PhD Scholarship for Palestinians in the UK from the University of Bristol and HESPAL Program

HESPAL is a British Council managed scheme, which offers scholarships to young Palestinian lecturers from universities in the West Bank and Gaza enabling them to study in the UK. HESPAL aims to help create the next generation of senior academics who can maintain international quality standards at Palestinian universities and develop renewed, sustainable links between Palestinian and UK universities.

University of Bristol, in partnership with the HESPAL scheme, is offering PhD scholarships from 2017/18 to 2020/21, working with institutions in the West Bank and Gaza.

Starting in 2019/20, one scholarship is offered for a student from any university in the West Bank or Gaza wishing to pursue a PhD in Sociology, Politics, or International Relations.

Applications should suggest a topic relevant to the research themes of the Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Citizenship. Possible topics might include (but are not limited to):

1. Issues relating to racism and discrimination.
2. National narratives that create second-class forms of citizenship.
3. Majority/minority relations in Israel/Palestine.
4. A comparative study of Islamophobia and antisemitism, paying attention to particular national contexts e.g. comparing Israel/Palestine and the UK.
5. Obstacles to progress into higher education or the labor market that are connected to race/ethnicity.

Scholarship Value:

Under the HESPAL scheme, the scholarship from the British Council covers the following:

1. Pre-departure briefing from the British Council.
2. Arrival allowances (£500).
3. Thesis allowances (£450 annually).
4. A monthly allowance to cover living expenses (£1,300/month).

Note: The University of Bristol will provide a full fee waiver for each of the scholarships.

Eligibility:

1. Applicants must be resident citizens of the Palestinian Territories.
2. Applicants must normally be currently employed by the Palestinian university which nominates them.
3. Applicants will have a Masters degree; where this is from a Palestinian university, it should be with a minimum grade of very good (and equivalent to at least a 3.0 Bachelor’s Degree from UK).
4. Applicants must sign a written undertaking to return to Palestinian university within a time frame agreed with their university, normally one year.
5. Applicants must have IELTS certification appropriate for course and university (normally at least 6.5, sometimes higher); exemptions may apply if the applicant did their MA in the United Kingdom.

About the University of Bristol:

Bristol is one of the most popular and successful universities in the UK and was ranked within the top 5% of universities in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2019. The University has had a reputation for innovation since its founding in 1876. Its research tackles some of the world’s most pressing issues in areas as diverse as infection and immunity, human rights, climate change, and cryptography and information security.