Mary Douglas Research Scholarships (PhD)

Mary Douglas PhD Scholarship (UCL Anthropology)

You get 3 years of full funding for a PhD in Anthropology at University College London (UCL), starting September 2026. The award covers your Home (UK) tuition fees in full (about EUR 23,000 / £19,780 over three years). It also pays you a monthly living stipend (a regular payment to cover your living costs) at UKRI minimum rates. The stipend is about EUR 27,700 per year (£23,805 in 2026/27, rising to roughly £25,260 by 2028/29), around EUR 85,000 (£73,587) across the three years. Two scholarships are awarded. They are funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust and named after the anthropologist Mary Douglas.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You want to start a PhD (MPhil/PhD) in Anthropology at UCL and meet its academic entry requirements.
• Field of study: Any area of anthropology, including social and cultural, evolutionary and environmental, digital, medical and visual anthropology, and material culture.
• Research plan: You have a strong, original research proposal.
• Fee status: Best suited to applicants with Home (UK) fee status. International students can apply too, but the award only covers fees up to the UK level, so you must fund the difference yourself.
• Supervisor: You have a potential supervisor in the UCL Anthropology Department willing to back your application.

How to apply

Send a complete application by email to the department by 16 June 2026, using "Mary Douglas Scholarship" as the subject line. Include a one-page research proposal, a CV, transcripts, a supervisor's letter, two academic references and a 500-word personal statement. Applications are judged on the academic merit of both you and your project.

How realistic are your chances?

Only two places are awarded, and you must already qualify for a UCL PhD in Anthropology, so this is a competitive, high-level award decided on academic strength. Your proposal is the deciding factor, so a genuinely original, feasible project backed by a UCL supervisor is what sets you apart. UK-fee-status applicants have the clearest path, since overseas applicants need extra money to close the fee gap.