Outstanding graduates win Arthur Kitchin Scholarships

Two recent graduates from European Languages and Cultures have won this year’s Arthur Kitchin Scholarships, which are given by the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures to outstanding students beginning their masters studies.

Awarded on academic merit and the potential to excel, the scholarships have gone to James K Puchowski (Scandinavian Studies and Linguistics, 2017) and Emma Ware (German and Scandinavian Studies, 2016).

The funding will enable James to pursue a Masters by Research degree, undertaking cutting-edge research on the activities of Norsk Målungdom (the Norwegian Language Youth) and looking at how language debates in Norway are framed by the organisation’s public engagement work.

For Emma, it will go towards funding her MSc in Comparative Literature, a taught masters programme looking at literary works of different linguistic and cultural systems, and encouraging exploration of the interrelations between literature and the other arts.

Find out more about our taught and research masters degrees 

'I'll definitely be in my element'

It’s been a year of successes for both James and Emma, with James winning this year’s EUSA Outstanding Global Citizenship award (as nominated by his tutors), and Emma securing a second scholarship, the Dr Georg Heuser Memorial Scholarship.

For James, who is spending this summer volunteering to teach Norwegian to young people in Fife, “the plan is to continue down the vein of Norwegian sociolinguistics, exploring how we can better look at languages like Nynorsk with other situations in Europe where language is, or isn't, politicised. I'm so happy Scandinavian Studies wants to keep me on board for another year, and that the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) is able to help me with the costs of continuing with my academic research - I'm looking forward to getting started on the dissertation and will definitely be in my element”.

Emma, who is currently working in northern Germany, says “I wanted to remain within LLC to do my masters partly because the Comparative Literature course, with its wide scope and focus on intermediality, fits my research interests well, and also because I had such positive experiences there during my undergraduate degree. Studying at LLC also means I can continue with Scandinavian Studies, which would not be possible in most other UK departments”.

A dynamic, friendly and supportive postgraduate community

Taking pride in James and Emma’s achievements is Dr Guy Puzey, who first came to Edinburgh as an undergraduate student, graduating with first class honours in Italian and Scandinavian Studies, and went on to complete an AHRC-funded MSc by Research with Distinction.

Now a lecturer in LLC, Guy says “this year we will be marking thirty years of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Edinburgh, and many of our graduates have consistently chosen to continue their studies in Edinburgh at postgraduate level. Our graduates' latest achievements add to our students' already strong track record in attracting funding, and we look forward to welcoming all the new members of our dynamic, friendly and supportive postgraduate community.”

Peter Davies, Professor of Modern German Studies in LLC, is also delighted, praising Emma's “excellent academic record” and original approach. 

He says “her research will give an important new impulse to our research culture, linking our research interests in contemporary literature, queer theory, translation, and transcultural literatures in the German-speaking world. We look forward to welcoming Emma, and congratulate her on her achievement in gaining the scholarship.”

Are you interested in studying European Languages and Cultures at LLC?

We offer four-year undergraduate degrees in a fantastic range of languages and cultures, including German, Norwegian, Danish and Swedish, and excellent opportunities for studying abroad. We also offer a great mix of postgraduate programmes, both taught and research-led.

Find out more about European Languages and Cultures at LLC

UPDATE: In September 2017, it was announced that James K Puchowski has also been awarded this year’s Helen Philip Memorial Bursary. Awarded to only one candidate annually, this £7,000 bursary is for the best graduate in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences who continues on to postgraduate study in the humanities at the University of Edinburgh.