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Global Citizenship Programme & Scholarships

The Global Citizenship Programme & Scholarships (GCP) were set up to build a strong academic community and scholarly programme at Ustinov College; to foster critical literacy, intercultural communication and interdisciplinarity; and to provide a space for ongoing exploration of global citizenship in theory and practice.

The Programme offers leadership roles and accommodation awards for full-time postgraduate students, who are able to advance their research through community engagement and acquire a set of transferable skills both for academic and non-academic fields.

The GCP offers a number of opportunities. The team comprises five scholars who will work together as part of a multi-disciplinary team to create and deliver seminars and activities under our five core projects :

  • Café Scientifique
  • Café Politique
  • Café des Arts
  • Ustinov Intercultural Forum (UIF)
  • North East Local History

Successful applicants will organise a range of academic, social, cultural events and projects, including seminars and discussion groups, research forums, development sessions and academic conferences. There are a further two positions for scholars who will focus on organising and delivering volunteering activities in College. The minimum expectation would be two volunteering events to be delivered each term. As a core group of seven, the team will also deliver the Ustinov Annual Conference (held in June) and will offer support with the Ustinov Art Exhibition (typically held in the summer each year).

Each GCP scholar will receive a £3000 scholarship for their contribution to the GCP across the full academic year. 

Editorial and photographic scholarships

One £4000 scholarship is available for the position of Editor of The Ustinovian and Pantomath. The Ustinovian is the College Magazine and is published three times every year. Pantomath is the College's scholarly journal and is published once a year, in the summer.

One £1000 scholarship is available for a GCP photographer who will be expected to attend GCP events and ensure good quality photography is available for College promotional purposes as well as contribution to The Ustinovian.

Eligibility and Additional information

Scholars are not required to live in College accommodation but it is encouraged. If scholars live in College accommodation, their scholarship will be paid against their College accommodation fee unless otherwise requested. 

The Ustinov College Scholarships are open to all current and prospective full-time members of Ustinov College, from any subject or discipline.

To be eligible for a GCP Scholarship, you must have been accepted onto a full-time programme of postgraduate study at Durham University and be a member of Ustinov College. Your registration status must have reached Final Acceptance (FA) stage. If you have any queries over your registration status in relation to your GCP application, please email ustinov.gcp@durham.ac.uk

Opportunities for Volunteers

In addition to scholarship and fellowship opportunities, students are warmly invited to participate in the Global Citizenship Programme as volunteers. Volunteers are not required to complete this application process but can instead send an expression of interest to ustinov.gcp@durham.ac.uk.

Applications Criteria

Your application will be judged on three criteria:
  • Ethos & Experience: How you will contribute to the development of Ustinov College as a postgraduate centre of excellence and to the delivery of the ethos of global citizenship, interdisciplinarity, and intercultural learning. The committee will be interested in knowing how your skills, experience, and interests equip you to lead the development of the Global Citizenship Programme and specific projects within it;
  • Team Skills: Your ability to work as part of a team with the other scholars, volunteers and other members of the College, with developed interpersonal skills, taking the initiative, a willingness to work hard, multitask and be available throughout the year, and seeing projects through to a successful conclusion. This experience may have been gained at work, in a voluntary organisation, in a student society or similar;
  • Academic Merit: this will be judged on your past academic performance and the statement from your referee; as well as any suggestions for academic projects or explorations of the concept of global citizenship.
Applicants are not expected to meet all the criteria fully, and should indicate their areas of strength. Please bear in mind that the ability to generate ideas is only a small part of the requirements, and the administrative, professional and interpersonal skills involved in being able to coordinate and fulfil project responsibilities are essential. Experience can have been gained in similar student activities, through voluntary work or in the workplace

How to Apply

The application consists of the following:
  • Online application form
  • CV
  • Academic/professional reference(s)
  • Statement of achievements to date (current award recipients only)
Applications for all GCP Scholarships will open in the Summer of 2024. With decisions communicated to all applicants by mid to late August. An interview may be required; if you are not based in the UK, this may be arranged by telephone/Teams or Zoom. Please read the below guiding documents carefully before making your application. For any queries about the process, contact ustinov.college@durham.ac.uk. Please see the brochure for 2023/24 below.

University student
This year I was awarded a scholarship within the Global Citizenship Programme, and my role was organising the Ustinov Annual Conference. As a GCP Scholar, I gained tremendous experience in organisation, communication and management

Akmaral Karamergenova (Scholar 2022-2023)
PhD Engineering GCP Scholar 2022-2023
University student
The GCP gave me the opportunity to get to know kind people and force me to get out of my shell in regards of reaching out to researchers and talking in public. I had a great time working with my teammate to bring different events into fruition, from tours to seminars. It also allowed me to get to know about the North East area in a more profound way than I would have not being part of the Nort East Local History Team

Rocío González Oyarce
MA Conservation of Archaeology and Museum Objects GCP Scholar 2022-23