Colt Foundation - Colt Foundation Fellowships in Occupational/Environmental Health

Benefit

You will receive a tax-free living allowance of approximately EUR 2,540 per month (approximately 30,300 euros per year, or £26,262; £29,373 if you are studying in London). You will also receive up to approximately 5,800 (£5,000) euros per year towards research costs. This will fund a PhD in occupational or environmental medicine at a UK university, and the foundation will also cover all your tuition fees in the UK. The funding usually runs for 3 years, and the grant increases each year in line with the UK inflation rate. The Colt Foundation is a UK-based charity that supports research into health in the workplace and the environment. It awards up to four of these scholarships (fully funded PhD places) each year.

Eligibility

• Degree level: You would like to start a PhD programme, or have already started one, but you lack the financial support to complete it.
• Your background: You have a background in the natural sciences or medicine.
• Field of study: Your research focuses on occupational medicine (health in the workplace) or environmental medicine, for example in the areas of mental health in the workplace, respiratory diseases caused by work-related stress, or the health effects of pollutants and radiation.
• Where you study: You’re doing a PhD at a British university.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. The scholarship only covers tuition fees for UK students. Therefore, if you are paying the higher rate for international students, you will need to cover the difference yourself.
• What they look for: Outstanding academic achievement, a well-designed research project and the potential to play a leading role in research in this field.

How to apply

You must submit the application yourself; your supervisor cannot do so on your behalf. To do so, please email a Word document to the Director of the Foundation. This must include a research proposal of no more than 3,000 words, your CV, a letter of recommendation from your proposed supervisor, and the contact details of two referees. The application deadline is 12 November, 12pm. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview in London, where the final decision will be made.

How realistic are your chances?

The field is highly competitive: your PhD must have been completed in the field of occupational or environmental medicine at a British university, and only up to four scholarships are awarded each year. The competition is therefore fierce. If your project clearly fits the theme and you can demonstrate a committed supervisor and a strong track record, your chances are good. If you are paying international tuition fees, bear in mind that you will need an additional source of funding to cover the difference.