Professor Dame Lillian Penson Memorial Fund - Professor Dame Lillian Penson Memorial Fund

What the Dame Lillian Penson Memorial Fund gives you

You will receive a travel grant to fund research trips as part of your studies at the University of London. The money is intended solely for research trips. You must not use it to cover tuition fees, living costs or attendance at conferences; any grant funds already spent on these purposes will be reclaimed. The fund was established in 1966 in memory of Professor Dame Lillian Penson, the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of London. It is administered by the Institute of Commonwealth Studies and the Institute of Historical Research.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are enrolled as a student at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies (including its Human Rights Consortium) or at the Institute of Historical Research. Both institutions are part of the University of London.
• Degree: At the Institute for Commonwealth Studies, you can undertake the Master’s programme ‘Understanding and Securing Human Rights’ or a research degree such as an MPhil or a PhD.
• Field of study: History, Commonwealth Studies or Human Rights.
• Your trip: You have planned a specific research trip which will be funded by the scholarship.
• Nationality: Applicants of any nationality may apply, provided they are enrolled at one of the two institutions.

How to apply

Please complete the fund’s application form and send it to the institution where you are studying. The application deadline is 1 June.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship is very narrowly defined. You must already be enrolled on a specific degree programme at one of the two institutes of the University of London, and the funding covers only the costs of a research trip. As a result, the pool of eligible applicants is small, meaning that a student who clearly meets the criteria and can present a clearly defined travel plan has a good chance of success. A clear travel plan, complete with a breakdown of costs, is more important here than anything else.