Women in Dispute Resolution Scholarship India

Scholarship for RICS Diploma in International Arbitration

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Dispute Resolution Service (DRS) is providing an industry scholarship for the RICS Diploma in International Arbitration programme to attract talent and diversity into alternative dispute resolution in the India market. This scholarship opportunity is being provided by the RICS Dispute Resolution Service in association with the Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA).

RICS DRS is committed to seeing greater diversity in the provision of arbitration in India and is also a keen advocate of Women in Dispute Resolution. In recent years, we have seen a slow but steady increase in women undertaking our dispute resolution qualifications globally.

The scholarship is intended to support talented women professionals* in India who aspire to build a career in international arbitration but may face barriers to accessing specialist professional qualifications. Despite increasing participation of women in law, construction, real estate and dispute resolution, women remain underrepresented in senior arbitration and tribunal appointments. By providing access to the RICS Diploma in International Arbitration, the scholarship aims to develop expertise, enhance career progression and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive international dispute resolution community.

*Whilst lawyers whose practice is focused on the built environment are encouraged to apply, this scholarship is also intended to help address the under-representation of non-lawyers in dispute resolution in the sector, and so is aimed primarily at applicants engaged in construction per se, project management, quantity surveying, architecture, construction engineering, claims consultancy and other similar occupations.

Applications now open for 2027

We are now accepting scholarship applications to join the Diploma in International Arbitration starting March 2027. The application window will close on Friday 11 December 2026.

For the full details, including eligibility requirements, application process, full terms and conditions, important dates as well as the application form itself, please download the below document.

All completed applications must be submitted via email to drseducation@rics.org before the deadline.

Who can apply?

To qualify to apply for the scholarship applicants must be:

• A university graduate with a degree classification
• A woman with a position/role in the dispute resolution and built environment related sector and a strong motivation to advance in the sector
• Able to demonstrate role modelling behaviour, especially toward female advancement in the dispute resolution and built environment related sector
• Based and practising predominantly in India
   

Complete and submit your application to drseducation@rics.org before the deadline.

A shortlist of eligible candidates will be announced on 11 January 2027 and will be asked to submit an essay.

Finalists will then be invited to interview before the successful candidate is chosen.