Applications for September 2024 funding closed on Monday 15 January 2024 and we are not able to accept nor consider late applications.

The Faculty of Arts offers five types of scholarship:

1. Research Scholarship**
2. Research Scholarship for UK-domiciled, Home fee status applicants of Black and mixed-Black heritage**
3. Co-tutelle Scholarship with Macquarie University, Australia
4. Co-tutelle Scholarship with Université Toulouse – Jean Jaurès, France 
5. Research Scholarship in association with University of Cape Town, South Africa

**Candidates for (1) Research Scholarship and (2) Research Scholarship for UK-domiciled, Home fee status applicants of Black and mixed-Black heritage can additionally apply for a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA), which they would hold alongside their scholarship.  

Applicants for all scholarships should submit an application to the University of Bristol here and, in order to be eligible for a scholarship, applicants should additionally complete this online form. Candidates can apply for up to two different scholarships for which they are eligible; a separate online form needs to be completed for each scholarship application.  

 

All candidates 

Full-time PhD Scholarships will include tuition fees and a maintenance grant (stipend) in line with UKRI fee. The stipend rates for 2024-25 are at least £18,622 for four years (full-time) or eight years pro rata (part-time), depending on satisfactory progress. Each student will also have £2000 per annum to be spent on associated research costs.  Please note that this funding is for new students starting in September 2024. Unfortunately, we cannot consider applications from current students already enrolled on a PhD course or from MPhil students wishing to upgrade to PhD. 

Candidates for all scholarships will be selected on the basis of: 

• The potential for academic excellence 
• Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) factors 
• Research fit within the chosen School 

The University of Bristol aims to attract, recruit and retain students with different experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives because diversity – of people and ideas – remains integral to our success. Candidates for all scholarships demonstrating academic excellence from low-income backgrounds and non-Russell group universities, as well as Black, Asian, minority ethnic, mixed heritage, Trans, Non-Binary, and disabled candidates, are strongly encouraged to apply. You will have an opportunity in the selection process to clearly articulate any EDI and widening participation factors that may be relevant to your application. 

 

Types of Scholarship:

(1) Research Scholarship 

Applicants for research scholarships should demonstrate how their proposed research aligns clearly with at least one of the following University of Bristol research challenge areas: 

1. Social Justice: The University has a long standing and rich track-record of research exploring and promoting just societies based on core disciplinary strengths. 
2. Culture and Creativity: Cultural and creative industries are at the heart of the creative economy, and Bristol is a world-renowned hub of immersive industries, creative technologies, screen media, and the arts. 
3. Climate and Environment: Research adopting an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to providing understanding and solutions to develop a sustainable future for the planet and its inhabitants. 

 

(2) Research Scholarship for UK-domiciled, Home fee status applicants of Black and mixed-Black heritage 

Applicants for research scholarships that are ring-fenced for UK-domiciled, Home fee status applicants of Black and mixed-Black heritage may submit research proposals in any area of study within the Faculty of Arts and do not have to demonstrate alignment with the University’s research challenge areas, though they may wish to. For more information about these ring-fenced scholarships, please contact Damien Mooney (damien.mooney@bristol.ac.uk).

 

Graduate Teaching Assistantships 

Candidates for (1) Research Scholarship and (2) Research Scholarship for UK-domiciled, Home fee status applicants of Black and mixed-Black heritage can additionally apply for a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA), which they would hold alongside their scholarship.  

Successful GTA applicants will be selected on the basis of a clearly articulated teaching philosophy/vision, which you will have an opportunity to articulate when filling in the supplementary scholarship form here. A Graduate Teaching Assistant scholarship requires the Postgraduate Research (PGR) student to teach Undergraduate students, as well as carry out their research. The GTA will have a teaching contract, making it very clear what is expected from their teaching role, and puts in place the framework to allow them to deliver on both teaching and research. 

GTA scholarships are highly competitive and guided by the principle of supporting the recipient’s educational as well as research development in a holistic way.  Faculty-specific support for GTA post-holders will be complemented by centrally provided support, organised by the Bristol Doctoral College, which will take advantage of the Personal and Professional Development programme available for all Postgraduate Research students. 

The GTA scholarship requires recipients to be involved in up to 250 hours (if full time) of teaching and teaching-related activities each year, including facilitating seminars, seminar preparation, marking, and office hours; you will be paid £19.79 per hour (2023-24 rates) in addition to your scholarship tuition fees and maintenance stipend.  As part of this role, postholders will be expected to undergo teacher training sessions through the CREATE scheme offered by the University’s Staff Development Unit. 

