Modern liberal democracies like the United Kingdom face many challenges in achieving full equality and inclusion for all of their members. Coexistence under conditions of deep diversity has never been easy; equality is even harder. In particular, tensions can and do arise when the equal recognition of sexual orientations and/or gender identities confronts the corresponding claims of religious and cultural traditions and their members. How can these competing claims be accommodated? Can they be reconciled? Or must they be transformed?
This scholarship will support one student to undertake research at Oriel into the politics of sex and gender equality in diverse societies in the field of Politics, broadly construed. These questions reward investigation from a number of different approaches: historical and contemporary, theoretical and empirical. It is envisioned that this scholarship will encourage its holder to explore the connection between political theory, practice, and policy.
Oriel’s longstanding position in historical and theological study, as well as its commitment to progressive research, makes it the perfect environment for a postgraduate scholarship dedicated to this under-explored intersection between politics, sex and gender, religion, and cultural traditions. This is the first scholarship within the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford to focus specifically on sex and gender, and presents an exciting opportunity for the successful applicant to undertake novel research in this area.
The David N. Lyon Scholarship is open to candidates of any nationality for the MPhil, MSc or DPhil in Politics at the University of Oxford. Current University of Oxford MPhil and DPhil students are also welcome to apply, and would be expected to migrate to Oriel College if successful in their application. The successful candidate will receive the following benefits:
- Financial award of £8,500 per year
- Guaranteed College accommodation for at least the first year of their course
All new applicants will be considered for University funding in addition to the scholarship.
Status: Open for applications (next award for Michaelmas Term 2024 entry)
Application Procedure
Any person wishing to be considered for this award must complete a copy of the below application form, and submit this to the College alongside a CV, covering letter and two letters of reference by 22nd March 2024.