General Notices

Applications are open for the Routledge/Round Table Commonwealth PhD Studentships and close on July 31, 2026.

The studentships provide support for PhD research projects on Commonwealth-related themes in the humanities and social sciences.

Proposed research must meet at least one of the following criteria:

-         Relate to the Commonwealth as a whole or to any Commonwealth-wide institution or organisation

-         Have a Commonwealth comparative aspect

-         Be of relevance to more than one Commonwealth country

Two studentships are available, each with a maximum value of GBP 5,500:

-         One for PhD students registered at UK universities

-         One for PhD students registered at ACU member universities in Commonwealth countries other than the UK

Applicants are welcomed from a broad range of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. Preference may be given to disciplines usually covered by The Round Table journal, including politics, international relations, economics, international history, geography, law, development studies and area studies.

Applicants from STEM disciplines will not be accepted unless the research proposal clearly addresses a policy-related theme.

As part of the studentship, applicants must identify and work with a mentor at a university in a Commonwealth country other than the one in which they are based. The mentor should be an expert in a subject linked to the applicant’s research and will provide support and advice during the studentship.

Successful applicants will be required to submit an article of 4,000 to 6,000 words based on their research for consideration in The Round Table journal. They will also be required to produce a podcast on their research for publication on the journal’s website.

For more information, click here