The Faculty of Laws BAME Research Opportunity Scholarship funds MPhil/PhD study at UCL’s Faculty of Laws in London. It is open only to people from ethnic groups underrepresented among academic staff in Russell Group law schools.
The Faculty decides which groups count using the latest HESA and National Census data. Awards go to UK-domiciled candidates with UK fee status and cover tuition plus a living stipend for the normal three-year research period.
There is no separate form. Applicants who submit a PhD application by 19 November 2026 for 2027/28 entry are considered, and those who pass interview can then supply the personal information the award needs.
Benefits & funding
- Full tuition fees.
- A maintenance stipend of £23,805 per year for full-time study (2026–27 guide rate).
- Part-time students receive fees and stipend on a pro rata basis.
- Funding runs for the standard research period, normally 3 years for a full-time PhD.
- Renewed each year where academic progress is sufficient.
- CRS/writing-up periods are not funded.
- UCL does not publish how many awards are made each year.
Eligibility
- Applicants must belong to an ethnic group currently underrepresented among academic staff in Russell Group law schools; UCL Laws judges this from the latest HESA and National Census data and publishes no fixed list.
- UK fee status and UK domicile are required.
- Financial need, judged on socio-economic background, is a selection factor.
- Applicants must apply for the UCL Laws MPhil/PhD for 2027/28 entry by 19 November 2026.
- Admission normally needs at least an upper second-class UK bachelor’s degree plus a master’s degree (or overseas equivalents) in law or a relevant subject; exceptionally, equivalent research or professional experience can stand in for the master’s.
- Full-time and part-time students are both covered.
- No age limit is stated; no nationality is named, and UK fee status depends on immigration and residence status.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Residence required
UK
Education required
Bachelor · Master
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Application process
- 1Check that UCL Laws has supervision expertise in your proposed research area and contact a suitable potential supervisor.
- 2Prepare a research proposal of about 3,000 words with a preliminary bibliography; the bibliography and footnotes do not count toward the 3,000 words.
- 3Apply online for the UCL Laws MPhil/PhD for 2027/28 entry between 1 September and 5.00pm on 19 November 2026, and make sure both academic referees have submitted references.
- 4Applicants who are successful at interview are given the option to provide the personal information needed for this scholarship.
- 5The selection panel chooses awardees on financial need and personal statements.
Program timeline
Application window opens for 2027/28 entry
Sep 1, 2026
Application deadline, 5.00pm
Nov 19, 2026
Date not published
PhD interviews; successful candidates can then give the personal information for this scholarship
September 2027
PhD starts (UCL Laws has one MPhil/PhD entry point each September)