Turn your ambition into reality and multiply your employability with advanced study and research. The International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD)  is accepting applications for ICTD PhD Scholarships for the 2023-24 academic year available for international students.

The program is fully funded and open for students from African and South Asian countries commencing PhD program. To be eligible for funding, PhD projects should focus on taxation in African and/or south Asian countries. Within the broad area, candidates can focus on any issue of interest.

The International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD) was founded in 2010 at the Institute of Development Studies. ICTD is a research center aiming to improve tax policy and administration in lower-income countries through collaborative research and engagement.

Why apply to this program? The purpose of the program is to promote sustainable development in the countries where ICTD works by developing the research skills of promising candidates from those countries and increasing knowledge about tax policy and administration in them.

Application Deadline: 15th March 2023.

Brief Description

• University or Organization: The International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD)
• Department: All
• Course Level: PhD
• Award: Fully-funded
• Access Mode: Online
• Number of Awards: 4
• Nationality: International
• The award can be taken in the UK

Eligibility

• Eligible Countries: African and South Asian countries
• Acceptable Course or Subjects: The scholarship in Tax and Development will be awarded for PhD
• Admissible Criteria: To be eligible, the applicants must meet all the following criteria:
• Applicants are normally expected to have a Merit (an average of 60% overall) in a Master’s degree.
• Applicant’s qualification should be in a relevant social sciences subject. In exceptional circumstances, applicants may be considered for the degree if they qualify in a different subject area.
• Applicants must also show evidence of substantial professional work experience in development-related work. (This includes work related to taxation).
• The academic quality of the research proposal. Some of the elements that the reviewers will consider, amongst others, are: is the topic relevant to policy and research? Is it sufficiently linked to existing knowledge? Are the methods appropriate and robust? Is the proposed study feasible?
• Candidates’ profiles, including skills and experience. Preference will be given to candidates with relevant work experience. A good result in a Master’s degree is also essential for admission to the PhD program at Sussex/IDS.
• Fit with supervisors’ and ICTD’s research interests. Availability of supervisors with relevant research interests and knowledge of appropriate methods. We will also consider how projects complement ICTD’s research portfolio.

 

How to Apply

• How to Apply: To be considered for the scholarship, applicants can apply for a PhD degree at the University of Sussex, UK. Applicants can submit ICTD PhD Scholarships Application.
• Note: Applicants are not required to have applied to a PhD place at the University of Sussex before applying for the ICTD scholarship nor to have identified a potential supervisor.
• Supporting Documents: Applicants must submit the following documents when they apply:
• Research proposal/research statement
• Summary of academic interests (this is optional depending on the subject area applicants are applying for)
• Degree certificates and transcripts. If the originals are not in English, certified translations must be provided
• English language qualification, where applicable
• CV
• Two academic references – including one from the most recent university.
• Evidence of substantial professional work experience in development-related work
• Admission Requirements: International applicants must meet the entry requirements to study PhD.
• Language Requirement: International students must meet the English language requirements or complete the Pre-sessional English course.

Benefits

• The ICTD will fund up to four PhD students from countries in Africa and South Asia to start in September 2023.
• Students will receive full scholarships, including university fees, a stipend in line with UK research council funding (currently 17,668 GBP per year), and other benefits such as funds to attend conferences to cover visa costs and part of relocation expenses.
• In addition to financial support, successful applicants will benefit from being fully embedded in the ICTD team and networks.

Apply Now