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Pro:NE Studentships
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Durham University Pro:NE Studentship(s)

This is an open call for full time Doctoral Research Studentship applications for UK-HOME candidates from racially minoritised ethnic backgrounds specifically: Asian British, Black, Black British, Caribbean or African Mixed, or multiple ethnic groups. Please see here for more details. One PhD studentship is on offer at Durham University within the Faculty of Business under the Office for Students: Postgraduate Research Opportunities for the Northeast/Network for Equity (pro:NE). This opportunity is a follow-on from last years’ Pro:NE Studentships that were originally advertised as one in each faculty. The other studentships were recruited to, so we are re-advertising for the Business Faculty opportunity.

Research opportunities

Postgraduate Research Opportunities for the Northeast/Network for Equity (Pro:NE) is an ambitious, multi-partner regional research project funded by the Office for Students. Durham University has joined together with Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside Universities to develop a 4-year programme (ending in January 2026) to mobilise and increase the number of students of colour undertaking post-graduate research in the North-East universities and to ensure that they receive the support that they need. Access and participation for students of colour is limited by persistent inequalities that exist throughout Higher Education but is of prevalence in the Northeast which has some of the lowest numbers of students of colour in England.

Awarded on applicant excellence

The studentship will be awarded on the basis of applicant excellence. The candidate’s academic and/or work profile and proposal quality will be under purview. The studentship supports a full stipend, for the duration of the PhD programme, between 3.5 years and 4 years (42 - 48 months) at UKRI rates currently £17,668 per year and full tuition fees for home candidates from racially minoritised ethnic backgrounds specifically: Asian British, Black, Black British, Caribbean or African Mixed or multiple ethnic groups; unfortunately due to the nature of the project and the specific communities we are targeting applicants from Chinese backgrounds will not be accepted. Please see here for more details and please see advance HE guidance on positive action for reasoning around offering these studentships for candidates exclusively from racially minoritised ethnic backgrounds.

The proposed research topic must fit within our Faculty of Business at Durham University in one or more of the areas below:

  • Accounting
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • Management and Marketing

Details about the PhD Programmes in the Faculty of Business can be found here.

Eligibility and how to apply:

Eligibility requirements:

  • Home student from a racially minoritised ethnic people background specifically: Asian British, Black, Black British, Caribbean or African Mixed or multiple ethnic groups. Please see the government webpage here for more details.
    • Please note: to be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:
      • Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
      • have settled status, or
      • have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
      • have indefinite leave to remain or enter.
  • Academic excellence of the proposed student i.e. at least 2:1 at bachelor’s (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities); and/or a master’s or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement.
  • Applicants cannot apply for this funding if currently enrolled in Doctoral study at Durham or elsewhere, or if they have previously been awarded a PhD.
  • The applicant is not receiving any other form of studentship funding.
  • The applicant will be enrolled in full-time study if successful.
  • The applicant will not be in full time work if successful.

For further details of how to apply, entry requirements and the online application portal, see here.

Applications must be made via Durham University's Postgraduate Applicant Portal.

After an application has been made, please contact business.researchhub@durham.ac.uk to confirm that you wish to be considered for the Pro:NE scholarship. Attach a copy of your completed Postgraduate Application Form to confirm that your application has been submitted via Durham University's Postgraduate Applicant Portal. Only complete and fully submitted applications will be considered.

For academic enquiries about the Pro:NE award, please contact the Faculty of Business Research Hub at: business.researchhub@durham.ac.uk

The online application portal and all document templates required for an application can be accessed at the Postgraduate Applicant Portal.

  • Applications that do not include a research proposal of maximum 2,000 words (includes footnotes but excludes bibliography) will not be considered. 
  • Applicants should be clear in which Department within the Faculty of Business they are applying to (i.e., Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management and Marketing).
  • Applicants should be clear and state that they are applying for Pro:NE Studentship funding.
  • Applicants who submit an incomplete and unsolicited application form, either direct to schools or departments or direct to the project selection panel, will not be considered.
  • Applicants apply to their preferred Department in the Faculty of Business and signal that they wish to be considered for a Pro:NE studentship award. Their application will then be passed on to the administering faculty where their application will be considered at Pro:NE Postgraduate Studentships board.

Deadline for applications: 23:59 (London, UK) on 15th February 2024

Offer made: April/May 2024

Start Date:  October 2024