Call for applications, CAMPO doctoral exchange programme (University of Cambridge / Sciences Po)

CamPo is a research partnership between the University of Cambridge and Sciences Po offering an exchange programme for all social science PhD students within the six schools of Cambridge University and PhD students within all of Sciences Po’s research centres.

Applications are now open for students to spend a period of time studying in their non-home institution during the calendar year 2025.

PhD students whose research would benefit from spending a period of time in the other institution are encouraged to apply to this scheme. Visiting students should arrange their stay so that it coincides with the teaching terms in Cambridge and Paris.

• In Cambridge, visiting CamPo PhD students will be affiliated with a host department and provided with desk space (whenever possible and usually in a shared open space), a library card and access to Cambridge online resources. Students will be assigned a member of the faculty as their institutional point of contact. Visiting CamPo PhD students will be encouraged to play a full part in the academic life of the host department, through participation in seminars and interaction with the POLIS faculty. For your information, please check term dates for the University of Cambridge.
• In Sciences Po, visiting CamPo PhD students will be affiliated with one of the Sciences Po research  centres and with the École de la Recherche. They will have access to desk space in one of the research centres (whenever possible and usually in a shared open space), a library card and access to Sciences Po online resources. Students will be assigned a member of the faculty as their institutional point of contact at Science Po. Please, check the Sciences Po student handbook where you will find semesters date and other relevant information.

Doctoral Exchange

CamPo includes a funded doctoral exchange programme between the two institutions.
On the Sciences Po side, candidates would be expected to seek funding from the École de la Recherche (which has a designated fund to support doctoral visits and exchanges such as CamPo).
The CamPo exchange offers a fee-waiver between Cambridge and Sciences Po. As visiting students, CamPo PhD students will have access to all the institutional support.
The scheme is open to all social science PhD students within the six schools of Cambridge University and PhD students within all of Sciences Po’s research centres.

a. Funding and Resources
 

• In Paris, visiting CamPo PhD students will be affiliated with one of the Sciences Po research centres and with the École de la Recherche. They will have access to desk space in one of the research centres (whenever possible and usually in a shared open space), a library card and access to Sciences Po online resources. Students will be assigned a member of the faculty as their institutional point of contact at Science Po. The Sciences Po student handbook includes semesters’ dates and other relevant information.
   
• In Cambridge, visiting CamPo PhD students will be affiliated with a host department and
  provided with desk space (whenever possible and usually in a shared open space), a library card and access to Cambridge online resources.
  
  o Students will be assigned a member of the faculty as their institutional point of
  contact. Visiting CamPo PhD students will be encouraged to play a full part in the
  academic life of the host department. Here are the University of Cambridge term
  dates for information.
  o Students visiting Cambridge, also be affiliated with Clare Hall College, subject to
  availability, students may be able to arrange rental accommodation through the
  college after confirmation of award. Accommodation may also be found at other
  colleges, via the University of Cambridge Accommodation Service or in the private
  sector.
   
• Students are expected to arrange their own accommodation for the duration of their visit
  to Paris or Cambridge.
   
• Students may claim up to £500 towards expenses such as maintenance, accommodation
  and travel incurred during their visit. This will be subject to their department’s expenses
  claim policy and upon submission of original receipts. Claims may be submitted after
  the visit.

All expenditure must be processed by 1 December 2025

b. Eligibility

All PhD students active in or with a link to the arts, humanities and social sciences whose
research would benefit from spending up to three months in their non-home institution are
encouraged to apply to this programme.

Visiting students should arrange their stay so that it coincides with the teaching terms in
Cambridge and Paris.

It is essential to seek support from an academic sponsor in the department they wish to visit
before applying and confirm with the department/faculty that they are prepared to support
their exchange.

c. Selection process and criteria

Applicants should provide the following documentation of up to two A4 pages in PDF format:

• a short description of their PhD project;
• their CV;
• a letter of recommendation from their supervisor (aimed at supporting the application);
• a letter for support from the host department (a template is provided within the
  application form).

d. Reporting

As a condition of the award, each awardee will be asked to provide a brief report about their
exchange. The CamPo scheme should be credited in any outputs facilitated by this award.
A report template will provided with the award letter.
Reports are due within thirty days of the end-date proposed in the original application.

Application procedure

The deadline for applications is 31 January 2025 and the results will be announced in February.

Interested PhD students should seek the support of an academic sponsor in the department they wish to visit.

If the department is willing to support your exchange in principle, please submit your application via our online application form (Campo PhD EXCHANGE call 2025), ensuring that the following details are provided:

• Your CV (maximum 2 pages) ;
• A brief outline of your PhD project (maximum 2 pages);
• A letter of recommendation from your supervisor

Please note that the letter of recommendation must support your application and need not be personal.

Within one month of returning to their home institution, visitors will be asked to provide a brief report (maximum 2 pages) on their stay.

For general questions about the programme, please contact campo@admin.cam.ac.uk.

Call for applications CamPo 2025 - Schemes Notes (PDF, 820 Kb)