressions.

Life Changing Technologies

We are driving innovation and technological advances to accelerate their impact on human progress. As pioneers in sustainable manufacturing, quantum technology, critical materials and healthcare technologies, our researchers are transforming lives and livelihoods.

Fairer World

Providing everyone with the chance of a fairer future by tackling inequalities and regional disparities in all aspects of the economy and society.

We are delighted to be offering up to twelve studentship awards to increase the representation of Black British students at Doctoral level at Birmingham. We believe that fostering diversity and providing opportunities for underrepresented communities is essential for the advancement of knowledge and societal progress. These University of Birmingham Anniversary Scholarships are a reflection of our commitment to inclusivity and academic excellence.
Professor Michael Hand
Professor of Philosophy of Education

Find out more

For more information about the scholarship programme, including announcements of available projects and the application process, please register your interest using the form below.