Funding

One of the principal differences between undergraduate and graduate study is that each graduate needs to find their own funding to cover both fees and maintenance, both of which can be costly. However, there are a number of potential sources for funding, and good students should be able to attract sufficient funds to pay for their course.

This is a quick guide to the main sources of funding for graduate students reading for degrees in the Department of Politics and International Relations. The information is up to date at the present time but new information is likely to become available and students are advised to consult the Department's website regularly.

Graduates and prospective students should consult the following webpages for further information about funding:

• The Finance section of the Graduate Studies Prospectus
• Student Funding Services
• Oxford Funding Search

ESRC and AHRC studentships

The two main UK Government funding bodies are the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). ESRC and AHRC studentships can be held by UK students (for fees and maintenance) and by EU students (for fees only). The ESRC may also award an 'enhanced stipend', in addition to a studentship, to those students who intend to undertake intensive quantitative methods training. Broadly speaking, the AHRC supports students undertaking research in political theory and political philosophy, and the ESRC supports students in all other areas of politics and international relations.

Economic and Social Research Council

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is the principal UK funding source for UK and EU students who intend to undertake graduate study in the social sciences. An ESRC studentship currently covers fees and maintenance for UK students, and fees-only for EU students (please do check the eligibility guidelines on the ESRC website).

Please note that we do not yet have the ESRC figures for 2012-13.

The value of an ESRC award in 2010-11was £13,590 per annum for maintenance, and up to £3,466 per annum for university fees. The ESRC also paid college fees. An additional stipend of £3,000 per annum was paid to some students who intended to undertake intensive quantitative methods training. There are two types of ESRC award:

• A ‘1+3’ studentship, which provides funding for a total of four years of graduate study. This scheme is designed for students who have not already completed a programme of research training. These awards are termed ‘1+3’ studentships because they cover one year of research Master’s training linked to three years of doctoral study. They are suitable for applicants intending to pursue the Department’s one-year MSc programme followed by three years of DPhil study, as well as those proposing to undertake the two-year taught MPhil followed by two years of doctoral study: the time spent working on the MPhil thesis in the final year of the MPhil is acknowledged as the first year of doctoral work. Please note that the ESRC does not fund stand-alone or terminal Master’s degrees. If you are offered an ESRC ‘1+3’ studentship, you are committing yourself to doctoral study beyond the completion of your Master’s degree.
• A ‘+3’ studentship, which provides funding for a total of three years of graduate study. This scheme is designed for those who have already completed a research training qualification and intend to proceed directly with research leading to a DPhil. Current MSc students or those who are in the first year of the MPhil are also eligible for consideration under this scheme.

The Department’s graduate programmes which are listed below have ESRC recognition, so that UK/EU students applying for these courses are eligible to be considered for ESRC funding:

• DPhil in International Relations (‘+3’)
• DPhil in Politics (‘+3’)
• MPhil in International Relations (‘1+3’)
• MPhil in Politics: Comparative Government (‘1+3’)
• MPhil in Politics: European Politics and Society (‘1+3’)
• MSc in Politics Research (‘1+3’)

With regard to the DPhil in Politics, please note that political theory does not fall within the subject domain of the ESRC. If you intend to undertake doctoral research and would like to be considered for an ESRC studentship, you must be working on an empirical political science topic. Political theorists must be considered for AHRC support under the 'Philosophy' subject panel heading (please see below).

ESRC studentships are allocated in the following ways:

• Quota awards. The majority of ESRC studentships are offered on a quota basis. The Department is guaranteed a fixed number of awards by the ESRC, and is responsible for selecting a nominee for each quota place and informing the ESRC of its chosen students.
• Open competition award. The Department can nominate one student for entry into the national competition for ESRC studentships.

Note that all applications for ESRC funding must be made through the Department: it is no longer possible to apply directly to the ESRC. Applicants should indicate on their application form that they would like to be considered for an ESRC studentship, and they must apply in the January application deadline (20 January 2012) for admission to one of the Department’s ESRC-recognised programmes. In the case of current students, a circular will be sent around asking potential candidates to put themselves forward for consideration. The Department will assess all candidates who have asked to be considered for the awards, and will allocate them to the students with the strongest academic credentials. Successful candidates will be contacted directly by the Department with further information regarding the completion of nomination forms, and will be informed whether they are being allocated a quota award or entered into the open competition. Note that a nomination for one of the quota awards means that, so long as you meet the ESRC’s eligibility requirements, you will receive guaranteed funding. Please be aware that the number of applicants is always greater than the number of studentships that the ESRC can make available, and consequently many of the most qualified students do not receive awards.

