Coventry Race Xchange

Coventry University and University of Warwick are working jointly to fund a research cluster of seven fully funded dual award PhD studentships matched with experienced PhD supervisors from across both institutions. These studentships will enable successful applicants to develop leading research on improving access and participation for minority ethnic students in postgraduate research in the UK. Our aim is to build and sustain an innovative research cluster comprising doctoral students who are developing their own individual research into broadly related themes, including:

·      What supports people from racially minoritized backgrounds to apply to PGR study and what barriers do they face? Structural racism? Socio-cultural, economic factors? Family, peer, societal and media messages? academic representation/messaging?

·      How do PGR students from racially minoritized backgrounds experience universities as institutions and as places for study? – what are the challenges and opportunities? What helps and what hinders progression, attainment, student experience and overall success?

·      What are minority ethnic postdoctoral destinations? Moving beyond university – post PhD – career progression, employment, etc?

These are broad themes that can encompass diverse and innovative individual doctoral research projects. The cluster’s research will address gaps in current knowledge, test interventions and develop theories of change. The aim is to have sustainable practical impact on minority ethnic students in postgraduate research, improvements from HEIs on how to better support Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority postgraduate researchers and dismantle institutional racial barriers and to lead to future research. There is an expectation that all proposals will include some element of an intersectional analysis within the application, hence an incorporation of structural analysis as well as lived experience as a primary focus. Examples of potential doctoral research topics within the cluster’s themes might include:

·      Where are the gaps in minority ethnic postgraduate research participation?

·      Intersectional analysis of experiences and identities of minority ethnic students in postgraduate research.

·      Minority ethnic PGR networks and communities of practice.

·      Critical analysis of the racialised dimensions of mentoring and ‘patronage’

·      Employers’ perspectives on PGR study.

·      Minority ethnic PGR students’ experiences of higher education in Coventry: local, national and global.

·      Comparison of minority ethnic students’ experiences of doctoral study.

·      Minority ethnic PGR students’ perspectives on the impact of Black Lives Matter on higher education.

·      Minority ethnic student experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic and lived experiences at the intersections of race/ethnicity and disability or gender or sexuality or Deaf identity or Parenting or age or economic status or any combination of intersecting identities.

·      An examination of lived experiences of students of colour on professional programmes and the disproportionate over representation of Black students in failed placements or fitness to practice referrals.

·      Building a People’s University.

The above are some suggestions that are aimed at guiding applicants but are by no means exhaustive. Applicants are strongly encouraged to develop their own areas of interest in a way that aligns with any of the themes set out above.

For more information about the studying for a PhD, the Coventry RACE XChange project, your ideas for a proposal and submitting your application please contact: [Email Address Removed] UK national fees are fully-funded and we particularly welcome applications from people of colour.

As a PhD student at both Coventry and Warwick, your fees will be covered for the duration of your studies and you will be paid a tax-free maintenance stipend for 3 ½ years of £17,668 p.a. in line with UKRI) The dual award programme is a unique opportunity to spend time at both Warwick University and Coventry University and receive support from research supervisors at each institution. On successfully completing your PhD receive a PhD from each university for the submission of a single thesis. It is also a fantastic way to gain wide-ranging research experience within different academic environments and diverse populations. You will also have the combined offer of access to international research networking supporting your future career development as well as additional funding opportunities, vibrant research environments and funded development opportunities.

 While you will be enrolled at both universities, you will be allocated a “home” institution during the shortlisting and interview stages depending on your research proposal and the specific knowledge and expertise of your preferred Director of Studies. For more information and to arrange an informal discussion with our research leads, please send an email to [Email Address Removed] with details of your proposed research and include ‘‘Coventry RACE XChange’ Studentships’ in the subject field.