James McCune Smith PhD Scholarships

The James McCune Smith Scholarships will fund Black UK students to undertake PhD research at the University. They will provide an enhanced experience through external mentors, placements, leadership training, community-building activities and networking opportunities. The Scholarships are named after James McCune Smith, who graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1837 as the first African American to receive a medical degree.

Key Features:

• PhD research can be in any discipline
• Funding covers stipend and fees for 4 years
• 6 month placement with industry, a government or non-governmental organisation or other employer
• Mentorship from outside academia to provide a broader perspective and network, in addition to the usual academic supervisors
• Leadership training and community building activities
• Support for conferences and other networking opportunities

Who can apply?

A candidate must be a UK domicile Black African, Black Caribbean, Black Other, Mixed White and Black Caribbean, Mixed White and Black African, or other mixed background (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or Black Other). The University is seeking to address under-representation by these groups in our PhD programmes.

This is a further opportunity for Black UK students to receive a funded PhD place at the University of Glasgow. Applying for a James McCune Smith Scholarship does not prevent a candidate from simultaneously applying for other schemes to obtain a funded place. However, only one funded place can be accepted.

How to apply

There are 10 James McCune Smith PhD Scholarships available to begin research in October 2023. Eight of these are funded by the University of Glasgow and support research in any discipline. Two are funded by GSK and support research in areas of interest to GSK Medicinal Chemistry (see below)

For information on how to apply click here.

We are keen to support you through the application process and to help you navigate this. If you need any assistance at all then please email: JMSPhD@glasgow.ac.uk

GSK-funded studentships

GSK Medicinal Chemistry is funding two James McCune Smith Scholarships in areas of interest to them. Their interests include areas of organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry. The placement will be a minimum of 6 months, but may be as long as 12 months at GSK’s discretion. A GSK-representative will be on the panel that considers these applications.

Applicants should identify whether they wish to be considered for the GSK-funded scholarships. The topic of research for any James McCune Smith Scholarship is decided by the applicant in conjunction with their potential supervisor. However, if a topic is not in an area of interest to GSK Medicinal Chemistry, then the application will only be considered for a James McCune Smith Scholarship funded by the University of Glasgow. Potential supervisors may wish to contact JMSPhD@glasgow.ac.uk to confirm eligibility of the topic for GSK-funding before the full on-line application is submitted.

Who is providing mentors and/or placements for the programme?

The University of Glasgow will find a suitable external mentor and placement opportunity for every James McCune Smith Scholar no matter what area of research the Scholar chooses. The following companies have committed in principle to support the scholarships: