The Department of Politics, in conjunction with the Governance ResearchCentre (GRC), which is based in the Department, is offering threePostgraduate Studentships. The GRA will be paid a stipend of £4,415p.a. to cover 250 hours each year or £5,298 per annum to cover 300hours each year of research assistance duties. In addition full-timeHome/EU fees will be paid throughout the studentship currently £3,010for full-time research degrees. (The GRA post is not available tostudents already registered for a research degree in the Department ofPolitics).

There are two components to the studentship. The first element is thateach year of the award, you will be expected to provide 250 or 300hours (to be negotiated between the successful candidate and theDirector of the GRC) of research assistance to the Deputy Directorbased in the Department of Politics. Specific tasks will be determinedby the Deputy Director, but typically include literature searches,literature reviews, use of the internet, drafting short briefing notesas well as some administrative support for the GRC. Contracts will besubject to renewal annually providing that a Research Assistant hascompleted their hours of research support to a satisfactory standard,and is making good progress with their academic studies. Working as aGRA is a demanding but very rewarding experience. Working as a GRA willtake up, on average, 6hours per week during term time. The secondelement is that you must apply for research degree in the Department ofPolitics. There are two options:

Option One: Register for an MPhil/PhD

If you have completed a recognised research methods course you shouldapply directly for a three year MPhil/PhD. Home/EU tuition fees for theUniversity of Bristol will be covered for 3 years under theStudentship, subject to admission to the MPhil/PhD programme, andeventual upgrading to PhD by the end of year two. This contract will bereviewed after one year, is renewable annually during the term of theStudentship, subject to satisfactory performance on the degreeprogramme and as a Graduate Research Assistant. Your research topicshould be relevant to one of the research programmes within theGovernance Research Centre. These cover: (1) Security Governance; (2)Gender and Governance; (3); International Development (and within thisGlobal Islam and Identity Politics) and (4) European Politics.

Option Two: Register for an MSc in Social Science Research Methods

[Politics/International Relations] and MPhil/PhD (1+3) If you have notcompleted the relevant research methods training to directly registerfor an MPhil/PhD, you will need to apply and be accepted for the oneyear MSc in Social Science Research Methods [Politics/InternationalRelations] offered by the Department of Politics. On successfulcompletion of the MSc programme and acceptance as an M Phil/PhDcandidate, the postgraduate studentship will continue for a furtherthree years to support your completion of a PhD in the Department. Yourresearch topic should be relevant to one of the research programmeswithin the Governance Research Centre. These cover: (1) Security &Governance; (2) Gender and Governance; (3) International Development(also Global Islam and Identity Politics) and (4) European Politics.

Further details for these research programmes can be found on the web at: www.bris.ac.uk/grc

International students are encouraged to apply, but should be awarethat only the home/EU tuition fees are covered at the full-time ratefor three or four years, depending on which option they choose and thatthey will be expected to prove that they can cover the differencebetween EU and non-EU fee levels. The current full-time rate for Homeand EU students is £3,010. International students will therefore needto find the remaining £5,090 to cover the full fees, which for2004/2005 are £8,100 per annum.

If applicants want to undertake their MSc in Social Science ResearchMethods [Politics/International Relations] or MPhil/PhD programmespart-time this is possible and should be specified on the application.However applicants should note that irrespective of whether they areenrolled as part-time or full-time they will need to offer 250 or 300hours of research support to the Governance Research Centre each yearfor 3 years if choosing to register for an MPhil/PhD (Option I) or 4years if choosing to undertake the MSc in Social Science ResearchMethods [Politics/International Relations] followed by an MPhil/PhD.

The Governance Research Centre is concerned with the relationshipbetween the state, the private sector and civil society, and with howthat relationship affects our lives. It is particularly concerned withformal and informal rules, processes and practices that affect howpower is exercised. As a concept it offers a useful analytical lens,generating new insights and understanding of contemporary issues. Thework of the GRC is informed by a research philosophy characterised bythree elements: policy orientation; interdisciplinarity of approach;and an interest in the part played by norms and values. The aim of theGRC is to: (1) act as a focal point for the development of researchprojects, building on existing expertise at Bristol and facilitatingthe emergence of new areas of interest within the area of governance;(2) develop consultancy and contract work within an appliedpolicy-relevant context; (3) build on existing networks to bringtogether academics and practitioners through interdisciplinaryactivities.

