International Ethics and Society Research Studentships

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Purpose

This scheme enables scholars from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to undertake basic training in research and methods by up to three years of full-time research on a subject within the remit of the Ethics and Society Programme leading to a doctoral degree at a university in an LMIC, the UK or the Republic of Ireland.

The majority of the proposed research should take place in an LMIC setting.

What's included

Support is normally provided for up to three years for doctoral studentships. All students are expected to complete their writing-up and submit their theses in the final year of Trust support.

Research support includes:

  • the student's stipend at the appropriate local rate for doctoral studentships
  • all compulsory university and college fees at the appropriate postgraduate student level; where appropriate, fees at the overseas rate will be provided.

Requests for funds to cover travel, equipment and other expenses essential for the research will be considered.

If the supervisor is not based in the location where the research is being undertaken, funds will be provided annually to enable the main academic supervisor to visit the student.

As a condition of the award, we may stipulate that the student attends specific workshops or summer schools in relevant research methods. If a summer school takes place before the formal start of the award, expenses will be paid. Where appropriate, we may provide support for approved training, preferably regional, prior to registration for the PhD degree.

Eligibility

Candidates should be nationals of a low- or middle-income country.

You should have at least an upper-second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject. Strong preference is given to applicants intending to develop a research career in the field.

We will not only take into account your ability but will also require that the Research Studentship be held at an institution that we believe provides an appropriate academic environment in this field and that can demonstrate a commitment to providing training in research methods. We would prefer this institution to be in the region where the research will take place, but where this is not possible a host institution in the UK/Republic of Ireland is acceptable.

Applications will not be considered from those who have already received support for their doctoral studies from another funding body, or from those who have already started their PhD studies.

Location of the research

The majority of the proposed research should take place in a low- or middle-income country (LMIC) location. Collaboration with one of our Major Overseas Programmes is encouraged. In such cases, proposals should be developed in consultation with the relevant director. These Programmes are:

Research Studentships can be based in other research institutes in LMIC. The eligibility of such institutions will be undertaken as a matter of routine at the preliminary application stage.

Supervision

Academic supervisor
You should be supervised by at least one main academic supervisor at the host institution (either in the region where the research is to take place or in the UK/Republic of Ireland) with whom you will be in close contact and who will be expected to demonstrate that adequate supervision mechanisms are in place.

Local supervisor
In addition, a local supervisor (i.e. based in the low- or middle-income country location where the research will take place) should be identified with whom you would have day-to-day interaction and who would be immediately responsible for the direction of the research if an award were made. The local supervisor may be one of our overseas programme staff, if appropriate.

Sponsor
Your application must be sponsored by an individual who holds an established academic post at the host institution and whose source of salary is acceptable to the Trust. The sponsor must be in a position to guarantee that the necessary resources and facilities will be made available to you for the duration of the grant.

More than one of these roles may be fulfilled by the same person.

Eligibility checks are made on all institutions as part of the grant application procedure.

Application process

Applications will normally be invited from recognised centres of excellence.

A preliminary application must be submitted at least 12 weeks before the full application deadline, and should include:

  • your name and contact details
  • your CV
  • the title and a brief outline (one page maximum) of the project
  • a letter of support from the prospective supervisor
  • approximate costs.

If successful, you will be invited to submit a full application.

Deadlines

This is an annual competition.

Please contact the office for details of the preliminary application deadline. The full application deadline will be approximately two months after the preliminary application deadline.

Successful applicants will normally take up awards in October.

Contacts

Grants Section (Ethics and Society)
Wellcome Trust
Gibbs Building
215 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE, UK

T +44 (0)20 7611 8893
E es@wellcome.ac.uk

Wellcome Trust, Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE, UK T:+44 (0)20 7611 8888