Fellowships
Funding Opportunities
Journalists can provide their own funding, but study at the Reuters Institute is also supported by a wide range of Fellowships.
Thomson Reuters Foundation Fellowships
The Thomson Reuters Foundation Fellowship, founded in 1983, offers an opportunity for experienced journalists wishing to undertake research projects on a variety of subjects. Approximately 6 Thomson Reuters Fellows study each year on fully-funded Fellowships for three or six months (one or two terms). Thomson Reuters Fellows are drawn from dozens of countries around the world from both print and broadcast media. Mid-career journalists from any country in the world are eligible.
Mona Megalli Fellowship for journalists from the Middle East
The Mona Megalli Fellowship, established in 2008, is in memory of Mona Megalli, a distinguished Egyptian-American Reuters journalist who died in 2007 after a long illness. Having worked for large parts of her career as a journalist in the Middle East, Mona made a bequest to fund activities and initiatives designed to enhance the professional ethics of journalism in the region. This six month (two term) Fellowship is one of those initiatives.
The Fellowship is open to a journalist from the Middle East region interested in researching and publishing material about professional standards and journalistic ethics in the region, how these impact on the practice of journalism there, and also what changes are needed or could be contemplated to improve the practice of journalism in the region. Mid-career journalists from the Middle East are eligible.
Recent Fellows and their projects:
- Amel Al-Ariqi (2008-9): difference of portrayal of Middle Eastern women in Arabic and English media.
- Mohamed El-Sayed (2008-9): impact of Islamic satellite channels on Egyptian society.
Said-Asfari Fellowship for journalists from the Levant
The Said-Asfari Fellowship, established in 2012, is a six month (two term) Fellowship supported by the Said Foundation and the Asfari Foundation. It is open to experienced journalists wishing to undertake research projects on a variety of subjects, normally related to the business, economic and/or social development of a country or of its media.
There is a minimum requirement of 5 years’ professional journalistic experience, but exceptional applicants who do not meet this requirement may be considered.
Journalists from Lebanon, Palestine and Syria (resident in the Levant region or Egypt) are eligible.
Gerda Henkel Fellowship for journalists in the field of Humanities
Since 2005, the Gerda Henkel Foundation has awarded a six month (two term) fully-funded Fellowship to journalists who intend to carry out research in the field of Historical Humanities, particularly in Art History, Modern and Ancient History, Legal History or Islamic History. Within these areas, participants can freely choose their research topic, although it should ideally be connected with their professional activity.
One Gerda Henkel Fellow per year will join the Fellowship Programme for six months (two terms). Mid-career journalists from any country in the world are eligible.
Recent Gerda Henkel Fellows and their projects:
• Jonathan Curiel (2005-6): impact of Muslim architecture on churches and synagogues.
• John Dyer (2006-7): effects of Balkan politics on Bulgarian self-perception.
• Firas Saleh Khatib (2008-9): depiction of the Israel-Palestine conflict in the British press in 1948 and 2008.
Wincott Fellowships for business / economic journalists from Eastern Europe
Since 1995 the Wincott Foundation has sponsored journalists from Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia for a three month (one term) fully funded Fellowship. There are usually 2 Wincott Fellowships per year. Preference is given to economic and business journalists whose proposed research topic is related to the business or economic development of a country or of its media.
In 2012-13 the Wincott Fellowship will be awarded to one candidate from Russia, and preference will be given to a second candidate from Poland.
Recent Fellows and their projects:
- Revaz Sakevarishvili (2007-8): The application and activation of cluster economic principles in Georgia.
- Maria Semenova (2007-08): The role of the Russian state in the globalisation of the Russian economy
- Suren Musayelyan (2008-9): Armenian economic reform.
For more information on how to apply, please click here
Some organisations sponsor their employees to take part in the Fellowship Programme:
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC): Donald McDonald Scholarship
Since 1999, the ABC has awarded an annual Scholarship to an experienced high-level ABC journalist to join the RISJ programme for three months (one term) via an internal selection process. It was renamed in honour of Donald McDonald AC on the occasion of his retirement in 2006 in recognition of his commitment to excellence in journalism. As ABC Chairman, Mr Donald McDonald AC was instrumental in the establishment of the Scholarship and provided ongoing encouragement and support for the programme and for the Scholars throughout the programme’s history.
