The Isobel Thornley Bequest - Thornley Fellowship

What the Thornley Fellowship gives you

You will receive about 9,945 EUR (£8,500) for six months to help you complete your doctoral thesis in history. As this is a completion grant, it is intended to support you during the final phase of your doctoral thesis. In addition to financial support, you will receive mentoring (regular one-to-one sessions) from the Director of the IHR and other staff members, career advice, and assistance with applications for posts, postdoctoral positions and further scholarships. You will also receive mock job interviews, advice on publishing your work, access to the Wohl Library and the IHR seminar programme, as well as free research training. The fellowship is funded by the Isobel Thornley Bequest, a trust fund of the University of London, and is administered by the University’s Institute of Historical Research.

Who can apply

• Degree: You are enrolled as a PhD student at the University of London.
• Field: Your field of research is history in the broadest sense, with your work covering a wide range of topics from around 300 AD to the present day.
• Stage: You are currently in the preparation phase. At the start of the funding year, you must have completed at least 3 years of full-time or 4 years of part-time research, but no more than 4 years of full-time or 6 years of part-time research. Longer programmes in North America are permitted.
• Nationality: Open to all nationalities.
• No double funding: This grant cannot be combined with any other significant financial assistance towards living costs. With the Director’s permission, you may teach or undertake paid work for up to 6 hours per week.

How to apply

You must apply via the University of London’s online application platform by 31 January 2026, 11:59 GMT for the 2026–27 round. Please do not submit any certificates in advance. These will only be requested if you are invited to an interview, which is the next stage of the selection process.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship is very narrowly defined. You must be a PhD student in History at the University of London and be within the specified timeframe for completing your thesis, meaning that the pool of eligible candidates is small compared to open scholarships. If you clearly meet these criteria and can demonstrate that your thesis is nearing completion, your prospects are good. The final decision is made during an interview, so a clear and focused presentation of your project is crucial.