School of History, Classics and Archaeology, University of Edinburgh - Justin Arbuthnott British Irish Fund

What you get

You will receive an annual living allowance of approximately EUR 24,500 (£20,780 for 2025/26, set in accordance with the UK Research Council’s rates) as well as full coverage of your tuition fees, at either the UK or international rate. The funding covers the duration of a full-time PhD programme of up to 3.5 years, provided your research is progressing well. The University of Edinburgh awards one PhD scholarship in each round for research into modern Irish history or relations between Ireland and the UK. It is named after Justin Arbuthnott, a student from Edinburgh who drowned off the Irish coast in 1989.

Who can apply

• What you study: A full-time PhD at the University of Edinburgh in History, Scottish History or Economic and Social History.
• Research topic: Your project must focus on modern Irish history or relations between Ireland and the UK.
• First degree: A bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject from a UK university 2:1 or a ‘First Class’ degree, or an equivalent qualification from another country.
• Master's degree: A relevant Master’s degree with a grade point average of at least 65% (or the international equivalent), completed before the start of your PhD.
• Nationality: Open to students from all over the world, including the UK, the EU and the rest of the world.
• Study mode: You must be studying on campus. Applicants for distance-learning programmes and those already enrolled on a PhD programme are not eligible to apply.

How to apply

The application process consists of two stages. First, you apply for a PhD place via the university’s online system. Once you have received your login details, you should apply for the scholarship via the MyEd portal. The deadlines for both are at the end of February and the beginning of March respectively, and your two academic reference letters must be received shortly afterwards. You will be notified of the result around May.

How realistic are your chances?

The selection criteria are very strict: only one scholarship will be awarded, and your PhD thesis must focus on modern Irish or British-Irish history at a university. This keeps the pool of applicants small. Nevertheless, you will need very good grades (a 2:1 bachelor’s degree and a 65%+ master’s degree) as well as a compelling research proposal. If your research topic is clearly relevant and you meet the academic requirements, your prospects are realistic, and a concise, well-reasoned research proposal will tip the balance in your favour.