Funding for current students
We have detailed some of the key School, University external awards and loans that may be available to help finance your current study – and where to look to find other opportunities.
Information on the AHRC scholarship can be found on the following webpages:
Applications are invited for the McMillan Award, which covers one year of PhD tuition fees at the UK rate for on-programme PhD students.
Professor James F. (Jim) McMillan (1948-2010) was Richard Pares Professor of History and the founding Head of the (then) School of History and Classics at Edinburgh. He was a celebrated researcher, teacher and postgraduate supervisor, and the School wishes to associate a new generation of scholars with his achievement and legacy.
The awards cover one year of PhD tuition fees at the UK rate. Successful International/EU applicants will still be liable for the difference between the UK and International/EU fee rates.
The following eligibility criteria apply:
- The scholarships are only open to 'on-programme' current Year 1 and 2 PhD students within the School of History, Classics and Archaeology who should be pursuing full-time study during their tenure as a McMillan Scholar. Part-time students are invited to submit their application but they will be required to switch to full-time study for the duration of the award.
- Students who are in Year 3 at the time of application are not eligible to apply.
- PhD students who currently hold School/College/University Awards, research council funding (AHRC/ESRC), or another external award (specifically covering tuition fees in full/part) are not eligible to apply.
- Students who have previously submitted a successful application are not eligible to apply in another year.
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate exceptional progress as evidenced by first-year review reports or reports of supervisors and other measures such as conference presentations, publications, fieldwork or scholarly awards.
The following documentation must be submitted by email:
- Your completed application form, including a supporting reference from your primary supervisor providing an account of your progress to date and suitability for the award.
- A written piece of work of c. 6000 words (for example, a draft thesis chapter).
Applications must be received by emailing the Postgraduate Research Office (hca-pgr@ed.ac.uk) no later than 11:59 PM, Wednesday, 14 June 2023. Late applications will not be accepted.
Applications are invited for this prize which is awarded annually to the most meritorious student(s) registered at this University as a candidate for a postgraduate degree in the field of British History (in its widest sense and including the activities of the British overseas). This is judged on the basis of the submitted work and the supervisor’s supporting statement, and the committee reserve the right to make no awards if applications are not of a suitable standard. For PhD students, we expect that the prize-winning chapter could be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
The value of the prize may vary each year: for 2023/24, the overall value is £7,000. The prize will be paid in a single lump sum. The School will usually advertise the winners’ names. Winners who wish their name to be withheld must notify the Graduate School office in writing at the time of submission.
If you are an MSc student, you can apply for the Jeremiah Dalziel Prize (Master) with the information in the drop-down item above.
The following eligibility criteria apply:
- The prize may be awarded to an individual or divided between multiple awardees. The Committee reserve the right not to make any awards in the event that no applicant is deemed to merit the prize
- Students will normally submit an entry in their second or third year (full-time) or in years three to six (part-time).
- This prize may be held along with other awards and scholarships. However, students who have previously submitted a successful application are not eligible to apply for another year.
- Students who have submitted or been awarded their PhD are not eligible.
The following documentation must be submitted by email:
- Your completed application form, including a supporting reference from your primary supervisor providing an account of your progress to date and suitability for the award.
- A written piece of work not exceeding 12,000 words (for example, a draft thesis chapter).
Applications must be received by emailing the Postgraduate Research Office (hca-pgr@ed.ac.uk) no later than 11:59 PM, Wednesday, 14 June 2023. Late applications will not be accepted.
Applications are invited for these prizes, which are awarded annually to the most meritorious student(s) registered at this University as a candidate for a postgraduate degree in the field of British History.
This information is for applications by on-programme MSc students only. If you are a PhD student, you can apply for the Jeremiah Dalziel Prize (PhD) with the information in the next drop-down item.
About the Prize
- This prize is open to MScR and MScT students in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology. It is awarded annually to the most meritorious student(s) registered at this University as a candidate for a Master's degree in the field of British History (in its widest sense and including the activities of the British overseas). This is judged on the basis of the submitted work and the supervisor’s supporting statement.
- The committee reserve the right to make no awards if applications are not of a suitable standard.
- A prize of £500 will be awarded to the best MScR and/or MScT dissertation in the field specified above. Each prize will be paid in a single lump sum.
- The School will usually advertise the winners’ names. Winners who wish their name to be withheld must notify the Graduate School office in writing at the time of submission.
MSc Students - Application Process
- Applicants must submit their completed application to their supervisor by email for them to add a supporting statement and send it to the Postgraduate Research Office (hca-pgr@ed.ac.uk) – we strongly recommend that applicants copy the Graduate School when sending the application form to their supervisor.
- In their supporting statement, the supervisor will focus on appraising the applicant’s work rather than financial needs.
- The deadline for receipt of applications is Monday, 26th September 2022, at 12 noon. Applicants must submit their application to their supervisor in good time for them to provide the supporting statement and submit it to the Graduate School.
- Applicants are responsible for liaising with supervisors to ensure that their application is received by the Graduate School on time.
Some suggestions on where to look for other funding possibilities.
The University's Scholarship and Student Funding website contains a wealth of information about potential funding opportunities, and includes a scholarship search.