The Institute of Commonwealth Studies and Routledge are delighted to announce that Esther Njenga has been awarded the inaugural Routledge Round Table Commonwealth Studentship Award.

The Routledge/ Round Table award will be made from this year onwards, in celebration of the publisher's continuing association with The Round Table, the Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs, and the journal's connection with the Institute. The award is open to students from Commonwealth countries outside the United Kingdom, who have been accepted by the Institute for the MA course in Understanding and Securing Human Rights.

Dr David Green, Global Publishing Director at Routledge said, "It is a privilege to sponsor this award on behalf of The Round Table. The award represents the Journal's continued contribution to Commonwealth scholarship in its centenary year and, in supporting an MA student at the ICS, looks to the Commonwealth of the future. We wish Esther Njenga the best of luck in her studies as the first Round Table Scholar."

Richard Bourne, Chair of The Round Table said, "The Round Table is thrilled at this benefaction from our publisher at the start of our centenary year. This Studentship goes to a worthy winner, and is a tangible contribution to the future of the Commonwealth and its premier journal."

The Round Table journal is Britain's oldest international affairs journal and provides analysis and commentary on all aspects of international affairs. The journal is also the major source for coverage of policy issues concerning the contemporary Commonwealth and its role in international affairs.

For further information on the MA Course in Understanding and Securing Human Rights at Institute of Commonwealth Studies, please contact Marcus Erridge, Postgraduate Student Officer (Marcus.Erridge@sas.ac.uk).

Press Release: PDF version

Applying for the Award

Routledge, publisher of The Round Table journal, is sponsoring an MA student at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London. It will be an annual award from 2009 onwards, in celebration of the publisher's continuing association with The Round Table, the Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs, and the journal's connection with the Institute.

The award is open to students, from Commonwealth countries outside the United Kingdom, who have been accepted by the Institute for the MA course in understanding and securing human rights. The closing date for applicants for the 2nd Routledge/Round Table Studentship is 7 July, 2010 and the award is worth £8,500, for the academic year, 2010-2011.

Eligible candidates should indicate to Dr Damien Short, MA course convenor, (Damien.Short@sas.ac.uk) or Alison Stewart, Administrative Secretary at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, (Alison.Stewart@sas.ac.uk) that they wish to be considered. Applicants will not need to provide any additional material. The successful student will be selected on the basis of an academic and biographical CV and his or her personal statement, which states why he or she wishes to follow this course at the Institute, in London's Russell Square. This material will already have been provided by all applicants for the MA course.

The selection process will involve the Round Table, the Institute and senior members of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and Commonwealth Lawyers Association.