Doctoral Studentships

Purpose

This scheme enables scholars to undertake up to three years of full-time research on a history of medicine topic leading to a doctoral degree at a university in the UK or Republic of Ireland.

Strong preference is given to applicants intending to make a long-term academic career in the subject.

Please note: a small number of three-year doctoral awards are available direct from the Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at University College London. Enquiries about these should be addressed to the Director.

What's included

Support is provided for up to three years, and includes:

• the student's stipend
• a set amount to cover conference travel, research expenses and, where justified, the cost of overseas fieldwork
• all compulsory university and college fees at the UK/Irish/Dutch home postgraduate student level.

Fees at the overseas rate will not be provided.

Institutions sponsoring candidates are expected to provide laptops and PCs as part of their postgraduate research-training infrastructure.

All students receiving a three-year award are expected to complete their writing-up and submit their theses in the final year of Trust support.

Eligibility

You should hold a Master's in the history of medicine or a Master's with strong emphasis on the history of medicine.

The proposed project must be on a history of medicine topic. If specialist language skills are essential to undertake the research, a Master's in the language required may be acceptable (classical languages, Arabic, Chinese, etc.).

Your application must be sponsored by a senior member of the department, unit or institute, or History of Medicine grantholder (current or former), who would supervise you if an award were made. Applications must be submitted through the host institution.

Applications will not be considered from those who have already received support for their doctoral studies from another funding body or who are already registered for a research degree.

Unsuccessful applicants will normally not be allowed to resubmit in a subsequent year.

Prospective applicants should note that only a very small number of doctoral studentships are awarded each year and that competition for them is intense.

Application process

Applications must be submitted through the host institution.

Preliminary applications should be made by e-mail or post by the published deadline, and should include:

• a brief CV with details of the Master's degree held
• details of the research proposed (maximum of one page)
• a letter of support from the head of the department in which you will be working (this can be sent under separate cover)
• a letter of support from the supervisor.

If your preliminary application is successful, you will invited to submit a full application.

Please note that only a very small number of Doctoral Studentships are awarded each year. Competition for them is intense and strong preference is given to applicants intending to make a long-term academic career in the subject.

Deadlines

This is an annual competition.

• Preliminary application deadline: 15 March
• Full application deadline: 1 May
• Application review: June

Contacts

Grants Management - History of Medicine
Wellcome Trust
Gibbs Building
215 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE, UK

T +44 (0)20 7611 8429/8736
F +44 (0)20 7611 8528
E hom@wellcome.ac.uk