 

(3) Co-tutelle Scholarship with Macquarie University, Australia 

The Bristol-Macquarie co-tutelle programme is an exciting opportunity for students to spend two years studying at the University of Bristol and two years studying at Macquarie University, Australia. Established in 2018, the programme between Macquarie University and the University of Bristol has resulted in 21 co-tutelle projects to date. Co-tutelle students represent the Univerisity internationally and we are especially keen to support research collaboration with our international partners.  

The University of Bristol will provide funding (fees and stipend) for two years, with £2000 research costs per annum. Macquarie University will provide fees and stipend for up to three additional years, stipend  while in Australia, and an airfare allowance of up to $4000 AUD, and to up to $5000 AUD to support costs essential to the completion of your research thesis.  

Students will study for two years at each university and on completion of their studies, students will receive a PhD degree from both universities. 

Applicants for co-tutelle scholarships with Macquarie University should demonstrate how their proposed research aligns clearly with at least one of the following University of Bristol research challenge areas; the equivalent Macquarie strategic research areas should also be addressed in the application.

University of Bristol	Macquarie University
Social Justice	Resilient Societies
Culture and Creativity Digital and Data	Innovative Technologies
Climate and Environment	Secure Planet

Co-tutelle applicants should identify one suitable main supervisor at the University of Bristol and one suitable supervisor at Macquarie University. Applicants should write to both potential supervisors during the application process. Candidates for this co-tutelle should also apply directly to Macquarie for a PhD enrolment here.  

At Macquarie, Faculty of Arts students will attend Faculty Graduate Research Events: welcome events, conferences, student-led events, workshops and more. You will also have access to designated Graduate Research desk spaces.

 

(4) Co-tutelle Scholarship with Université Toulouse – Jean Jaurès 

Co-tutelle applicants for the Université Toulouse – Jean Jaurès are also eligible to apply for a University of Bristol PGR Scholarship. Applicants should demonstrate how their proposed research aligns clearly with at least one of the University of Bristol research challenge areas. Co-tutelle applicants should identify one suitable supervisor at the University of Bristol and one suitable supervisor at Toulouse. Applicants should write to both potential supervisors during the application process. Candidates for this co-tutelle should also apply directly to Toulouse for a PhD enrolment here.  

 

(5) Research Scholarship in association with University of Cape Town, South Africa 

Reserarch collaborations between the University of Bristol and the University of Cape Town have been underway for a number of years. The Faculty of Arts will offer a Research Scholarship to applicants wishing to pursue a research project that promotes collaboration between both universities. Please note that this is not a co-tutelle or dual PhD arrangement. Applicants should identify one suitable supervisor at the University of Bristol and one suitable supervisor at the University of Cape Town. Applicants should write to both potential supervisors during the application process. 

 

Eligibility 

All Scholarships: 

• Meet our standard admissions requirements for the PhD course you are applying to - please refer to the individual prospectus page for entry requirements; 
• The applicant will demonstrate promise for doctoral study; 
• Received an offer of study which must be accepted before or at the same time as receiving any offer of award. 

For Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA): 

• The applicant will demonstrate promise for doctoral study and promise for teaching at undergraduate level; 
• Have applied for a campus-based PhD course. Due to the teaching contract we are unable to consider Distance Learning applications as teaching will take place on campus; 
• Please note that proof of the right to work in the UK will be required upon issuing of the teaching contract. For overseas applicants who would require a Student Visa/Tier 4 Visa there a few additional rules: 
• Students holding a Student visa/Tier 4 Visa are not allowed to work more than 20 hours per week in total (this includes any contracts within or outside of the university). Hours spent teaching as a GTA count toward this limit. GTAs Holding a Student/Tier 4 Visa must read the information provided here. 
• For any questions about Student/Tier 4 Visas, please contact one of our student visa advisers at student-visa-advice@bristol.ac.uk 

 

How to apply

Applications for September 2024 funding closed on Monday 15 January 2024 and we are not able to accept nor consider late applications.

Please note that candidates who have been awarded alternative full awards (e.g. SWW DTP) are not eligible for this award. 

If you have any queries regarding the Scholarship please contact the Faculty of Arts PhD Admissions team on artf-gradschool-admissions@bristol.ac.uk.