Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership - Black and Global Majority

The Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership (OOC DTP) is committed to addressing under-representation in Arts and Humanities doctoral study. In October 2021 we launched a scheme to increase the number of studentship awards made through our standard route competition to Black and Global Majority students ordinarily resident in the UK.

In our 2022/23 competition, a minimum of ten awards are available for Home fee status Black and Global Majority students applying for doctoral study in an AHRC subject area through the Open University, University of Oxford or University of Cambridge. A minimum of two of these studentships will be awarded to candidates who identify as Black or Mixed Black, Bangladeshi or Mixed Bangladeshi, and Pakistani or Mixed Pakistani, since these groups are disproportionately under-represented in doctoral study in the Humanities.

This is a positive action initiative under the Equality Act 2010.

Note on terminology

Global Majority refers to people who identify as Black, Asian, Mixed and/or have been racialised as ‘ethnic minorities’; these groups represent over 80% of the world’s population. The DTP recognises the complex and contested nature of such collective terminology and will continue to strive for clarity of expression in this and future initiatives.

Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC DTP studentships at the Open University

The Open University is pleased to offer Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funding through the Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership (OOC DTP). The DTP is a consortium of three universities underpinned by world-class research and training environments, supported by strategic partnerships with the BBC World Service, the National Trust and British Telecom.

The Open-Oxford-Cambridge DTP AHRC PhD studentships are available via the Open University across all three AHRC subject classifications: ‘Histories, Cultures and Heritage’, ‘Creative and Performing Arts’, and ‘Languages and Literature’. Full details of eligible subject areas are in the Further Particulars (see below).  EU nationals who are resident in the UK are advised to consult AHRC guidelines on eligibility prior to application.

The Open University is internationally recognised for innovative research across the Arts and Humanities. We host a number of major AHRC- and ESRC-funded research projects.  We have a strong commitment to cross-disciplinary work, to national and international public engagement, and to creative partnerships with a range of non-university partners.

Eligibility

Students who identify as Black, Asian, Mixed and/or from a Global Majority racial and ethnic group will be eligible to be considered for one of these studentships. 

The university via which you apply is responsible for assessing fee status; for further guidance, please see the relevant university webpages: Open University: OU Postgraduate Admissions Fees and Funding webpage .

Applicants must also meet eligibility requirements for the AHRC and the Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC DTP.

Value of award

An Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC DTP studentship covers university fees in full and provides a tax-free stipend for living costs at the UKRI rate (at least £15,609 per year).

Funding is adjusted on a pro-rata basis for part-time students and where the award is for a period of less than 12 months in any year.

Those in receipt of studentships through this initiative will be eligible for the same benefits as other UKRI-funded students, including additional support for research expenses and individual skills training, funded sick leave (up to 13 weeks in any 12 month period), funded maternity leave, and Disability Support Allowance (DSA).

How to apply

You should apply to the Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC DTP standard route competition at the same time as applying for admission to a PhD programme at the Open University.

To be considered for nomination to the OOC DTP under the Black and Global Majority studentships initiative, you must

• submit a completed copy of the Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC DTP Application Form when you apply to the OU;
• indicate on the OU Application Form that you wish to be considered for Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC DTP studentship funding;
• disclose ethnicity information in the monitoring section of your university’s admissions system.

If eligible, the university through which you are applying will automatically consider you for OOC DTP studentship funding.

Your application will only be considered by the DTP if you receive an offer of admission from the university at which you wish to take up your studentship

How to apply via the Open University

Closing date: noon 11 January 2022

Equal opportunity is University Policy.