James Wilson Postgraduate Fellowships for Constitutional Studies
The University of St Andrews is developing a programme of postgraduate fellowships in Constitutional Studies named in honour of one our most important alumni, and a founding father of the American Republic, James Wilson.
As befits Wilson's legacy, the programme encourages innovative research into the subject of constitutionalism, exploring both its origins in the ancient world and its increasing centrality to thinking and practice in contemporary international relations. As such, the studies are fully interdisciplinary, allowing the student to draw principally on the expertise of the University's Schools of Classics and International Relations and others as appropriate. The resulting research will deliver insights that are not merely of academic interest but will contribute to our understanding of contemporary constitutional foundations and the likelihood of their sustainability.
The programme is open only to doctoral candidates of the very highest calibre. It is envisaged that the programme will create a distinguished community of scholars who will contribute in academic and non-academic fields.
Outline of research themes
The main objective of this course of study is to develop an understanding of the process of constitutional foundings across time and cultural distances and to provide the benefit of ancient and more recent political thought to the key areas of contemporary politics.
The main objective of this course of study is to develop an understanding of the process of constitutional foundings across time and cultural distances and to provide the benefit of ancient and more recent political thought to the key areas of contemporary politics.
In the fields of political science and international relations, the experience for "both good and ill" of the transitional localities of Europe, Africa and America, the debate over the contents of new "constitutional orders" continues. Despite the widespread acknowledgement of the significance of classical models for modern political practice, there has been little study of the parallels, similarities and dissimilarities of the ancient and modern foundings. This study will seek to fill this gap in ways that would speak to both classicists and ancient historians on one hand and to political theorists and international relations scholars on the other, as well as, in due course, others.
What work there has been on the interpenetration of classical and modern thoughts in political theory has tended to focus on the question of democracy and on the relevance and examples of Athenian policies and history. This study will break new ground in focusing on constitutionalism in general and more recent founding moments in particular. Considerable attention will be given to English and Scottish thinkers including John Locke, Francis Hutcheson, Adam Smith and Thomas Reid, among others.
The potential impact of these studies will be profound. Contemporary analysis of constitutionalism on all levels will be informed by a much more rigorous set of comparative and historical treatments of the origins of constitutionalism than that which exists at present. This interdisciplinary approach will enrich wide spectra of fields, including classical studies, philosophy, history and Scottish studies, by an analysis of the possibilities and dangers in the creating and sustaining any constitutional order under consideration.
Beginnings
Our first intake of James Wilson Postgraduate Fellows commenced their PhD studies at St Andrews in October 2005. Two students are being generously sponsored by the Earhart Foundation. Sean Elliott is working on Montesquieu and his classical background while Laurie Wilson is exploring the Roman Republican background in modern thought, especially in connection with law and liberty and the foundation of the American constitution. Our third Fellow, Clare Anderson, is being funded by an anonymous benefactor and donations from our alumni and friends. Her research focuses on the political thought of George Buchanan, Scotland's foremost writer of the sixteenth century, and Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun, whose work still contributes to debates over republicanism and federalism.
We are now seeking to raise funds to support additional Fellowships to build this community of first-rate scholars in Constitutional Studies at St Andrews.
Financial information
The James Wilson Programme for Constitutional Studies aims to attract the brightest scholars to St Andrews from across the globe. To ensure that we achieve this, the University is seeking to provide financial support to offset the burden of postgraduate tuition fees, accommodation costs and living expenses.
Tuition fees
In the 2005-2006 academic session, UK & EU students' tuition fees are £3,900 while for overseas students the figure is £10,350. These figures are subject to increase year on year.
Accommodation and living expenses
In 2005-2006, approximately 50% of the postgraduate population were accommodated in halls of residence and student houses/flats with charges ranging from £2,400 pa self-catering to over £5,000 pa in catered accommodation. The remainder of postgraduates, especially married postgraduates, were required to seek private sector accommodation, which is invariably more expensive. In addition, all students face basic living expenses together with the costs of books, equipment and travel associated with their studies.
To name a Fellowship
Owing to the prestigious nature of The James Wilson Postgraduate Fellowships for Constitutional Studies, we are looking to cover the full costs of our new postgraduate students while studying at St Andrews.
This amounts to £15,000 per annum for 3 years (total £45,000), for UK and EU students.For non-EU students, the costs are £25,000 per annum for 3 years (total £75,000).
Contact
If you would like to discuss The James Wilson Programme for Constitutional Studies, please do not hesitate to contact:
Development Office
University of St Andrews
St Salvator's College
North Street
St Andrews
Fife, KY16 9AL
SCOTLAND
Tel: +44 (0)1334 462113 Fax: +44 (0)1334 462590
Email: develop@st-andrews.ac.uk