Bonavero Institute Student Fellowships

The aim of the Bonavero Student Fellowships programme is to provide opportunities for students, regardless of financial circumstance, to improve their knowledge of human rights law and to obtain real-world experience in the field of human rights. Fellows work with a range of human rights organisations, including courts and world-leading NGOs and research institutions across the globe.  

Although each Fellowship is unique, we aim to ensure that all provide the following common outcomes: 

- Experience of working with the chosen host organisation on a defined project(s) or programme of work, which creates tangible value for the partner and a valuable learning experience for the student; 

- Interaction with an assigned supervisor or mentor within the host organisation; 

Read about our partners here, and some recent Student Fellow's experiences here (2025)  here (2023) and here (2021).

Most Fellowships are full time, allowing some flexibility if required (and as pre-arranged with the Bonavero Institute and host organisation). The exception to this is the Turpin and Miller Fellowship, which is on a 3 days per week basis. 

The objective of the funding for this programme is to ensure that all students who are selected for a Fellowship can undertake the placement, and that there are no socio-economic barriers to accessing the programme. The funding available for each Fellowship is in the form of a bursary, which is not payment for work.  In light of the programme’s objective, bursaries are tailored to the individual student and to the host organisation. Accordingly, the amount of bursaries will vary depending on whether the placement is remote, the cost of accommodation in the area in which the Fellowship is based (if not remote and not within the area in which the Fellow is living at the time of the placement),  the cost of flights and/or other travel expenses, and the amount of time during the Fellowship that the Fellow is expected to spend in-person at the host organisation, among other considerations.   This tailored approach enables us to offer a wider variety and higher number of Fellowships while ensuring equity. 

The Fellowships are open to the following: 

• Students currently pursuing a research degree or a taught graduate course in the Oxford Law Faculty (BCL/MJur/MSc/MSt/MPhil/DPhil).
• Graduate students holding a law degree in other faculties or departments of the University of Oxford.
• Students currently in the final year of the BA (Jurisprudence) programme or those who have graduated from Oxford Law Faculty (including the BA programme) within the last twelve months.
• Students about to complete their graduate degrees in Oxford or, in appropriate cases and after consulting their supervisor, those to intermit their studies in order to undertake the internship. 

Please note that the  Samuel Pisar Travelling Fellowship and the  Fellowship with the African Court of Human and People's Rights  have more limited criteria, whilst  International IDEA  accepts applications from a broader range, including applicants enrolled in courses at Oxford with different specialities such as political and social science. 

Applicants should demonstrate from their qualifications, especially their studies in Oxford, that they have sufficient knowledge of human rights law, public law, international law and/or constitutional law to make an effective contribution to the host organisation. Usually, applicants will have taken at least one of these law subjects in an Oxford taught programme, will have engaged in research in one or more of these subjects as part of their studies in Oxford, and/or will have had practical experience working with human rights organisations. 

Applications for 2026 will open on Monday 19th January 2026 – deadline for submission of applications – Noon (UK time) Friday 6th February 2026 

The application process consists of a written application, which may be followed by an in person interview at the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights. Please read the relevant details and submit your application electronically to bonavero-programmes@law.ox.ac.uk by the deadline date set out above. Any applications received after this deadline or in the incorrect format, will not be reviewed. 

Please include the following documentation as a SINGLE (combined) pdf file that includes your surname in the file name:.  

• A completed application form. 
• A CV (max 2 pages), which outlines relevant work and experience, including whether you have been an active member of any of the organisations or groups linked with the Fellowship(s) you are applying for.
• Two letters of reference, preferably from individuals able to speak to your abilities in the field of international law and/or human rights law. In the case of current research students, one of the referees should be the applicant’s supervisor. Please note, references should be submitted as pdf attachments by the applicant as part of the application.
• Official transcripts (scanned copies)
• A letter (max 2 pages, no addressee required) that includes the following information:

1. Your reasons for wishing to undertake the fellowship (approx. 200 words).
2. How your area of study is relevant to the chosen placement (approx. 200 words).
3. Applicants are encouraged to identify at least 2 Fellowships that they are interested in applying for, to identify these in order of preference, and to provide an explanation of the motivations for each.
4. If you are applying for the Samuel Pisar Travelling Fellowship (note that the funding for this Fellowship is a fixed amount), please explain your proposed project (approx. 300 words). Please also clarify whether you have been in touch with the host organisation regarding the project.
5. Details of where you will be residing at the time of the placement.

• Potential sources of funding that could be applied to the costs associated with the placement, including amount(s) (e.g., scholarship stipends, personal funds, and/or college grants (either existing or potential). Note this is only relevant to in-person placements.