The Dover Fund - The Dover Fund

What the Dover Fund gives you

You will receive a travel grant of about EUR 60 to EUR 470. Most grants fall at the lower end of this range, though the committee may also award a higher amount. The grant covers a short research trip, usually lasting up to one week, including travel, accommodation and living expenses. You will use it to visit libraries, museums or archaeological sites as part of your work on Ancient Greek. The fund was established in memory of Sir Kenneth Dover and is administered by the Hellenic Society in London.

Who can apply

• Level: You are a PhD student or a early-career researcher.
• Topic: Your research focuses on the history of the Greek language from the Bronze Age to the 15 century AD, or on the publication and interpretation of Greek texts, including papyri and inscriptions, from that very same period.
• What the money is for: You have planned a specific trip, for example to visit a library, a museum or a place of interest that is not easily accessible to you. A typical example of this is researchers based outside London, as they have to travel there to view the Greek and Roman collections housed there.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.
• Where you study: Open to students from all universities.

How to apply

You can download the application form and the reference form from the Hellenic Society’s website. You will need a referee to support your application. The deadline for applications is 1 May each year.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship is narrowly defined: it is intended to support a specific field – Ancient Greek language and literature – and covers only short-term research stays. This means that very few applicants apply for it. If your research clearly falls within this subject area and you can specify a particular trip that the funding is to be used for, your chances are good. A clear, well-defined application with strong support from referees counts for more than the amount of the grant.