For further information on the Governance Research Centre and theDepartment of Polices see http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Politics &http://www.bris.ac.uk/grc

Informal enquiries to r.dover@bristol.ac.uk

Procedure

You should apply through a covering letter, together with a full CV,with two sealed confidential references enclosed with your applicationthat discuss your potential both as a PhD student and ResearchAssistant. Your covering letter should identify a potential supervisorfrom the staff research profiles on the Department of Politics website: http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Politics under the link meet thestaff.

Please note you do not need to contact a potential supervisor at thisstage. The closing date for applications is 12.00, 29 April 2005.Applications should be sent to Dr Rob Dover, GRC, Dept., of Politics,10 Priory Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1TU. In addition you shouldsubmit a 1,500 word summary account of your research project andtimetable. The summary research proposal is the means by which you willbe trying to convince us that your application is worth supervising andfunding so think carefully about what information you are going to giveand how it is presented.

Make sure you think your plan through and cover all stages. Askyourself the following questions: • Have I clearly formulated theproblem, have I put it in context of contemporary debates, demonstratedthe way in which my work will build in existing research and make acontribution to the area? Is there a clear and convincingly arguedanalytical framework? What will the research do, to whom or to what,and why? • Have I established appropriate aims and objectives (both aretypes of goal, with the former being more general and abstract)? Arethey clear, concise and attainable? • Have I provided a well thoughtout research design in which there is a reasoned explanation of thescale, timing and resources necessary? Am I being realistic aboutthese? Am I using the most relevant approach and the most appropriatemethods? How will it relate to and deliver the objectives? What will myresearch design allow me to say in the interpretation of anticipatedresults? • Have I given a full and detailed description of the proposedresearch methods? Is there any innovation in the methodology I amplanning to use? Am I developing any new methods or using establishedmethods innovatively? If I am using data collection have I consideredalready existing data resources? Am I sure that access will be givenwhere necessary, and do I have written confirmation of this? Am Iconvinced of its quality, validity, reliability and relevance? Have Iconsidered the costs of cataloguing and preparing data for archiving?Have I demonstrated a clear and systematic approach to the analysis ofdata and how this fits into the research design? • Have I thought aboutthe ethics of what I am planning to do? Are there any sensitive issuesor potential problems, which need to be addressed? Have I fullyconsulted on these issues and obtained approval where required? • HaveI recognised and planned for the skills that will be required to bringthe work to a satisfactory conclusion? • Have I anticipated potentialdifficulties? Have I shown that I recognise these and have discussedhow they would be handled? • Have I provided a bibliography? This willindicate your familiarity with the theoretical grounding and currentstate of the art of your subject. Where there is genuinely little or norelevant literature, explain this fully. The Department will not assumeyour erudition: we would like to see evidence.
• This proposal will be subject to serious critical appraisal. Am Isatisfied that I have fully defended my chosen research design and madeit clear why others are not appropriate? • Have I identified potentialusers of this research outside of the academic community? These may begovernment departments, public bodies, businesses, voluntaryorganisations or other interested parties. Have I involved/consultedthem in my planning? Have I thought about how I might arrange for theircontinuing involvement in the research process in an appropriate way?Convey to the Research Centre your genuine interest, understanding andenthusiasm for the work. Keep the following questions in mind as youplan: • What is the story you are telling, • What is the audience, •Why does it matter, • Why now, • Why you? It is vital to make sure thatyou devote enough space in the proposal to describing the research youintend to conduct and the research design and methods - the Departmentfinds it very frustrating when applicants devote pages to explainingwhy their proposed research is exciting by then provide only a sort andinadequate explanation of how they propose to explore this in practice.Write in plain English. Your proposal is likely to be seen by a numberof people, some of whom will not be versed in your particularspecialism. Detail and specification may necessitate the use ofdisciplinary or technical terminology, but the ideas you wish to conveyand your reasons for doing so should be apparent to a wide audience. Bythe same token do take the trouble to check spelling, grammar andpunctuation. These are all part of the quality of presentation andpresentation matters. This should be sent to Dr Rob Dover, GovernanceResearch Centre, 10 Priory Road, Clifton Bristol BS8 1TN. Emails:r.dover@bristol.ac.uk The closing date for applications is 9.00am, 29April 2005. The interview date will be in week beginning 9 May 2005.Application Check List: • Covering letter • CV • Proposal • 2References (covering academic ability and potential as a ResearchAssistant)