Introduction & Purpose
The Radical Urban Lab (RUL) at the University of St Andrews, United Kingdom, is inviting applications for a Virtual Fellowship for a postgraduate (Masters level up) Palestinian scholar from Gaza, to join us for one term during the Academic Year 2025/26. This Fellowship is developed in collaboration with the Emergency Committee of Universities in Gaza (including representatives from IUG, Al-Aqsa, and Al-Azhar Universities) and draws on a model of support outlined in the FOBZU (Friends of Birzeit University) Guide for UK-Palestinian Higher Education collaboration.
Potential Fields of Research:
Examples could include (but not limited to) one or a combination of
- Urban studies
- Decolonial thought
- Genocide & scholasticide studies
- Social & environmental justice
- Critical cultural geography
Fellowship Benefits
- A stipend of £1,500
- Personalised mentorship and guidance from the RUL members
- Invitations to RUL meetings and access to all our internal resources
- Opportunities to collaborate with a global network of scholars and practitioners through RUL
- Support to produce an independent piece of research, for example an article, blog post or any other creative output, such as a short film, podcast, or a photo collection.
Duration & Structure
Three months during one of the two terms of the Academic year 2025/26 (start date to be decided together with the successful applicant)
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants should:
- Be a Palestinian national currently residing in, or having recently moved from Gaza;
- Be a postgraduate student enrolled in, or have recently graduated from, a public university in Gaza — such as Al-Azhar University, the Islamic University of Gaza, or Al-Aqsa University — or from one of their affiliated colleges, such as the University College of Applied Sciences (UCAS), Al-Azhar Intermediate Studies College, Al-Aqsa Community College for Intermediate Studies, or other similar institutions;
- Demonstrate a strong interest in critical research related to urban issues, decolonisation, and/or social justice.
How to Apply
To apply, please submit the following to [email protected] by August 15, 2025. Any conventional file format (.doc, .pdf) or links to your work would be accepted:
- A CV (1-2 pages);
- A research proposal (up to 700 words) including an outline of the research idea, its motivation, and its potential outputs. This can be a new idea OR a project the Fellow is already currently working on, and we acknowledge the project can change along the course of the Fellowship.
- A sample of previous work or writing.
Timeline
- Applications open: July 15, 2025
- Applications close: August 15, 2025
- Selection and notification of candidates: August 30, 2025
- Fellowship start date: After September 16, 2025 – to be confirmed with the successful candidate.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on:
- Clarity, feasibility, and quality of the proposed research.
- Commitment and motivation to personal scholarly development.
- Willingness to contribute to the Gazan collective efforts in resisting the ongoing scholasticide.
- Alignment with the values and work of the Radical Urban Lab.
About the Fellowship Provider
The Radical Urban Lab (RUL) is an interdisciplinary research collective based at the School of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of St Andrews. RUL is committed to supporting critical scholarship on urbanisation, decolonisation, and social justice. This Fellowship is offered in partnership with public universities in Gaza, as part of a shared commitment to academic solidarity and resistance against scholasticide.