How to Apply

On this Page:

• Eligibility
• Duration
• Funding
• Finance
• Application materials
• Deadline for Applications

Eligibility

The Thomson Reuters Foundation Fellowship Programme offers fully funded Fellowships to well established mid-career journalists from throughout the world. Applicants must have a minimum of five years experience in any branch of journalism and demonstrate sufficient proficiency in English to be able to participate fully in the life of the Programme and write a research paper in English of publishable quality.

Priority will be given to journalists proposing research projects within the areas of focus of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Details of these can be found within Research.

Other areas of research can be considered providing these are clearly related to the professional work of applicants and will lead to greater excellence in journalism.

Other Fellowships are available specifically for journalists from Russia, Eastern and Central Europe, Australia, Germany and Austria. Details of these can be found under Funding Opportunities.

Applications are also considered from journalists able to arrange their own funding. They should approach the Director in the first instance before making a formal application.

Duration

Dates of entry are agreed with the Director. Fellowships may be for three, six or nine months covering one or two terms or a full academic year respectively.

Funding

Awards may include travel expenses (including air travel economy class) and a modest living allowance. This arrangement is subject to variation.

Spouses and partners (including with dependents) are welcome but under no circumstances will the Thomson Reuters Foundation Fellowship Programme pay the travel or living costs of visiting spouses or dependents.

Fellows should note that there are three ways of funding a RISJ Journalism Fellowship:

1. For the Thomson Reuters Foundation, Gerda-Henkel Foundation and Mona Megalli Fellowships, applications for funding should be submitted directly to RISJ by the deadline given on this website;
2. For all other fellowships, please check your eligibility; applications should be submitted to the respective organisations;
3. Journalistsmay also arrange their own funding, but they should then approach the Head of Programme in the first instance before making a formal application.

Finance

The main university website gives guideline information for the expected average living costs for graduate students living in either college accommodation or a shared house at Oxford for between 9 and 12 months a year, which will act as a useful estimate for prospective candidates for RISJ fellowship programmes. RISJ Fellows often stay in accommodation provided by the North Oxford Overseas Centre.

Fellows at the RISJ on Thomson Reuters Foundation, Gerda-Henkel and Mona Megalli Fellowships will receive a monthly stipend from the RISJ for their living costs during their stay in Oxford, as well as covering travel costs within reason.

Below is an estimated breakdown by the RISJ of the costs that Fellows (without dependents) can reasonably expect to incur over the course of their placement.

Application materials

Please send the following papers:

1. Completed application form (please download here).
2. A full curriculum vitae
3. Biography outlining journalism career and your intellectual and social values (500 words)
4. A statement of up to 1,000 words explaining your proposed research project 
5. A reference from your employer, supporting your application and granting leave of absence
6. A second professional reference (e.g. former employer).

Print Journalists

• Please provide three articles or reports (more than three will not be reviewed), including dates and names of the publications.
• A translation into English must accompany material published in other languages.
• Applicants in managerial or editorial positions for whom it would be difficult to send work samples should include a statement of up to 500 words describing their work.

Broadcast Journalists

• A video, audio-cassette or CD/DVD (maximum 10 minutes) with an example of your work, plus a brief, written description of the material. Please note that other formats cannot be accepted.
• A summary or transcription in English must accompany material in other languages.
• A statement of up to 500 words describing your work and including details of any major programmes for which you have been responsible.

N.B. APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT THE ABOVE WORK.

Deadline for Applications

The deadline for receipt of applications for the Fellowship Programme 2010/2011 is Wednesday 27th January 2010 at 12.00 noon.

Candidates with their own sources of funding may apply directly at any time to the Director.

Applications should be sent to:

The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
Department of Politics and International Relations
University of Oxford
13 Norham Gardens
Oxford
OX2 6PS
United Kingdom

Applications should be sent  in the following format:

• All articles should be submitted on A4 size paper (shrunk/enlarged as appropriate)
• CVs, biographies and research proposals should also be A4 size, with text single-spaced and no larger than size 12.
• No paperclips or staples should be attached.

Please note that we are unable to return application materials.