The CPES Trust was established in 1985 by the Cambridge Political Economy Society (which produces The Cambridge Journal of Economics and Contributions to Political Economy). Its stated aims are (1) to advance the education of the public in political economy and related matters, and (2) to promote research in matters pertaining to political economy and to publish the useful results of such research. The Trustees interpret this to include all studies within the social sciences that are germane to economics, and applications are welcomed from other Faculties.
This scholarship is open to candidates who have been accepted (or expect to be accepted by 30 September 2008) by the University as Graduate Students beginning a Ph.D. programme in economics and/or cognate studies in any Faculty or Department of the University. This Scholarship is not open to current University Graduate Students, either registered for the Ph.D. Degree or on a probationary track towards Ph.D. registration, who have already commenced their three years of Ph.D. research. Students who are about to commence the M.Phil. Degree in the academical year 2008-09 for the purpose of advanced training prior to undertaking Ph.D. research are also not eligible for this Scholarship.
The Trust may offer the successful candidate either a full scholarship or a fees-only award. The full scholarship covers payment of all University and College fees, and a maintenance grant (which for the academical year 2006-07 was £11,332). Applications are open to citizens of European Union Countries and overseas students. The Trust is aware that funding of graduate studies in economics and related disciplines for UK citizens is very limited and particularly encourages well-qualified candidates who are UK citizens to apply. However, decisions on the award of the Scholarship will be on academic merit and on the relevance of the proposed research to the aims of the Trust.
The deadline for applications for the Scholarship is 15 March 2008. Where practicable, short-listed candidates will be interviewed in April.
Supplementary grants are made by the Trustees in (1) cases where a modest grant will enable a research student registered for the Ph.D. Degree to complete a Ph.D. dissertation or (2) cases where a small grant may help the procurement of funds from elsewhere. Although all eligble students may apply, priority is normally given to those nearing the end of their studies. The current deadlines for applications for supplementary funding are 1 January and 1 July. The Trustees wish to use their funds to support as many students as possible, and therefore expect all candidates who are eligible for public funding (including ORS awards and ESRC Studentships) to have made such applications.
The Trustees may make up to six grants annually, to a maximum of £1,000 each. These grants are only for eligible research students who can show that they are in immediate and unanticipated financial need. There is no deadline. Applicants should demonstrate that they have exhausted all other funding possibilities and have no other means of meeting the expenses for which they are applying..
Application forms for the Graduate Research Scholarship, Supplementary Funding and for Emergency Funding may be obtained from the Chairman of the Trustees, by e-mail cje@econ.cam.ac.uk or c/o CJE, Room 66, Faculty of Economics, Austin Robinson Building, Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 9DD.