UCL’s School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES)  - Victor and Rita Swoboda Memorial Scholarship

Victor and Rita Swoboda Memorial Scholarship

You will receive about 840 EUR for a doctoral programme (MPhil/PhD) in Ukrainian Studies at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES) at UCL in London. This is a partial scholarship: it contributes towards your costs but does not cover the full tuition fees. UCL awards this scholarship only once every three years, meaning that a single scholarship is awarded per cycle. It was established in 1992 in memory of Dr Victor Swoboda, a former lecturer at SSEES, and his wife Rita.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You are applying for a research doctorate (MPhil/PhD) at UCL SSEES.
• Field of study: Her research focuses on Ukrainian studies.
• Previous grades: You will normally hold a bachelor’s degree with a ‘First Class’ or ‘Upper Second Class’ classification, as well as a master’s degree (or an equivalent international qualification).
• Nationality: Anyone can apply, including students from the UK, the EU and other countries.
• Selection: The prize is awarded for the best academic achievement.

How to apply

There is no separate form. Apply via the UCL online portal for admission to the PhD programme and indicate that you would like to be considered for the Victor and Rita Swoboda Memorial Scholarship. The application deadline is usually 1 March.

How realistic are your chances?

This grant is very narrowly defined: only PhD students specialising in Ukrainian Studies at a specific department are eligible, and it is awarded only once every three years, meaning that very few candidates apply. If your research project clearly meets the requirements and you have an outstanding academic record, your chances are good. The award was not presented between 2024 and 2027; you should therefore check whether a new call for applications is currently open before basing your plans on it.