LOUISE ARBOUR HUMAN RIGHTS STUDENTSHIPS (MPhil/PhD)
In 2012, the Institute of Commonwealth Studies launched the Louise Arbour Human Rights Research Studentships for new MPhil/PhD research students.
Madam Louise Arbour is the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and was Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda and former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. In December 2010, Madam Arbour was awarded a Doctor of Laws of the University of London, honoris causa, and the Institute is honoured to offer studentships in her name in recognition of her career and achievements.
Terms of the Award
The following studentships will be available for students commencing their studies in academic year 2017-18:
- Up to two studentships, covering up to 100% of tuition fees, for students starting full-time MPhil/PhD;
- Up to two studentships covering up to 100% of tuition fees for students starting part-time MPhil/PhD study.
Full-time students will be funded for three years of registration; an equivalent time-scale will apply for part-time students, usually seven years. In addition, the fees applicable for a one single, final writing up year is covered under this studentship. Students remain responsible for applying for writing up status at an appropriate time during their studies.
Please note that if a student in receipt of an award requires more than the three years of registration (or part-time equivalent) to complete their research, that they must cover any applicable fees for these additional years. If an extension is required, the fee waiver for the writing up year will be withdrawn as the student has breached the terms of the studentship. If a student requires more than one year to write up, the student will be responsible for fees for this additional writing up year.
Awards are open to Home, EU and Overseas students.
There is no minimum number of awards made in any year.
Studentships may be equivalent to up to 100% of the applicable tuition fee. The Selection Committee sets the rate of the studentship for each successful applicant; its decision is final. The level of studentship awarded will depend on the case for funding put forward by the applicants. Applicants are more typically awarded a waiver of up to 50% of the applicable fee. Please note that a 100% fee waiver is rare and will only be made in cases where an applicant demonstrates exceptional academic ability in combination with an original research project which will make a significant contribution to the field and to the intellectual life of the Institute and School, as well as a clear and robust case for financial support.
No provision is made within these studentships to cover maintenance or living expenses, including, but not limited to, subsistence, accommodation, research expenses and materials, or fieldwork.
Awards may be withdrawn if a student is in receipt of similar or equivalent funding (i.e. which is intended to cover the student's applicable tuition fee), including but not limited to Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), School of Advanced Study (SAS) or London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP) studentships. It is the responsibility of students to inform the Institute of any similar or equivalent funding awarded prior to commencing or during your studies.
Successful applicants remain free to apply for other schemes which may be offered by external bodies, the SAS or the Institute from time to time and which are intended to cover living expenses, conference attendance and fieldwork, or hardship grants. If applying to additional School or Institute schemes, the normal criteria for these will apply.
The award is available to students starting their studies in 2017-18 only. Continuing students are not eligible for this award.
Studentship recipients are expected to contribute to the intellectual life of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies(including its Human Rights Consortium) and School of Advanced Study, for example by participating in events and research presentations, giving talks, and/or discussing your research with MA students.
Criteria for the award
These studentships will be awarded on a competitive basis using the following criteria:
- The quality of the research proposal submitted;
- The academic quality of the applicant, judged in terms of previous academic achievement, particularly at postgraduate level;
- The student’s ability and willingness to participate in and contribute to the intellectual life of the School and the Institute;
- The cognisance of current members of the academic faculty of the research topic proposed, in order to facilitate effective research supervision;
- The likelihood of the research project making an original and important contribution to the field of human rights;
- The financial need of the applicant for an award in order to undertake PhD studies.
The deadline for application to the Louise Arbour Human Rights studentship is 11.59 (GMT/UK time) on Sunday 30 July 2017
Application Form
This application form should be submitted directly to the Institute of Commonwealth Studies. Instructions on how to submit your application are at the bottom of this form. In order to be offered a Louise Arbour studentship, you must already have applied for a research degree at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies in the normal way via the School of Advanced Study Registry.
About you
Full nameNationality
Address
Contact telephone number
Email address
Fee status:
Home (UK)
Home (EU)
Overseas
Personal income
Please provide details of any previous or current employment.
Other personal income/support
Please list any sources of personal income (e.g. savings, social security benefits, career development loans etc) which will be available to you during the course of the degree programme.
Other sources of support
Please provide details of any individuals or organizations who will contribute towards our fees and living costs (e.g. parents or other family members, employers etc) during the course of the degree programme.
Do you intend to work while studying?
Yes, full time
Yes, part-time
No
If you intend to work while studying, please provide a reasonable estimate of how much you expect to earn during your studies (please calculate for academic year 2017-2018 only).
£Obligations
Please detail any existing financial obligations or costs (e.g. support for dependents, medical bills, loan repayments) which will impact on your circumstances during the course of the degree programme.
About your research project
Question 1: Please explain how your proposed research project will make an important and original contribution to the field of human rights. Continue on a separate page if necessary.
Question 2: Please explain how you intend to contribute to the intellectual life of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies and the School of Advanced Study during your research degree.
Question 3: Please explain why you want to study for a MPhil/PhD at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, including why you want to work with your prospective supervisor. Continue on a separate page if necessary.
Question 4: Taking into account your answer to question 1 and question 2, please explain why you should benefit from the Louise Arbour studentship scheme, including an outline of your financial need. Continue on a separate page if necessary.
Question 5: Please explain how you intend to fund the other costs you will encounter during your studies, especially accommodation and maintenance costs. Please be as precise as possible regarding your expected expenditure during your studies. Continue on a separate page if necessary.
Question 6: Please explain how you will fund your studies should your application to the Louise Arbour studentships be unsuccessful. Continue on a separate page if necessary.
How to submit
Please submit the completed form by email to , with the subject line ‘Louise Arbour Human Rights Studentship’. Alternately, you may submit the form by post to the address below, although please be aware that the form must reach the Institute on or before the deadline in order to be eligible for consideration.
Institute of Commonwealth Studies
School of Advanced Study, University of London
Senate House
Malet Street
London WC1E 7HU
School of Advanced Study
Senate HouseMaletStreet WC1E 7HU
T: +44 (0)20 78628853 E:
commonwealth.sas.ac.uk