Prospective candidates should read carefully the ESRC’s Postgraduate Funding Guide, the ESRC's Guidance Notes for Applicants and should consult the ESRC's Postgraduate Studentships page for further information.

In addition, the Oxford Centre for Business Taxation is offering a number of ESRC-linked studentships for DPhil students whose research would contribute to the overall aims of their 'Business, Taxation and Welfare' project. For more information, please see the advertisement

Arts and Humanities Research Council

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) is the main funding body for UK and EU graduate students who intend to undertake graduate study in the humanities. Though the AHRC do not fund social science projects in general, it does accept political theory applications for consideration under its 'Philosophy' subject panel. An AHRC studentship currently covers fees and maintenance for UK students (and, under certain conditions, some EU students), and fees-only for EU students (please do check the eligibility guidelines on the AHRC website). The AHRC runs two separate for studentship schemes:

• The Research Preparation Master’s Scheme provides support for students who are undertaking a Master’s course that focuses on advanced study and research training and is explicitly intended to provide a foundation for further research at doctoral level. Awards are normally for one year only, but exceptionally the AHRC will consider an application for funding for two years where the value and necessity of the additional year’s training is demonstrated. You would be entered for this competition if you are applying for the MPhil in Politics (Political Theory) or the MSc in Political Theory Research.
• The Doctoral Awards Scheme provides support for students who are undertaking a course of study that will lead to a doctoral degree. Awards are normally for a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years, but exceptionally the AHRC will provide four years of support. You would be entered for this competition if you are applying for the DPhil in Politics or if you are a second-year MPhil student who intends to proceed to the DPhil.

The AHRC offers two types of studentship:

• Full awards, which cover the cost of approved tuition fees and provide a maintenance grant. Eligibility for these awards is determined through residency: you must be able to establish a relevant connection with the UK. Most UK graduate students will be eligible to apply, as will students previously resident in the EU but who have been in full-time education in the UK for the three years prior to the start of the course for which they are applying.
• Fees-only awards, which cover the cost of approved tuition fees but do not provide a maintenance grant. To be eligible for these awards, you must have been ordinarily resident in the EU for the three years immediately preceding the academic year in which your course will commence.

Please note that we do not yet have the AHRC figures for 2012-13.

The value of the maintenance grant in 2010-11 was £13,590 per annum for Doctoral Award holders, and £9,490 per annum for those who hold a Research Preparation Master’s Scheme award. The AHRC also paid tuition fees up to the maximum annual rate of £3,466 per annum, and also covered the cost of college fees. Please see AHRC's website for information.

Please see the AHRC's Block Grant Partnership page and the Humanities Division for detailed guidance on the application procedures for an AHRC studentship at Oxford.

Information and the application form for current Oxford DPhil students who wish to apply for an AHRC award starting in October 2012 (for their second or third year of DPhil study) can be found at: http://www.humanities.ox.ac.uk/current_students/graduates/funding 
The application form, AHRC research proposal, cv and 3 references must be received at the Humanities Graduate Office no later than 20 January 2012.

University funding for graduate students

Clarendon Fund

In 2011, the year of the Scholarships' 10th anniversary, it was decided that the remit of the Clarendon Fund would be expanded to include all nationalities. From 1 September 2011, all graduate applicants to degree-bearing courses are eligible for this prestigious scholarship funding. Approximately 130 awards are made across the University every year and most of these provide only partial funding, though some full awards are made too. Please see the Clarendon Fund website for further details. Prospective students must apply in the January application deadline (20 January 2012) for admission to one of the Department’s degree programmes, and should indicate in the funding section on their application form that they would like to be considered for a Clarendon Award. Overseas candidates who wish to be considered for a Department studentship must also apply for a Clarendon award, if eligible.

