Hugh Goddard PhD International Studentships

The HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Centre for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World at the University of Edinburgh offers the Hugh Goddard PhD Studentship in Inter-Religious Relations in a Globalised Muslim World. Edinburgh Alwaleed Centre names the studentship in honour of Hugh Goddard for his work on Islam and inter-religious relations.

The studentship is for a fixed term of three years and is aimed at students who have recently completed a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline. It applies to a PhD project in a relevant College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences programme, and the successful candidate must be accepted onto that programme.

Selection is based on the application materials and, for shortlisted candidates, an interview stage. Edinburgh Alwaleed Centre also requires a 15-minute presentation on the proposed research project and the wider contribution the applicant would make to the Centre.

The studentship is subject to satisfactory progress and runs for a maximum of three years. The successful candidate is expected to be Edinburgh-based and to contribute to the Centre’s activities, including its outreach programme.

• Open to UK and overseas students.
• Applicants must start their programme of study in January 2022.
• Applicants must be commencing their studies in the academic year stated on the page.
• Applicants must have recently completed a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline.
• A UK 2:1 Honours degree and a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline, or international equivalents, are required.
• Relevant disciplines include Politics and International Relations, Area Studies, Islamic Studies, Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Economics and Human Geography.
• Applicants must have proven research skills.
• Applicants must be able to undertake research involving texts and engagement with individuals and communities.
• Applicants must meet English proficiency requirements: IELTS 7.0 overall with at least 6.0 in each module, or TOEFL-iBT 100 overall with at least 20 in each module.
• Applicants must have excellent presentation and communication skills.
• Applicants must be able to work in a team.
• Applicants must be able to work to deadlines.
• Applicants must show diplomacy, including religious, cultural and political sensitivity.
• Applicants must be willing to be Edinburgh-based.
• Applicants must contribute to the full range of the Centre’s activities, including its outreach programme.
• The award depends on acceptance onto a relevant PhD programme in the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences.
• Desirable: knowledge of a relevant regional language.
• Desirable: experience in explaining research to a wide variety of audiences.
• Desirable: experience in designing material for websites.
• Desirable: experience of working with the media.

• Required tuition fee coverage.
• Annual stipend of GBP 15,690.
• Stipend increases in line with UKRI rates.

1. Prepare the required application documents.
2. Email the application to [email protected].
3. Submit the application by 5pm BST on Friday 3 September 2021.
4. If shortlisted, attend an interview process that includes a 15-minute presentation on the proposed research project and the wider contribution to the Alwaleed Centre.

• One-page covering letter.
• Curriculum vitae, maximum 2 pages.
• Research proposal of 2000 words.
• Sample paper of 2000 words, such as excerpts from a thesis, article or blog post.
• Two references.
• Academic transcripts.