Leeds Opportunity Research Scholarship

Three Leeds Opportunity Scholarships are available to Black and Asian Home fee-rated applicants for Session 2023/24 for study in any Faculty. The scholarships are part of our commitment to addressing under-representation in postgraduate research with opportunities including research internships for prospective Doctoral candidates and an on-course engagement program with mentoring.

 

The University of Leeds is committed to addressing the barriers to higher education study for under-represented groups. It is central to our institutional strategic plan and our Access and Student Success strategy.

 

The scholarships are supported by wider work on postgraduate diversity, including institutional involvement in the Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Doctoral Education (YCEDE). Through YCEDE, we offer opportunities to UK prospective applicants from BAME backgrounds. These include virtual events to support submitting an application as well as additional engagement and mentoring, whilst undertaking the PhD studentship. For more information visit: https://ycede.ac.uk/category/events/

 

Closing Date for Application forms 17:00 (UK time) Monday 3 April 2023

 

 

Duration of the Award

 

• Full-time (3.5 years), pro-rata for part-time. The award will be made for one year in the first instance and renewable for a further period of up to two and a half years (pro-rata for part-time) subject to satisfactory academic progress;

 

 

Funding

 

• This award is available to Home fee-rated applicants. The award will cover fees at the University of Leeds's standard home rate of fees

• A maintenance grant at the standard UKRI rate (£17,668 in Session 2022/23 for full-time study)

 

 

 

Other Conditions

 

• Applicants must identify as Black or Black British - Caribbean; Black or Black British - African; another Black background; Asian or Asian British - Indian; Asian or Asian British - Pakistani; Asian or Asian British - Bangladeshi; Chinese or Other Ethnic Background - Chinese; another Asian background; Mixed - White and Black Caribbean; Mixed - White and Black African; Mixed - White and Asian; another Mixed background; Arab; another Ethnic background

• Applicants must not have already been awarded or be currently studying for a doctoral degree 

• Awards must be taken up by 1 October 2023

• The awards are available for new Postgraduate Researchers undertaking full-time or part-time research study leading to the PhD degree.  Students who are already registered for Ph.D. research study are excluded from applying

• Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this Scholarship.

 

 

 

Selection Process

 

Each School selects a shortlist of applicants who they wish to nominate for the award.  The University of Leeds Scholarship Selection Panel selects the final list of awards based on academic merit and no other factors such as financial hardship are taken into account.

The Postgraduate Scholarships Office will not enter into any communication regarding the progress of your application form.  Unsuccessful applicants will be informed of their application outcome approximately 4 weeks after the application closing date.  Shortlisted applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application within 10 weeks of the application closing date.

 

 

How to apply

 

Stage 1 

 

• First of all, apply for a research program of study by completing the application form

 

In order to be considered for the scholarship you must submit all the required supporting documents for your application for study*. Any study applications that are not accompanied by the documents requested by the scholarship deadline will not be considered for the award. 

Please note that an unsuccessful application for this scholarship does not exclude you from applying for other research study opportunities or scholarships offered by the University of Leeds. 

 

*The supporting documents you need to provide with your study application are listed on the website for the School/Faculty in which you are applying to study. 

 

Stage 2

 

• Once you are in receive of your 9-digit Student Application ID complete the online application form.

 

Please note that, due to the large volume of applications, the Postgraduate Scholarships Office will not enter into any correspondence regarding the progress of an application until the outcome is known.

 

 

Entry requirements

 

Applicants to research degree programs should normally have at least a first-class or an upper second-class British bachelor's Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. The criteria for entry for some research degrees may be higher, for example, several faculties, also require a Masters's degree. Applicants are advised to check with the relevant School prior to making an application. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.

 

 

English language requirements

 

The University of Leeds minimum English language entry requirement for the postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) or equivalent. If the School/Faculty to which you have applied has a higher English language entry requirement you must meet this higher requirement. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid.

 

 

 

Repayment status and permission for other scholarships are not specified. For further information, please contact the institution. Click the link for detailed information.