MSSL Research Opportunity Scholarship

The MSSL Research Opportunity Scholarship (MSSL ROS) supports students from groups currently under-represented in Space Science or Astronomy.

Key information

Value: UK home rate fees, a maintenance stipend (£20,622 in 2023/24 for full-time - 2024/25 stipend to be confirmed), research costs (£1,200 per year for computing and travel to conferences) for 3.5 years.
Available to: Prospective research degree students starting in the 2024/25 academic year.
Eligible fee status: UK/home
Eligibility: Students from groups currently under-represented in Space Science or Astronomy.
Deadline: 30th November 2023
Interview date: December 2023 (TBD)

MSSL is located in remote countryside in Surrey. There is limited transport to reach the site. Before you apply to study for a PhD in our department, please check our location carefully and consider how you will commute regularly to MSSL.

The MSSL Research Opportunity Scholarship (MSSL ROS) is made available for a research student who wishes to study for their PhD degree at MSSL and who is from a group that is currently under-represented in space science or astronomy. This scholarship is for a UK-permanent resident only. The scholarship's aim is aligned with the Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship (BBGS). The awardee will be required to apply for the BBGS and we will fully support the application. Irrespective of the outcome of the BBGS application, the awardee will receive the full scholarship funding for 3.5 years.

We know making an application is a daunting process. However, if you wish to apply for this scholarship to undertake your PhD degree at MSSL, we are very happy to support you. Please first contact your prospective supervisor(s) and discuss a potential project with them. They will support your application for the scholarship once they have agreed to support you. You can find the list of academic staff here.

Eligibility

Eligibility for the MSSL ROS is aligned with the eligibility for the Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship, and in addition, you must be a UK-permanent resident. The following description is largely copied from the Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship eligibility: Students must be from an under-represented group in physics. The definition of under-represented groups in physics refers to: women, students of Black-Caribbean, Black-African and other minority ethnic (BAME) heritage, students with disabilities, or who require additional funding to support inclusive learning, LGBT+ students. People with qualifying refugee status who meet the above criteria are also encouraged to apply.

How to apply

Please submit your full application form to the UCL central admission system from the Online Application page by 30th November 2023.
Please submit a pdf file covering the points below via email to Philippa Elwell (p.elwell AT ucl.ac.uk) by 30th November 2023. These are also following the application form for the Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship.

Title of your proposed research project
Name of your prospective supervisor(s)
A lay summary of the proposed project
Your background (about 300 words)
"This could highlight any barriers or challenges encountered previously or anticipated during the proposed research project. "
A personal statement (about 700 words)
Please describe: (a) your reasons for wanting to study for a PhD; (b) how you meet the MSSL ROS eligibility criteria clearly stating which under-represented group you identify as; (c) how you propose to gain benefit from the scholarship.

Without submission of both documents by the deadline, your application will not be considered for this scholarship.

Requirement

The awardee of the MSSL ROS will be required to apply for the Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship (BBGS) and we will fully support the application. The deadline for the BBGS is January 2024 (TBC). Irrespective of the outcome of the BBGS application, the awardee of the MSSL ROS will receive full scholarship funding for 3.5 years.