Recent Fellows and their projects:
- Peter McEvoy (2006-7): development of public broadcast systems promoting journalistic accountability and responsibility.
- Elizabeth Jackson (2007-8): comparative study of European freedom of information models.
Austrian Press Agency Alfred Geiringer Fellowship
The Alfred Geiringer Foundation for the Further Education of Journalists, introduced in 2001 and sponsored by the Austrian Press Agency, aims to encourage the development of high-quality journalism in Austria. It is named in honour of Alfred Geiringer, who was forced to emigrate from Nazi-occupied Austria in 1938 but returned to Europe in 1946 as Reuters European Editor and played an instrumental role in founding APA as an independent, newspapers-owned co-operative. The Geiringer Fellowship, organised since 2002 jointly by the Thomson Reuters Foundation and APA, gives one highly-qualified journalist, selected annually from Austrian journalists at APA or its owner-media, the opportunity to spend three months (one term) studying at RISJ.
Recent Fellows and their projects:
- Alexandra Frech (2008-9): Polish migrant workers in the United Kingdom.
- Gianluca Wallisch (2005-6): Terrorism and the Media
British Broadcasting Corporation
The BBC offers a prestigious annual one-term Fellowship to experienced mid-career journalists from across the BBC News and Journalism divisions, which will provide them with the opportunity to study and research for 3-4 months a work-related project that will broaden their academic horizons as well as being of benefit to the BBC. The BBC World Service Trust offers 2 one-term Fellowships to WST employees per year. The Fellowship can begin in October, January or April, and the successful applicant will be resident at Oxford during their period of study.
As well as being a great opportunity for an senior journalist to take time out from the day job and get new insights, the programme of research should be relevant to your work as a BBC journalist. Fellows are asked to produce a major piece of writing of between 8,000 and 10,000 words related to a specialist or topical subject or the changing nature of journalism. The programme brings together experienced journalists from around the world to study at RISJ, and Fellows will be able to use the university facilities available to them, including access to an academic advisor, seminars and other special events, to help them with their project.
Recent Fellows and their projects:
- James Painter (2006-7): analysis of the boom in continuous news channels, specific focus on Telesur.
- Jeremy Hayes (2008-9): Freedom of Information Act 2000 and journalism in the UK.
British Council Chevening Scholarship
Chevening Scholarships, named after Chevening House in Kent, the official country residence of the Foreign Secretary, are prestigious awards available to international students in more than 130 countries for study in the United Kingdom. Each year RISJ normally awards two-term Chevening Fellowships to two Hong Kong journalists, as part of the 1000 Chevening Scholarships awarded globally, enabling them to meet and network with their peers in the unique learning atmosphere that Oxford provides. Fellowships are offered to mid-career professionals in positions of leadership and influence who are active in the field of the research subject.
Fellows undertake an intensive 3-month (one-term) course, focusing on particular subjects aligned to the FCO's Strategic Framework, which offers dynamic training and professional development opportunities in the UK. Courses consist of high-quality content, with contributions from leading academics and experts in the field. On completion it offers the opportunity for successful candidates to maintain international policy dialogue on the fellowship subject with UK Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates.
Candidates are selected by the British Embassy/British High Commission. The scheme is managed by the British Council, on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Applicants should refer directly to the British Council in Hong Kong for further information.
Recent Fellows and their projects:
- Margaret Ng (2006-7): tension between US and China in pursuit of global oil security strategy.
- Joyce Hor-Chung Lau (2007-8): The Narrowing Gap: how Hong Kong media is inching towards the China model.
- Wing Chung Law (2008-9): conventional printed media in the digital age.
Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Fellowship
The purpose of the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation is to advance and support excellence in research as a means of insuring the broad base, independence, and continuity of Finnish scientific work. The fields of particular interest for the Foundation are communications, the communications industry, and futures research. The Foundation also promotes and supports freedom of expression, including research into the history of freedom of expression, and it fosters educational and cultural activities in Finland. Since 2008-9, the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation has funded several Fellowships at RISJ as part of its annual provision of several million euros for different projects and special undertakings.
Recent Fellows and their projects:
- Kimmo Lunden (2008-9): viability of business models for specialist print media.
- Annikka Mutanen (2008-9): journalism and faith.
- Salla Nazarenko (2008-9): how Abkhazia and South Ossetia are portrayed in the European, American and Russian press.