The Cumberland Lodge Fellowship offers doctoral students who are firmly committed to promoting social progress the chance to set themselves apart, by deepening their understanding of pressing societal issues from a cross-sector perspective, and developing valuable skills in public engagement, networking, communication and interdisciplinary working.
Every year in the spring, nine Cumberland Lodge Fellows are selected through a competitive application that is open to doctoral students from universities and higher education institutions across the UK. A tenth is nominated by the Council for At-Risk Academics, which supports international academics who are at risk of persecution, conflict or violence in their home countries to study or work in the UK. Our Amy Buller PhD Scholar, who is supported financially to complete a PhD at Royal Holloway, University of London, also becomes a Cumberland Lodge Fellow for the duration of their three-year Scholarship.
A unique opportunity
Launched in 2014 and originally known as the Cumberland Lodge Scholarship, the Cumberland Lodge Fellowship is designed to fit around the demands of doctoral research. It is open to students of any age who are enrolled on a doctoral programme (on a part-time or full-time basis), and to those undertaking professional doctorates as well as more traditional paths of study.
Cumberland Lodge Fellows play an active role in our interdisciplinary conferences, consultations, public lectures and other programmes, and receive ongoing mentoring and support from our staff.
They have the chance to network with senior figures in public life and to participate in, or help to lead discussions with, people of all ages, backgrounds and perspectives that ultimately inform recommendations for practical action and policy change.
What's involved?
Ten new Fellows join us each year in September, at the start of the academic year, beginning with a residential weekend retreat at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park, to which the previous year’s cohort of Fellows are also invited.
Cumberland Lodge Fellows have the chance to be involved in our conferences, consultations, seminars, report launches and retreats, with support from Cumberland Lodge staff. This may include:
- leading workshops and/or chairing panel discussions
- taking part in cross-sector discussions
- proactively networking with fellow delegates at Cumberland Lodge events
- supporting Cumberland Lodge staff with event facilitation
- writing engaging newsletter articles and blog posts
- supporting the promotion of our programmes and outputs to the wider public.
Fellows also have the opportunity to contribute to the development of our programme of events and activities, and are expected to act as an ambassador for our work and programmes, at university and beyond.
Personal development
Fellows are invited to apply for a Personal Development Grant of up to £300 during the two-year fellowship period, to use creatively to enhance their skills and promote progress towards more peaceful, open and inclusive societies.
How to apply
Applications for the 2023-25 Fellowship have now closed. Thank you to everyone who applied.
If you are shortlisted for interview you will be informed by Wednesday 7 June, and interviews will take place online via Zoom on Wednesday 22 June 2023. Please note that, due to the high number of anticipated applications, we are unable to provide feedback if you are not invited to interview. If you have not heard back from us by Thursday 8 June, we regret that you have not been shortlisted for interview.
If you have any questions that are not answered above, please email us at: programmeteam@cumberlandlodge.ac.uk
Eligibility
To take part in our competitive application process, you must be able to demonstrate that you are:
- committed to promoting more peaceful, open and inclusive societies, through your academic research and/or other activities
- committed to enabling social progress
- studying for a doctorate at a UK university (in any academic discipline or area of study), for the duration of the Fellowship period* (expected completion not before June 2025), and primarily residing in the UK
- able to provide the names of two referees (one academic, i.e. your doctoral supervisor, and one non-academic) who will vouch for your eligibility and support your application
- able to attend the initial residential Fellows’ Retreat at Cumberland Lodge, on 8-10 September 2023
- committed to the full two-year programme (even if you complete your doctorate before August 2025).
You should also demonstrate an openness to working across disciplines and engaging with a wide range of subject matters, and explain how you think a Cumberland Lodge Fellowship will benefit your work and life, both now and in the future.
* Please note:
- We accept all types of doctoral study equally, including full-time, part-time and non-traditional pathways or professional doctorate programmes. You will most likely (but not necessarily) be in the first year of your doctorate.
- If you are currently registered for a Master’s degree and hope to go on to study for a doctorate, you are not yet eligible to apply.
- If you are on an agreed pathway to doctoral study, but have not yet transferred from Master’s to doctoral status, you are eligible to apply, providing your supervisor can confirm you are already working to doctoral standard, as part of your application.
- We do not provide financial assistance for tuition fees or maintenance, but we do provide Fellows attending our events with meals, accommodation and economy-rate travel expenses to and from our events within the UK, from our charitable funds.
Webinar
On Wednesday 10 May 2023, we hosted a webinar for prospective Fellows to enable them to hear first-hand experience of the scheme and ask questions directly to current and alumni Fellows. The recording of this webinar is available to watch on-demand below, or on the Read, Watch, Listen page of our website here.
Meet our Fellows
Follow the links below to find out more about our current Fellows.
2021-2023
Ellen Bristow, Cardiff University
Julia Buzan, London School of Economics
Henna Cundill, Aberdeen University
Joshua Ettinger, University of Oxford
Hannah Gumble, University College London
Callum O’Malley, University of Kent
Andrew Marks, University of Edinburgh
Scott Matafwali, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Nour Nashed, University of Sussex
Rachel Newell, Queen’s University Belfast
2022-2024
Sarah Bibi, University of Manchester
Eleanor Clarke, Edge Hill University
John Coggin, Durham University
Basma El Doukhi, University of Kent
Sylvia Ikomi, University of Greenwich
Meaghan Malloy, University College London
Nicola O'Donnell, University of York
Shahira Shahir, Cardiff Metropolitan University
Siyi Wang, University of Sheffield
Amir-Hosseyn Yassari, Brunel University London
Our 2020-23 Amy Buller PhD Scholar, who is also a Cumberland Lodge Fellow, is Joshua Rice from Royal Holloway, University of London.