New doctoral scholarship initiative for postgraduate researchers from UK Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities

The Faculty of Social Sciences is thrilled to announce the launch of a new doctoral scholarship initiative for postgraduate research applicants from UK Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities.

Equality, diversity and inclusion are central to the core values and ambitions of the University of Leeds and the Faculty of Social Sciences, which is committed to addressing different forms of intersecting inequalities in relation to teaching, learning, research and broader engagement with society.

The Faculty of Social Sciences hopes to help address the significant under-representation of ethnic minority students in postgraduate research (and throughout academia) through the creation of up to ten scholarships available for postgraduate researchers from UK Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to undertake doctoral research within the Faculty.

The newly launched initiative will run for up to five years and will invite applications for two new awards each year covering full UK fees and maintenance at UKRI rates.

The Faculty hopes that the initiative will help to develop a diverse postgraduate research community and ensure a more inclusive pipeline for future academics and university leaders.

Dr Kerri Woods, Faculty lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion said “This is a significant investment by the Faculty of Social Sciences in supporting UK Black, Asian and minority ethnic postgraduate researchers over the next five years. We recognise that structural injustices are a feature of higher education, and of the world that we live in, and as a Faculty we aim to be at the forefront of challenging that.”

All postgraduate researchers in the Faculty of Social Sciences are also members of the Social Sciences Graduate School, which brings together a socially, culturally, and intellectually diverse community of doctoral researchers, in an interdisciplinary research environment geared to addressing global challenges.

Scholarship holders will also benefit from the University’s involvement in the ESRC-funded White Rose Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership, providing bespoke doctoral training to postgraduate researchers.

For full details about this doctoral scholarship initiative – including eligibility criteria and how to apply – visit the postgraduate research opportunities database.