Worshipful Company of Arbitrators
Travelling Scholarships 2025
The Worshipful Company of Arbitrators (WCA) invites applications for two Travelling Scholarships, each of £7,000, to enable the recipients of this year’s scholarships to travel to, and spend a month in, their chosen country/jurisdiction.
Applications are invited from private dispute resolution practitioners and academics at any stage of their career, but preference will be given to applicants at post-experience stage, with at least a first degree and a professional qualification in law, engineering, quantity surveying, accountancy or similar. A keen interest in private dispute resolution is important, as are good report writing skills together with integrity and respect for confidentiality. As we are a City of London Livery Company, applicants should be able to show some connection with or interest in London or the UK.
For 2025, and as a new feature of the scholarships, Applicants are invited to include, as part of their application, their proposed country/jurisdiction to be visited and provide their reasons for their choice. Accordingly, it is also open to residents of other countries to propose to visit the UK under the terms of the scholarship.
As part of their consideration of choice of jurisdiction, the travelling scholars will need to bear in mind that they will need to arrange their own travel arrangements, visa and other entry requirements, transport and accommodation., Upon request, and if possible, Travelling Scholars will be put in contact with WCA members or other practitioners who may facilitate meetings with local practitioners and, where available, visits to hearings and other events of relevance to dispute resolution. Otherwise, it is for each scholar to seek out contacts and opportunities to facilitate their visit.
Applicants should complete the Application Form available on the WCA website – the link is here. The related Terms and Conditions are also available here.
Previous travelling scholarships have been successfully conducted in Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore and reports of these trips can be found on the Company’s website at www.arbitratorscompany.org (here). Guidance on the contents and structure of the reports required at the conclusion of the visit and may be found here. Only reports deemed of suitable quality and which meet the Company requirements will be published.
The closing date for applications is 05 November 2025. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a virtual interview by Zoom in November or December 2025 and should be available to travel within 6 months of the award of a scholarship.
The successful applicants will gain experience in, and study aspects of, private dispute resolution in the agreed country/jurisdiction and, in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, will subsequently be required to prepare a report on their experiences which will be published on the WCA website. In addition, Scholars may be invited to appear in WCA podcasts and/or attend WCA events to discuss their experiences; this may include attendance at one of the WCA’s annual arbitration or mediation competitions. Scholars may also be invited to apply to join the WCA.
Applications, including an accompanying letter providing information which expands on anything which the applicant wishes to be taken into consideration as part of their application, should be sent by email to Education Sub-Committee member, Geoffrey Clarkson, at geoffrey@clarksonassociates.org.uk with a copy to John Hammond, Clerk of the WCA, at clerk@arbitratorscompany.org