OCPL Fellowship Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply for the OCPL Fellowship?
Eligible applicants must be current Oxford graduate students or affiliated with an Oxford-based research organisation. Candidates should be located in Oxford for logistical purposes.
What are the main focus areas of the Fellowship?
The fellowship focuses on generating academic scholarship or policy work within three main areas:
Implications, development, and governance of artificial intelligence (AI)
Critical technology supply chains, digital and critical national infrastructures, economic and technological statecraft
Other pressing problems connected to China and US-China relations, including conflict risks and mitigation strategies
How long does the Fellowship last?
The fellowship lasts for 6 months, typically running from January to June. Some fellows continue developing projects through the summer.
What is the time commitment for Fellows?
Fellows are expected to commit 4-8 hours per week to fellowship activities. This includes a 2-hour weekly session (mandatory), meetings with OCPL mentors, discussions within the fellowship working groups, and independent study/research.
What if I have a conflict during the weekly meeting time?
Emergencies withstanding, fellows are expected to attend all meetings.
Does the Fellowship provide financial support?
Yes, fellows receive a £1,000 research support and professional development budget, with additional internal funding opportunities available.
What does the application process entail?
The application process includes:
Completing the application form, including a CV and research proposal
Initial screening based on academic background, relevant experiences, and potential for impact
Final round panel interviews with OCPL selection committee
When are the application deadlines?
The application is due in early November each year. For the 2025 cohort, the deadlines were November 1, 2024 (midnight GMT) for the 2025 Team Leads and November 10, 2024 (midnight GMT) for the general fellowship track.
What research outputs are expected from Fellows?
Fellows are expected to produce high-quality interdisciplinary outputs related to their topic of choice, informed through consultation with OCPL leadership . Outputs most frequently involve research, including policy briefs and academic papers. Events, conferences, or panels are also supported outputs. Fellows will receive training and mentorship on how to produce high-quality outputs.
Will there be opportunities to engage with policymakers or industry professionals?
Yes, the fellowship includes opportunities to engage with policymakers and industry professionals through expert seminars, policy briefings, and networking events.
I don’t speak Chinese. Am I eligible for the fellowship?
We encourage all applicants whose experiences and research interests speak to our mission statement to apply.
Do I need to have previous policy experience to apply for the fellowship?
Previous policy experience is not a requirement for the fellowship but viewed favourably.
I do not have an academic publication record. Am I eligible for the fellowship?
Previous academic publication experience is not a requirement for the fellowship but viewed favourably.
My research does not engage with questions related to emerging technology. Will the OCPL Fellowship support my research?
We anticipate a majority of our fellows will work on questions connected to AI and other emerging technologies. We do, however, plan to support some fellows whose research addresses other structural risks in the U.S.-China relationship. Fellows working on non-emerging technology topics should be excited to learn more about pressing problems at the intersection of U.S.-China relations and emerging technologies.
Where do alumni go after completing the Fellowship?
Many OCPL fellows move from master’s to DPhil programmes at Oxford or PhD programmes at other universities. Others have joined top think tanks, civil and foreign services, and China-focused jobs in the private sector, to name a few.
What is the goal of the Fellowship?
Our ultimate goal is to upskill talent capable of working on pressing problems related to U.S.-China relations and their impact on the world, and providing them with a community to support their research. While we hope fellows will grapple with and begin to work on pressing problems through the fellowship itself, we are more concerned that the skills and networks fellows gain in working with OCPL build a foundation for a longer career dedicated to working on these issues.