Frederick Bonnart-Braunthal Trust - Frederick Bonnart-Braunthal Scholarship

Frederick Bonnart-Braunthal Trust Scholarship (UCL)

You will receive 21,000 GBP per year (about 24,000 EUR) for up to 3 years, covering years 1, 2 and 3 of an MPhil or PhD programme at University College London (UCL). The funding will be renewed annually once UCL has confirmed your academic progress. You may use the money as a living allowance (a regular payment to cover your living costs) or to pay your tuition fees. Once you have completed your research, you will submit a brief summary of your findings (the Braunthal Report) and receive an additional 500 GBP (approximately 570 EUR), as well as the support of a professional editor to assist you in drafting the report. You may also apply for a PhD loan or other scholarships, provided that the total amount, in addition to tuition fees, remains below 26,057 GBP per year. You will also become part of the Bonnart network of current and former scholarship holders, which organises an annual reception and a series of lectures. The scholarship is awarded by the Frederick Bonnart-Braunthal Trust, which funds research into intolerance, and is administered independently by UCL.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You are about to start, or are currently undertaking, a full-time MPhil or PhD programme at UCL. You have either been offered a place or are already enrolled.
• Research topic: In your doctoral thesis, you are investigating the origins of religious, racist or cultural prejudice and intolerance, and how they can be combated.
• Field of study: Any department at UCL, provided your project relates to this topic.
• Nationality: Any country. Students from the UK, the EU and other countries are welcome to apply.
• Selection basis: You will be assessed on the basis of your academic achievements and the quality of your research proposal. Your financial circumstances will not be taken into account.

How to apply

Please submit your application to the UCL Student Funding Office by 12 March 2026. You will need to include a cover sheet, your CV, a 200-word summary of your research in plain language, your academic transcripts and two references. A panel comprising UCL academics and representatives from the Trust is expected to select the winner in late April or early May.

How realistic are your chances?

Only one scholarship will be awarded for the year 2026/27; it is therefore a single, prestigious award, and competition is fierce. Your field of specialisation must relate to a narrowly defined topic, namely research into religious, racial or cultural intolerance, which limits the pool of applicants to those working specifically in this area. If your PhD proposal clearly fits this theme and your academic achievements and research proposal are convincing, your prospects are good. A convincing application on an unrelated topic will not be considered.