King’s College London Africa Studentship 2025/26

Award details

Applicants are invited to pursue a PhD study that takes an interdisciplinary approach to community-centred education, conservation and environmental sustainability through the creation of a multispecies ethnography of the Nature’s Valley Region of South Africa. The aim of this project is working towards healthier and more sustainable outcomes for both the communities and the natural environment. The ideal candidate will have a strong interest and/or background in interdisciplinary scholarship and innovative pedagogical practices that promote socially transformative and environmentally just responses in and through education to the triple planetary crisis (climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss). Drawing on insights gained from the multispecies ethnography, the candidate will work on the development of integrated education resources drawing on the synergies between community well-being and conservation.

Award value

This studentship is fully funded for 4 years. This includes tuition fees, stipend and generous project consumables.

• Stipend: Students will receive a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate of £22,780 per year as a living allowance.
• Research Training Support Grant (RTSG): A generous project allowance (£5,000 per annum) will be provided for research consumables and for attending UK and international conferences.
• Tuition fees: Overseas
• Other (please outline): Visa and HIS fees.

Eligibility criteria

Bachelor's and/or Honours degree with 2:1 and Master’s with a high Merit and above in relevant subject areas (including but not limited to Environmental Humanities, Environmental Sociology, Conservation, Anthropology, and Education)

Outstanding students with a background in qualitative research methods. There is an expectation of good communication and teamwork. Experience with participatory research, community-based education or multispecies ethnography would be advantageous.

We welcome eligible applicants from any personal background.

For information on our English language requirements and whether you would need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.

Award conditions

• Be an African national and be permanently resident in an African country;
• Be liable for tuition fees at the higher international/overseas rate;
• Secure admissions for a full-time MPhil/PhD programme at King’s College London at the School of Social Sciences and Public Policy to carry out your awarded project and commence in the 2025-26 academic year (from October 2025 or February 2026 and by no later than June 2026).

Application process

Applicants are required to submit:

• A personal statement (maximum 2 A4 pages)
• An indicative research proposal linked to the project theme (maximum 2 A4 pages). In constructing your proposal, you might like to consider the research aims or questions, the theoretical background to the proposed research, its significance, the methodological approach and the timescale of the study. As well as helping us with the recruitment process, this indicative proposal will provide a basis on which to plan the final proposal once the studentship has commenced
• An example of independently produced academic work (e.g. a master’s essay or dissertation or a published or unpublished research paper) that you feel best demonstrates the quality of your academic writing
• A CV
• Academic transcripts of previous qualifications
• Two full references. At least one of these should be from an academic who has knowledge of your academic ability from your most recent study/programme. The other could be a second academic reference or a professional reference.
• Applicants should send application documents by email to m.muller@kcl.ac.uk

Contact:

Dr Marguerite Müller, m.muller@kcl.ac.uk

Application forms

Full project details (0.08 MB)

Selection process

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a formal interview.