Christian makes University of Leicester history after graduating from flagship minority ethnic PhD scholarship scheme

Christian Davis has made history after becoming the first to graduate from the University of Leicester’s pioneering minority ethnic PhD scholarship scheme.

The initiative was launched by the University’s College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities (CSSAH) to supported talented students from under-represented backgrounds. 

Christian received his Doctor of Philosophy award in a graduation ceremony at De Montfort Hall today (Thursday 15 January).

Christian, completed a Graduate Teaching Assistantship as part of the scholarship, studying with the University’s School of Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy. He credits the scholarship as transformative, enabling him to focus fully on his research without the financial pressures of juggling multiple jobs. It also gave him access to professional development opportunities, including completing a Postgraduate Certificate of Academic Practice (PGCAP), attending conferences, and gaining valuable teaching experience.

Reflecting on the impact of his scholarship, Christian said: “The scholarship gave me stability and the time to do the research well. It also meant a lot symbolically – it felt like the University was actively opening doors and believed in my potential. That support made postgraduate study possible and sustainable for me.”

Since its launch in 2020, the University of Leicester has invested £750,000 in the minority ethnic PhD scholarship scheme within CSSAH, funding 13 students through four-year Graduate Teaching Assistantships. The initiative aims to address under-representation of Black, Asian, and minority ethnic scholars in academia by providing financial support, research opportunities, and teaching experience.

His research explored an amateur boxing gym in Leicester as a social space and used ethnographic methods and interviews to understand how the gym shaped the lives of young Black and South Asian users. 

His findings revealed that the gym was far more than a training venue – it became a place of belonging, cultural resistance, and community-building, where identities and values such as masculinity, discipline, and respect were negotiated in complex ways.

Christian added: “I chose the University of Leicester because it has a strong tradition in sociology and criminology, and I wanted to do research that was both academically rigorous and grounded in real community life. 

“Leicester also felt like the right place for my topic because it’s a diverse city with rich local cultures where issues of race, identity, belonging, and inequality play out in everyday spaces.”

Christian’s achievement marks a significant milestone for the scheme and for the University’s commitment to inclusion and diversity in higher education.

Professor Teela Sanders, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, said: “Christian’s success is a testament to the transformative power of scholarships and the importance of diversity in academia. We are proud to support talented individuals from under-represented backgrounds and look forward to seeing Christian’s continued successes.

“Making sure our staff are reflective of our student base is something the University is working hard to achieve on many fronts and these scholarships have been an example of working against discriminatory barriers to success.” 

Looking to his future, Christian is keen to continue building his research and teaching career in the role of Teaching Fellow within the University of Leicester’s School of Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy. He is also passionate about supporting students from under-represented backgrounds, just like he was supported. 

He said: “This journey confirmed that I want a career combining research, teaching, and social impact. The experience I gained as a GTA has enabled me to progress into the role of Teaching Fellow within the school, and I am passionate about widening participation and supporting students from different backgrounds to succeed – just as I was supported. I would like to thank my supervisors for their support as they played a big part in me getting onto this scheme.”