Chevening OCIS Fellowships: A Unique Opportunity for Mid-Career Academics and Professionals

The Chevening Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) Fellowships offer mid-career academics and professionals a prestigious opportunity to advance their understanding of the culture and civilisation of Islam and contemporary Muslim societies. These fellowships are a collaboration between the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and OCIS.

Available Fellowships:

• Chevening OCIS Fellowship
• Chevening OCIS Abdullah Gül Fellowship (specifically for Turkish citizens)

Programme Highlights:

Fellows will engage in a 5-month period of self-directed research at OCIS, focusing on their unique projects related to the culture and civilisation of Islam and contemporary Muslim societies within a global context. During this time, they will have the opportunity to:

• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary group of scholars.
• Develop connections with experts in fields such as Islamic history, classical Islamic sciences, Islamic finance, public health, and more.
• Contribute to the Centre’s goal of fostering dialogue and collaboration within the global academic community.

Residency in Oxford:

Fellows are required to reside in Oxford for the duration of their award, beginning in October 2024. OCIS will assist with information about accommodation options in the city.

About Chevening:

Chevening is the UK government’s international awards programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, aimed at developing global leaders. The programme offers a unique opportunity for future leaders and decision-makers to grow professionally and academically, network extensively, and immerse themselves in UK culture.

This fellowship is a remarkable opportunity to deepen your expertise and make a meaningful impact on the global understanding of Islam and Muslim societies.

Aim and Benefits of Chevening Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Fellowship (OCIS) and OCIS Abdullah Gül Fellowship

• Five-month period of research at OCIS.
• Living expenses for the duration of the fellowship.
• Return economy airfare from home country to the UK.
• Allowance package for research-related activities.
• Access to a programme of cultural events and activities organised by the FCDO and the Chevening Secretariat.

Requirements for Chevening Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Fellowship (OCIS) and OCIS Abdullah Gül Fellowship Qualification

The Chevening OCIS Abdullah Gül Fellowship is available to applicants from Turkey .

To be eligible for a Chevening OCIS Fellowship, you must:

• Demonstrate the potential to rise to a position of leadership and influence
• Demonstrate the personal, intellectual and interpersonal attributes reflecting this potential
• Be a citizen of Afghanistan (please see note below), Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Philippines, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, or Uzbekistan
• Return to country of your citizenship at the end of the period of the fellowship
• Hold a postgraduate level qualification (or equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant area) at the time of application
• Have significant professional and/or academic research experience (at least five years)
• Have a good working knowledge of English to be assessed in your application form and if you are invited to interview
• Not hold British or dual-British citizenship
• Not be an employee, a former employee, or relative* of an employee of His Majesty’s Government, or have been within the last two years from the opening of Chevening applications (including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, all British Embassies/High Commissions, the Home Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for International Trade and the UKVI), the British Council, a sponsoring UK university, or a staff member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

Note: Immediate relatives are defined as parents or step-parents, siblings or step-siblings, children or step-children, spouse, civil partner or unmarried (where the couple have been in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years).

Please note that applicants who have previously received financial benefit from a HMG-funded scholarship or fellowship are eligible to apply after a period of five years following the completion of their first HMG funded award. In these cases, applicants will be required to demonstrate their career progression from that point.

Applicants should be prepared to outline a short proposal on the area of academic research they would like to conduct at the time of application submission. The proposal should include a main research question and how the applicant intends to conduct this research while in residence at the Centre.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Chevening Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Fellowship (OCIS) and OCIS Abdullah Gül Fellowship

Key dates for the Chevening OCIS Fellowship:

• Applications open at 12:00 BST: 6 August 2024
• Applications close at 12:00 GMT: 5 November 2024
• Applications are sifted against eligibility criteria: From 6 November 2024
• Reading Committee assessments: Mid-November 2024 to January 2025
• Applicants shortlisted for interviews:Mid-February 2025
• References and education documents deadline: 19 February 2025
• Interviews take place: 26 February to 25 April 2025
• Results announced: From May 2025

Application Deadline

November 5, 2024

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Chevening on asams.chevening.org to apply

For more details, visit Chevening website