Organizer Information
The Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara) is a UK-based organisation that supports academics facing discrimination, persecution, suffering, or violence by arranging temporary research placements, primarily at UK higher education and research institutions. Its support generally takes the form of PhD placements or one- to two-year Visiting Fellowships. Cara accepts applications from any country and academic field, subject to its eligibility and risk criteria.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara)
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Graduate / Doctoral / Postdoctoral
- Degrees Offered: PhD; Visiting Fellowship
- Academic Fields: All academic fields
- Relevant Programs: Cara’s Fellowship Programme; PhD placements; Visiting Fellowships
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Rolling basis
- Application Deadline: No deadline
- Start of Studies: Program/placement-specific
- Funding: Awards cover basic living expenses and relocation costs, including visa and travel expenses.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- Cara accepts applicants from any academic field. PhD placements are research degrees, while Visiting Fellowships are postdoctoral research opportunities for academics who are experts in their fields.
- Applicants must meet Cara's academic and professional eligibility criteria; the organisation does not restrict applications to particular disciplines.
General Eligibility
- Applicants must fall within Cara's risk criteria and must have held a paid lecturer and/or researcher position in a higher education institution or equivalent for at least six months. They must also hold a minimum Master's degree or provide evidence of at least one publication in an internationally peer-reviewed journal.
- Cara prioritises people who remain at immediate risk and have limited alternative options. Applicants who have previously received funding through the British Academy's Researchers at Risk Fellowship are not eligible.
- Applicants must have their own legal means of leaving their home country or valid legal status if resident in a third country; Cara does not provide evacuations. Fellows must travel to the UK for their placements and must have valid travel documents.
Language Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate sufficient English competency because English is the working language of Cara placements. For PhD applications, a recent IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent English-language examination certificate is required. Visiting Fellowship applicants may be asked to take an English test during processing. Host universities and UK immigration authorities may impose additional English-language requirements.
Tuition & Fees
Cara does not provide standard or partial scholarships or research grants. Its support instead takes the form of funded placements.
| Fee Type | Verified Information |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | No application fee is stated on Cara's official application information. |
| Tuition | Cara does not state a tuition charge for applicants; placement funding is determined according to the placement and partner-university arrangements. |
Cara states that its Fellows receive an award covering basic living expenses and relocation costs, including visa and travel expenses. The amount depends on factors including the placement location, placement type, and family size.
Funding & Financial Support
- A stipend/living allowance of £15,000 per year for each year of study* A tuition fee waiver* *For a maximum of four years of full-time study. This scholarship is offered in collaboration with the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA).
- Cara Fellows receive financial support covering basic living expenses and relocation costs, including visa and travel expenses. After starting their placements, Fellows can access additional services including mentoring, English-language support, and small grants.
- Cara describes its PhD and Visiting Fellowship placements as fully funded support, but support is not guaranteed to every applicant who meets the basic criteria. Applications are assessed partly according to academic ability, risk, and available funding.
University Services & Academic Support
Cara arranges placements at higher education and research institutions, primarily in the UK. Fellows can receive mentoring, English-language support, and small grants after beginning their placements. Cara also maintains support relationships with Fellows during their placement period.
Application Requirements
- Passport, including photograph and expiry-date pages
- Legal-status documents and official English translations, where relevant
- Academic certificates and official English translations, where relevant
- English-language certificate, if available
- CV detailing academic work history and publications
- Contact details for three referees, at least two of whom must provide academic references
- Research proposal and/or PhD proposal
- Evidence of at least six months of academic employment, with English translation where necessary
- Detailed statement describing current personal risks or threats
A research proposal should be 4–5 pages, written in English, properly cited, and accompanied by a bibliography. Cara states that generative AI must not be used in preparing the proposal; evidence of such use can result in rejection.
How to Apply?
- Application Portal
Deadline & Timeline
- Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Location
Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara) — United Kingdom
Additional Details
Cara does not provide undergraduate placements and only exceptionally considers Master's placements. Visiting Fellowships are normally one to two years and are postdoctoral research opportunities; PhD placements typically receive three years of full-time funding. Cara placements are not employment opportunities, and Cara does not secure employment after the placement.
Applicants already holding refugee, asylum-seeker, or permanent-residence status in a safe third country are generally not supported where they do not face immediate risk; Cara currently prioritises applicants facing immediate danger in their home country or recently displaced people with limited alternatives.