UCL Research Opportunity Scholarship

UCL's Research Opportunity Scholarship (UCL-ROS) supports Black, Asian and ethnic minority postgraduate research degree students at the start of their academic career.

UCL is running this scholarship with the Windsor Fellowship. The UCL scheme offers full financial support and a skills development programme, both designed to promote academia as a more attractive career option. . Please see our ROS scholars testimonials to see how this scholarship has helped our community of ROS scholars.  The scholarship was conceived in response to the question "Why isn't my professor black?" www.ucl.ac.uk/play/ucl-talks/why-isnt-my-professor-black 

Eligibility

In order to APPLY, you must:

• have submitted a completed admission application to, or currently be registered on, an eligible** full- or part-time eligible degree programme at UCL by the scholarship deadline;
• you must be a UK-permanent resident 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 - Pakistani

In order to be AWARDED IF SELECTED, you must:

• be in receipt of an offer of admission to, or currently be registered on, a full-time or part-time research degree programme at UCL.

** PLEASE NOTE Distance learning, non-resident PhD and professional doctorates (DClinPsy, DDent, DEdPsy (Brain Sciences), DOrth and DPsychotherapy) are not eligible for this scholarship. EngD are not considered Professional Doctorates here and are eligible to apply.

• There are 7 scholarships available in total

1 scholarship for the Department of Chemical Engineering - please note the scholarship deadline and application for admission deadline for this scholarship has been extended to 15 April 2024. For more information and to apply please contact chemeng-phdenquiries@ucl.ac.uk

5 scholarships for any UCL faculty (Deadline 12 January 2024 applications closed)
1 scholarship for Social and Historical Sciences  (Deadline 12 January 2024 applications closed)

You must apply for admission no later than 12 January 2024, inform your department that you wish to be considered for this scholarship. See How to Apply below.  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. 

Value, benefits, and duration

The scholarships consist of fees equivalent to the standard postgraduate UK/home rate (2024/25: £6035) plus a maintenance stipend (2024/25: £21181) 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/EngD 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;

Selection

A panel from UCL and the Windsor Fellowship will select the awardees on the basis of:

• Department nomination based on academic attainment – as demonstrated by prior results, references, publications and research proposal and holding an ‘offer’ of a place/admission on an eligible UCL research degree programme and
• Financial need-based on socio-economic background.
• Your personal statement
  
  We will also apply a weighting based on under-representation of BAME PhD students in your faculty

How to apply

If you are a prospective student please follow all the application steps

If you are a current student please go directly to Step 3

1. You should first make an informal research enquiry before submitting your application for admission to UCL. You must submit a complete application for admission onto a 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
2. When completing the research degree application for admission you should indicate in the ‘Funding’ section that you are also applying to the UCL-ROS programme.
3. You must contact your academic department/institute/division/unit to notify them that you would like to be considered for a UCL-ROS by submitting a 

ROS cover sheet.docx

 ROS cover sheet.docx 

You must have done this by by 12 January 2024.  Please use our list of administrative contacts page to make this submission and also discuss your this with your potential supervisor. All the applicants in your department will be considered based on academic merit and each department can make one nomination.

4. If your department supports your application, they will then nominate you to be taken forward to the next stage of the application process You will then be contacted by the Student Funding Office to complete a UCL Research Scholarship (ROS) Application. This will ask you questions about your financial situation as well as requiring that you write a statement outlining what benefit the scholarship will be to you.

The final panel from UCL and the Windsor Fellowship will then consider your financial need and personal statement to reach a final decision. 

Results

The panel will meet in March 2024 and applicants will be notified of final decision by April 2024.