FUNDED: Apply for the Routledge/Round Table Commonwealth Studentships 2026

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FUNDED: Apply for the Routledge/Round Table Commonwealth Studentships 2026

Applications are open for the 2026 Routledge/Round Table Commonwealth Studentships, a prestigious funding opportunity that supports PhD research on Commonwealth-related themes in the humanities and social sciences. The studentships are funded by The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs and its publisher, Routledge, in partnership with the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU). The programme aims to help doctoral researchers strengthen the Commonwealth dimension of their research while promoting academic collaboration across Commonwealth countries.

Each year, two studentships are awarded with funding of up to £5,500 each. One award is available for PhD students enrolled at UK universities, while the second is reserved for PhD students studying at ACU member universities in Commonwealth countries outside the UK. Participants will also work with an academic mentor from another Commonwealth country, publish an article based on their research, and produce a podcast highlighting their work.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link to apply.

Host Institution

Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), in partnership with The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs and Routledge.

Program Type

Fully Funded

Program Benefits

Successful applicants will receive a studentship worth up to £5,500 to support their research. The award can be used to strengthen the Commonwealth dimension of their doctoral work through activities such as research travel, collaboration, or fieldwork related to the approved project.

Beyond the financial support, recipients will benefit from mentorship by an expert at a Commonwealth university in another country. They will gain opportunities to expand their academic network, receive publishing guidance, and increase the visibility of their research. Awardees are expected to submit a 4,000–6,000-word article for consideration by The Round Table journal and produce a podcast showcasing their research findings.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be currently registered for a PhD or DPhil at either a UK university or an ACU member university in another Commonwealth country. Applications are welcomed from a wide range of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, with preference often given to fields such as politics, international relations, economics, international history, geography, law, development studies, and area studies. STEM applicants may apply only if their research has a clear policy-related focus.

Research proposals must satisfy at least one of the following requirements: relate to the Commonwealth as a whole or a Commonwealth-wide institution, include a comparative Commonwealth perspective, or be relevant to more than one Commonwealth country. Applicants are also required to identify a mentor based at a university in another Commonwealth country and provide details of two referees, including their PhD supervisor.

Eligible Countries

Applicants from Commonwealth countries are eligible, provided they are enrolled in a UK university or an ACU member university in another Commonwealth country and meet all programme requirements.

Application Procedure

Click the official link below to apply for this opportunity

Official Link

https://www.acu.ac.uk/funding-opportunities/for-students/studentships/routledgeround-table-commonwealth-studentships/