The United Nations University Institute of Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS) cordially welcomes UK based researchers looking to conduct a period of research in Belgium through the Leverhulme Trust Study Abroad Studentship.  

Located in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bruges, close to Brussels and many institutions of the European Union, visiting researchers at UNU-CRIS will not only find themselves embedded within the global United Nations University network, which directly supports the broader UN system, but will also be able to take advantage of a unique partnership that UNU-CRIS has with both Ghent University and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Leverhulme Scholars will furthermore be provided with an office, along with a computer and free access to both the UNU-CRIS library facilities and those of its partner universities. 

We welcome researchers focusing on the role of the United Nations in the effort to create and maintain peace and stability. We also welcome applications focusing on the challenges to global or regional governance in line with one of the three research programs of the Institute:

• The Role of Regions in Global Governance
• The United Nations and Regional Public Goods
• The Changing Patterns of Regional and Global Governance

More information on all three of these research areas can be found here: http://cris.unu.edu/research-training

Eligibility

Leverhulme Study Abroad Studentships are open to UK based researchers, who must have, at the date of the call deadline:

1. been a resident in the UK for at least five years.
2. hold at least an undergraduate degree and at least one degree (undergraduate or postgraduate) from a UK institution of higher education.
3. either be a student at the time of application or have been registered as a student within the last eight years.

Expressions of Interest

Expressions of interest should be sent to rjohnson@cris.unu.edu by 31 October 2018. Please submit:

1. CV (maximum 4 sides of A4)
2. Research plan, which specifies the relevance of the project to the aims and actions of the United Nations, incorporates a clear research design, and details why UNU-CRIS is the optimal place to pursue such a project (maximum of 4 sides of A4)
3. University transcripts

The most promising applicant(s) will be contacted at the beginning of November and will then be fully supported through the application process by a dedicated Grant Officer. The deadline for final proposals is 7 January 2019. Successful applicants can then commence their Studentship any time between 1 June 2019 and 1 May 2020. The duration of the Studentship will be between 12 and 24 months upon agreement between UNU-CRIS and the chosen candidate(s). The Leverhulme Trust Studentship offers a maintenance allowance of £21,000 per year plus the cost of a return ticket between Belgium and the UK.