University Studentships

The University also offers support for international students and a small number of scholarships for UK students fulfilling certain subject or regional nationality requirements. The Graduate Funding Search lists the awards available each year.

Rothermere American Institute Studentships

The Rothermere American Institute currently offers two one-year graduate studentships in American Politics or History. Full details will be available on the RAI website. Graduates can also sign up here to receive RAI events and news mailings/feeds/tweets.

British Inter-University China Centre

Six 3-year postgraduate studentships for doctoral research in Chinese studies will be available through the British Inter-University China Centre (BICC) to students starting postgraduate study in Oxford, Bristol or Manchester. The studentships will pay full Home/EU fees and maintenance for the duration of the studentship (fees only for EU students unless they meet residency requirements as laid down in the ESRC ’s guidelines). Further details are available on the BICC website.

Departmental studentships and bursaries

Each year the Department offers a number of bursaries, studentships and opportunities for paid work, and joint Department-college studentships are sometimes available.

Department studentships

The Department will offer a number of studentships to applicants who are admitted for graduate study in 2012-13. Applicants will be considered automatically on the basis of their application materials. Current students will be asked to put themselves forward for consideration.

Joint Department-college studentships

Occasionally the Department is able to offer graduate studentships jointly with a particular college; these are sometimes fees-only, but sometimes will also include maintenance.

Departmental bursaries

The Department will continue its successful bursary scheme for continuing graduate students in 2012-13. The scheme provides contributions of up to £2,500 per annum (increased from previous years) for students not in receipt of a major award. In return, recipients are required to undertake clerical, administrative, research or (on occasion) teaching tasks up to a specified limit by arrangement with the Department. Bursaries are provided for a single year, but there are no restrictions on eligibility to apply. Other sources of funding will be necessary. Information about the most recent round of bursary applications can be found in the on WebLearn - https://weblearn.ox.ac.uk/portal/hierarchy/socsci/politics/teaching/redesign_res/student_fund

Research assistance and other work for the Department

From time to time the Department or its research centres offer opportunities for paid work to its graduate students. This may be for research assistance to work with an academic in the Department on a research project, or may on occasion be administrative assistance; this work is paid at a standard rate. The Department may on occasion employ graduate students to provide teaching or teaching assistance; this work is not normally offered to first-year Master's students.

College graduate student funding

Some Oxford colleges make funds available to support graduate students in their studies; the amount and the conditions vary from college to college and in some cases from year to year. The Oxford Funding Search lists awards available from colleges and you should check individual college websites for information on eligibility and application procedures. Graduate studentships are also sometimes available to students once they have started their studies in Oxford, from some colleges –again, check individual college websites and the University Gazettefor announcements.

St Cross MPhil Scholarship in the Humanities and Social Sciences

Other sources of funding

Occasionally, special sources of funds become available for graduate student in particular subjects. Any information that the Department receives about such schemes will be posted here.

Prospective graduate students from outside the UK may be able to access other sources of funding including from their home state or other schemes.

There are also sources of funds available to students after they have begun studying at Oxford– including essay and thesis prizes, research assistance and other casual work for the Department and for colleges, and teaching for the Department and for colleges. Funding may also be available for specific parts of a course – e.g. to undertake fieldwork or to study in overseas institutions. Information about sources of support in the Department for current graduates is posted on the Department’s website.

Professional bodies such as the Political Studies Association and the British Sociological Association can often also assist with funds for conferences or fieldwork, so they are well worth joining. They can also be valuable resources when it comes to finding a job after finishing graduate study.

Funds for overseas (non-EU) students

There are a number of University-administered schemes to provide funds for international students, some of which are limited to certain countries. The most well-known of these are the Rhodes Scholarships. Information is available from the website of Student Funding Services and in the Graduate Studies Prospectus. External funding bodies include the Marshall Commission, and the Fulbright Commission for research in the USA.

Funding bodies

AHRC: http://www.ahrc.ac.uk
British Academy: http://www.britac.ac.uk/
British Council: http://www.britishcouncil.org/
ESRC: http://www.esrc.ac.uk/
Fulbright Commission: http://www.fulbright.co.uk/
Leverhulme Trust: http://www.leverhulme.org.uk/
Rhodes House: http://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/
Marshall Scholarships: http://www.marshallscholarship.org/