Ventris Trust Committee - Michael Ventris Memorial Trust

Michael Ventris Award for Mycenaean Studies

You will receive a one-off award of up to about 4,600 EUR (up to £4,000) for a specific research project in the field of Mycenaean studies (the study of the Aegean Bronze Age and its early Greek script, Linear B). The award will be paid out in April as a lump sum. The Institute of Classical Studies at the University of London awards this prize annually. It is intended to support research into the Bronze Age in the Aegean and Cyprus, including Linear B and other early Aegean scripts, as well as their historical and cultural context.

Who can apply

• Career stage: You have completed your PhD within the last eight years, or you are a PhD student and are about to complete your PhD.
• What it funds: A specific research project that may form part of a wider postdoctoral programme. This does not cover the funding for your doctoral thesis itself.
• Field: Your research focuses on Mycenaean studies or a related field within the Aegean and Cypriot Bronze Age.
• Nationality: Anyone from any country can apply. There are no age or gender restrictions.

How to apply

Please email your application to the Institute of Classical Studies by 1 February. It must not exceed six single-sided A4 pages. Please include details of your academic background and your proposed project, together with a breakdown of costs. Please name two referees who will each write a letter of recommendation for your application independently of one another. An advisory panel will then select the successful candidate.

How realistic are your chances?

As this is an award presented once a year in a very specialised field, only a small number of people apply for it. However, the applicants are exclusively reputable researchers with specific projects. The committee may also decide not to award the prize in a particular year; therefore, a convincing, well-thought-out application is crucial. If you clearly meet the requirements of the specialist field and your career stage and submit a focused plan, your prospects are good.