Call for PhD Project Proposals
The University of Birmingham is pleased to announce a call for submission of PhD project proposals for the 125th Anniversary Scholarships for Black British Researchers. This funding supports UK-domiciled students of Black or Black-mixed heritage to undertake PhD research beginning in October 2025.
Call for PhD project proposals
Colleagues from all five Colleges are invited to submit PhD project proposals. Each College will select up to four projects for advertisement, resulting in a total of twenty competition-funded opportunities available to candidates.
Proposals must outline well-defined and achievable research projects that align with the research priorities of the relevant School or College.
Lead supervisors should complete the form below and submit it by midday on 17 January 2025.
About the 125th Anniversary Scholarships
The 125th Anniversary Scholarships will provide funding for up to ten PhD studentships across the University’s five Colleges. Supervisors are invited to submit proposals for PhD projects to be considered for advertisement as competition-funded opportunities.
Fees
Fees
This initiative aims to address underrepresentation in doctoral research by offering comprehensive support to Black British students. Each scholarship will fund a 3.5-year PhD studentship, including:
- Tuition Fees: £4,925*
- Stipend: £19,795*
- Research Training Support Grant (RTSG): £2,500
*Note: The costs for 2025-26 are anticipated and will be confirmed in line with UKRI updates.
Eligibility criteria
Eligibility criteria
Scholarship recipients must:
- Be UK nationals eligible for Home fee status.
- Belong to one of the following ethnic groups:
- Black African
- Black Caribbean
- Black Other
- Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
- Mixed – White and Black African
- Other mixed backgrounds (including Black African, Black Caribbean, or Black Other).
- Not be currently enrolled in a PhD programme at the University of Birmingham.
Project design guidance
Project design guidance
Proposals should include:
- Key research questions and anticipated research design.
- The significance of the research and expected outcomes.
- Ethical considerations.
- Opportunities for training and development for the scholarship holder.
- The alignment of the project with the research priorities of the relevant School or College.
- Any external collaboration (if applicable).
Please ensure that the project is achievable within the 3.5-year timeframe.
Supervision requirements
Supervision requirements
Each project must be supported by a supervisory team of at least two academics. The lead supervisor should demonstrate prior experience in successfully supervising a PhD to completion. Proposals should include details of:
- The supervisory team’s expertise.
- The number of current PhD students.
- PhDs previously supervised to completion.
Key dates
Key dates
- 18 December 2024: Call for project proposals
- 17 January 2025: Deadline for submission of project proposals
- 10 February 2025: Colleges finalise four (4) projects for advertisement
- 12 February 2025: Advertisement of twenty (20) competition-funded projects and invitation for scholarship applications
- 30 April 2025: Deadline for scholarship applications
- May 2025: Shortlisting, interviews, and candidate selection
- 29 May 2025: Colleges submit final nominations for two (2) candidates
- 3 June 2025: Oversight Group meeting to ratify nominations
- 1 October 2025: Commencement of PhD study for successful applicants
Contacts
Contacts
For enquiries, please contact the relevant College PGR Lead:
- CAL: Professor Aengus Ward (A.M.M.Ward@bham.ac.uk)
- CoSS: Dr Laura D’Olimpio (l.dolimpio@bham.ac.uk)
- EPS: Professor Pola Goldberg Oppenheimer (p.goldbergoppenheimer@bham.ac.uk)
- LES: Professor Jet Veldhuijzen van Zanten (j.j.veldhuijzenvanzant@bham.ac.uk)
- CMH: Professor Jessica Blair (j.m.a.blair@bham.ac.uk)
We look forward to receiving your project proposals and supporting the next generation of Black British researchers at the University of Birmingham.