MPhil/PhD Studentship – Pan-African Frontiers: Reparative Futures and Global Order

Key information

Deadline date
Amount
Tuition Fees and Maintenance Stipend
Department
Department of Politics and International Studies

Scholarship overview

SOAS University of London invites applications for one fully funded MPhil/PhD studentship linked to the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship project Pan-African Frontiers: Reparative Futures and the Reimagining of Global Order, led by Dr Daniel Mulugeta and hosted by the SOAS Centre for Pan-African Studies (CPAS) in the Department of Politics and International Studies.

The project examines Pan-Africanism as a transcontinental political formation linking Africa, the Caribbean, and diasporic communities in debates about global justice, reparations, and institutional reform. It explores how historically marginalised regions and communities articulate new visions of solidarity, political agency, and global order in response to contemporary crises in multilateralism and global governance.

The studentship forms part of a wider research programme that brings together scholars and practitioners across Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and North America to examine the evolving role of Pan-African ideas in shaping debates on global justice, historical redress, and international institutional transformation.

There is one scholarship available for the 2026/27 academic year. The award covers tuition fees in full and includes a maintenance allowance, providing full financial support and doctoral skill development for a three-year full-time programme. The total maintenance amount for 2026/27 will be confirmed closer to September 2026 but will provide a minimum of £20,622.

The successful candidate will join CPAS and contribute to an interdisciplinary research environment engaging with questions of African politics, global governance, diaspora relations, and historical justice. As part of the SOAS Teaching Scholarship scheme, the successful candidate will also undertake a limited number of teaching hours, gaining valuable experience in university teaching while pursuing their doctoral research.

Applicants are invited to propose research projects that broadly engage with themes related to Pan-Africanism, global justice, and international order. Possible areas of research may include (but are not limited to):

  • Reparations politics and debates on historical redress for slavery, colonialism, and racial injustice.
  • African, Caribbean, and diasporic actors in global governance and multilateral institutions.
  • Pan-Africanism and contemporary debates on sovereignty, multilateralism, and world order.
  • Regional organisations and political cooperation in Africa and the Caribbean.
  • Transnational political networks and diaspora engagement linking Africa, the Caribbean, and diasporic communities.
  • Comparative politics of historical justice and reconciliation across Africa and the Caribbean.
  • African and Caribbean states in contemporary geopolitical transformations.
  • Political and institutional responses to global inequality and structural injustice.

Proposals may adopt political, sociological, historical, or interdisciplinary approaches, and may focus on continental, regional, inter-hemispheric, or diasporic contexts.

Eligible programmes

Full-time MPhil/PhD in Politics and International Studies beginning in the 2026/27 academic year

Candidate criteria

This scholarship is open to Home and Overseas fee status applicants. Applicants must:

  • Be new admissions (programmes starting in 2026/27).
  • Possess or expect to be awarded a masters degree in a relevant field with merit or distinction from a UK university or equivalent. Applicants with a non-UK masters degree must be in the top rank as evidenced by references and transcripts. Applicants with a merit may also apply but will not be given preference.
  • Meet the English language conditions to study at SOAS, if applicable.

How to apply

Step one: apply for your programme

All applications must include the following documents. Applications that do not contain these documents will not be considered.

  • Personal statement explaining your motivation for applying and how your proposed research relates to the themes of the project (maximum 1 page).
  • Research proposal outlining the proposed doctoral project (maximum 4 pages).
  • Curriculum vitae (CV) including relevant academic background and experience (maximum 2 pages).
  • One academic reference.
  • Academic transcripts and degree certificates.
  • Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable), such as IELTS or equivalent.
Step two: apply for the scholarship

The deadline for application is 12 noon UK local time on 15 May 2026. You must apply for this scholarship via the admissions portal. You will need to have applied for a course to get login credentials for this.

If you do not see the scholarship you are hoping to apply for within your admissions portal, please double-check you meet the eligibility criteria. Should you have any queries, please contact scholarships@soas.ac.uk.

Candidate assessment

Candidates will be assessed based on their academic merit, work experience and personal statement by a selection panel.

The assessment of your application will be based on the information provided in your application. The panel will review details such as degree results, personal statement and other relevant information.

We will not consider late or incomplete applications.

Notification of results 

The scholarship shortlisting and awarding period is expected to be completed in June at the earliest. Successful candidates will be contacted first, and once all awards have been allocated, unsuccessful candidates will be notified.

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