AHICF (Society for the History of Railways) - AHICF Scholarships

AHICF study scholarship (Rails & histoire)

You will receive up to 3,000 EUR per year to support the completion of a Master’s or PhD thesis on the history of rail transport. A Master’s scholarship runs for one academic year. A PhD scholarship runs for one year and can be extended twice, up to a total of three years. The funding is provided by ‘Rails & histoire’, a French non-profit organisation that has been supporting young researchers in the field of railway history since 1987.

Who can apply

• Level: You are writing a Master’s thesis 1, a Master’s thesis 2 or a doctoral thesis (PhD). Theses from the fields of economics, engineering, architecture and political science are also included.
• Topic: Your dissertation focuses on the history of rail transport. It begins by examining projects relating to the association’s key areas of interest, such as rail freight transport in France, railways and the environment, railway stations and railway architecture, and the opening up of the railway market to competition.
• Field of study: All disciplines are welcome, from the humanities and social sciences to engineering and architecture, provided your topic fits within the focus area of ‘railway history’.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. You may write your dissertation in French or in another language.
• Supervisor backing: Your supervisor will support your application and write a letter of recommendation.

How to apply

Please submit your application by email: your research proposal with an initial bibliography, a letter of recommendation from your supervisor and your CV. The application deadline is usually in the second half of November. The Academic Committee will announce the results in the second half of December.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is very specific: your dissertation must focus on the history of rail transport, so only a small number of students are eligible. If your topic is suitable – and particularly if it aligns with one of the key areas of focus – your chances are good. A clearly defined project, supervised by a supportive tutor, is more important here than the scope of the research field.