OpenFieldESRC UBEL Doctoral Studentship in International Development
Three-year fully funded PhD studentship through the ESRC UCL-Birkbeck-SOAS Doctoral Training Partnership (UBEL), focusing on political economy, labor relations, or state-building in Africa or Asia.
Application checklist & requirements
These requirements reflect published university guidelines available at the last review. Review official department guidelines before submission.
- Academic degree / Prerequisites
- Master’s degree with Merit or Distinction in Development Studies, Economics, Sociology, or Political Science
- English language proficiency
- IELTS 7.0 overall (minimum 6.5 in writing)
- Standardized testing (GRE/GMAT)
- Not required
- Thesis / Research statement
- Comprehensive research proposal (3,000 words), bibliography, and writing sample
- Recommendation letters
- Two academic reference letters from graduate thesis supervisors
How much will it cost? How much funding is available?
- Financial support / stipend
- Fully funded: UKRI stipend of £21,237 per year tax-free (London rate) plus 100% full tuition fees and fieldwork travel grant
- Application fee
- Free
- Tuition / joining costs
- Fully covered by ESRC Research Council grant
Dates and verification
- Application deadline
- January 15, 2027
- Last source review
- 2026-10-15
Important verification note
Facts reflect official SOAS University of London documentation reviewed 2026-10-15. Admissions, funding allocations, and eligibility thresholds are evaluated by the university.
Reviewed 2026-10-15 · Editorial standards · Report an issue