Faculty of English, University of Oxford - Cecily Clark Studentship

Cecily Clark Studentship

You will receive a research scholarship from the Department of English at the University of Oxford to study Medieval English at Master’s level. The scholarship covers your studies for the duration of your programme: 9 months for the MSt (Master of Studies) or up to 21 months for the MPhil (Master of Philosophy). It is funded by the Cecily Clark Memorial Fund, a trust that supports research in the field of medieval English studies, particularly Middle English philology – that is, the study of the language of medieval English texts. The University does not disclose the exact amount of the grant.

Who can apply

• Degree: You are applying for the MSt or MPhil programme in ‘Medieval English Studies’ at Oxford.
• Field of study: Any topic relating to the study of the English Middle Ages. Preference will be given to topics relating to Middle English philology, such as medieval personal names, demographic history, or the social and economic context of Middle English texts.
• Where you study: University of Oxford, Department of English.
• Fee status: You are considered a home student (UK). Students from the EU and other countries are not eligible for this funding.

How to apply

There is no separate application procedure. Applications for the MSt or MPhil in Medieval English Studies are made via the standard admissions procedure for postgraduate programmes at the University of Oxford; the application deadline is 24 January. All suitable applicants will then automatically be considered for the scholarship.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship is very narrowly defined. Only British students who have been admitted to a specific Master’s programme in ‘Medieval English’ are eligible, with preference given to a topic in the field of Middle English philology; consequently, the pool of eligible candidates is small. Funding at Oxford is highly competitive overall, but a well-suited applicant with a compelling, philologically oriented research proposal faces significantly less competition here than for open scholarships. Please apply in good time via the postgraduate admissions process, as applications are considered automatically.