About Us
The Black PhD Society seeks to establish a student-led, dynamic and self-sustained community of Black PhD students at SOAS to foster academic excellence, mental well-being, and political engagement while building networks across UK institutions. It seeks to address a critical gap in targeted support for Black doctoral researchers and build specialised support for the unique challenges and opportunities PhD students face by strengthening connections and support systems across academic departments.
As a student society, we aim to create a supportive space for Black PhD student researchers by fostering academic collaboration, building community, and advocating for meaningful change by facilitating research partnerships and peer review networks to boost productivity while sharing funding and publication opportunities to help members thrive. We’re also committed to amplifying Black voices by collaborating with groups like the RSA, the EI and ICOP, engaging in policy discussions, and pushing for greater representation in academic leadership to foster a more inclusive academic environment.