APPLY: AFRO BEATS AND AFRO BYTES PHD SCHOLARSHIP

Applications are invited for a 4-year funded PhD studentship on “Afro beats and Afro bytes: the global development of West Africa music and the role of digital and platform economies.”

The researcher will be based in the Department of Culture, Media and Creative Industries (CMCI), King’s College London and co-supervised by Professor Roberta Comunian (Professor of Creative Economies in the Department of Culture, Media & Creative Industries) and Dr Eka Ikpe (Director of the African Leadership Centre and Reader in Development Economics in Africa).

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Essential criteria

An African national and permanently resident in an African country;
Liable for tuition fees at the higher international/overseas rate (fees are covered funding for four years);
Plan to commence a full-time MPhil/PhD programme at King’s College London in the 2024-25 academic year (Ideally the candidate will start in October 2024).
Meet the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree in the Faculty of Social Science and Policy at King’s College London.
You should hold or expect to obtain a High Merit or Distinction at Master’s level (or equivalent) in any subject. Subjects of particular relevance would include but not be limited to: International Political Economy; Political Economy; Business; Development Studies; Culture, Media & Creative Industries; Policy; Sociology; Geography; Social sciences.
A strong interest in music and the creative economy (academic, professional, personal)
Good team-working, observational, organisation and communication skills.
Experience of qualitative and quantitative methods

Desirable criteria

Professional experience in the music industry in a West African country
Professional or personal networks in the music industry in an African country
Prior research or publication experience
Funding

This award will cover your full tuition fees, provide an annual stipend and offers a Research, Training and Support Grant per year.

Application Procedure

The selection process will involve a pre-selection based on documents:

CV
cover letter explaining your interest in the project and how your prior experience is relevant
a sample of written work (i.e MA thesis)
an academic reference letter (from a previous supervisor or personal tutor at MA level).
Please email these documents to Prof. Comunian (Roberta.Comunian@kcl.ac.uk) by 19th of March 2024.

Visit the official website for more information.