Opportunity Bristol (OB) is part of the Black Bristol Scholarship Programme and provides financial support for UK (home fee) applicants from Black backgrounds with ambitions to pursue doctoral study. The scheme funds students to undertake a research-related Masters, so they can experience a research environment. This is a valuable opportunity to lay the groundwork for doctoral-level research.

Up to 6 studentships are available to support students starting on eligible research-related, master's level programmes in the Academic Year 2024-25

Completed applications must be received on or before Monday 29 January 2024.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an Opportunity Bristol 2024 studentship, applicants must:

i) Have submitted an application for admission to a 2024-25 research-related master's level programme and completed the additional Opportunity Bristol Application Form, on or before Monday 29 January 2024.* A full list of eligible programmes is provided at the end of this document.

ii) Demonstrate, through statements given in the additional Opportunity Bristol Application Form, a strong interest and aptitude to pursue a doctoral research degree.

iii) Be a UK national with Home fee status who self-identifies as having one of the following categories of ethnicity:
• Black African
• Black Caribbean
• Black Other
• Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
• Mixed – White and Black African
• Other mixed background (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or Black Other).

The funding is intended to support applicants without a postgraduate qualification. If you already have a postgraduate qualification, you will be required to make a strong case as to why an additional master's is sought.

* No applicant will be able to take up an award unless they are also offered a place on an eligible master's programme.

Programmes

Programmes that are eligible for this funding are:

i) All 1-year MRes, MPhil, and MScR programmes:

Master of Research (MRes)
Most taught master's courses focus on developing in-depth subject knowledge. An MRes award places more emphasis on research expertise. You will still complete some taught units, but these will ordinarily focus on practical topics such as research techniques and methodological principles.
Please note that the Advanced Quantitative Methods and Economics MRes programmes are not eligible.

Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
The research and study experience of an MPhil is similar to that of a PhD, but the project is more tightly defined to allow it to be undertaken in a shorter period of full-time study. Instead of completing taught units and assessments, an MPhil consists entirely of your own independent project, assessed through the completion of a dissertation.

Master of Science by Research (MScR)
An MScR award puts independent research right at the heart of your Masters level degree. It is a great option if you are considering doing a science-based PhD but would like a taste of a research-led degree before embarking upon doctoral level study. In some cases, MScR degrees can be upgraded to a PhD after one year, depending on subject, funding and performance.

ii) MSc programmes in the following areas:

Faculty of Social Sciences & Law (FSSL)
1. MSc – Human Geography: Society and Space
2. MSc – Socio-Legal Studies

Faculty of Science (SCIF)
1. MSc – Climate Change Science & Policy
2. MSc – Environmental Policy Management
3. MSc – Environmental Modelling and Data Analysis
4. MSc – Geographical Data Science and Spatial Analytics
5. MSc – Global Development and Environment
6. MSc – Paleobiology

Faculty of Health Science (FOHS)

1. MSc – Medical Statistics and Health Data Science

Part-time modes of study will also be considered.

What support is provided?

Each studentship will include:

i) Tuition fee for research-based one-year master's programme.
ii) Student Stipend (currently £18,622); and
iii) A contribution to research, travel and conference costs (£1000).

How to apply

To be considered for an Opportunity Bristol scholarship, you will need to have submitted both a) your programme application, and b) the separate Opportunity Bristol application form by the Monday 29 January 2024 deadline.

Confirmation of acceptance onto your chosen programme is not needed before submission of your Opportunity Bristol application. However, successful applicants will only be able to take up their Opportunity Bristol scholarship when all entry requirements have been met and a place on their chosen, eligible, master's programme has been confirmed.

STEP 1: SUBMIT A FORMAL APPLICATION FOR YOUR PROGRAMME
To apply for this opportunity, you must first complete the standard online application for entry to an eligible programme.
You must have your offer of a place confirmed in order to be eligible for this award.

More information and detailed guidance on the application process for each master's programme is available.

STEP 2: COMPLETE THE OPPORTUNITY BRISTOL 2024 APPLICATION
Once you have completed the formal application for your chosen master's programme, you will need to complete the separate Opportunity Bristol 2024 Application form.
The information you provide here will form the basis of the selection process, along with your academic transcript.
In this form, you will be asked to confirm your eligibility and provide short (maximum 200 words) responses to the following questions: 

• Why are you applying for the Opportunity Bristol scheme? What makes this an attractive opportunity for you and how will it support your academic career ambitions?
• How do your academic abilities and personal attributes make you a strong candidate for the Opportunity Bristol scheme?
• How will your chosen programme of study equip you for applying to undertake doctoral research?
• Please outline your plans for doctoral research and your career going forward.
• If you already have a master's degree, please outline your reasons for pursuing another.

Selection process

The process for considering applications will be overseen by a panel chaired by the Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Postgraduate Research and including senior faculty representatives.

Prior to panel assessment, applications will be reviewed: submissions that do not fully and appropriately address the questions in the Opportunity Bristol application form will not be progressed for consideration.

Applicants will be notified of the panel’s decisions by 15 March 2024.

Successful applicants will only be able to take up their Opportunity Bristol 2024 studentship when all entry requirements have been met and a place on their chosen, eligible, master's programme has been confirmed.

Data protection

The collection of personal information from applicants for University programmes must comply with UK legislative controls, and ethnicity – because it is defined as special category data – is subject to the strictest conditions of processing.

This data is requested by the University, as it is required by government to monitor participation and diversity, but, as a characteristic that is self-identified, candidates are not obliged to give a response.

These studentships are promoted as a funding opportunity for UK (Home fee) applicants who choose to identify as having a Black background, as specified above.

If you are successful, we will use your details to communicate with you as an Opportunity Bristol student and a list of award holders, with names and programmes of study, will also be listed on the University’s and others’ website.

Contact details

If you have any queries regarding the scheme or application process, please contact patrick.ashby@bristol.ac.uk.

Eligible programmes