Graduate Research Funding

The main sources of funding for postgraduate research at UCL Institute of the Americas are as follows:

• UCL Research Opportunity Scholarship (UCL-ROS) (a PhD scholarship for BAME applicants)
• Arts and Humanities Research Council studentships / London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP)
• Economic and Social Research Council studentships / UCL, Bloomsbury & East London Doctoral Training Partnership (UBEL DTP)
• UCL Research Excellence Scholarship (UCL-RES)
• Wolfson Scholarship
• Trudeau Foundation Scholarship

Information on these funding schemes is given below, but please note:

• Some of these schemes require you to apply to the department before you apply for admission to the UCL Doctoral School for the Institute of the Americas Research Degree programme.
• Before applying, always ensure that you have checked your eligibility for the particular funding scheme, and that your project fits the subject criteria.
• Your chances of success both in your application and in obtaining funding will be much diminished if you have not discussed your research plans in detail with your prospective supervisor. Candidates are strongly advised to get in touch with potential supervisors as early as possible.
• All the information summaries provided below are sourced from websites external to the Institute. Whilst every effort is made to reflect updates to those external websites, you are encouraged to consult the original sources via the links provided.

If you have any queries about these scholarships, please contact the Department Graduate Tutor (Research) at the UCL Institute of the Americas, Professor Gareth Davies. 

UCL’s Research Opportunity Scholarship (UCL-ROS) is offered in partnership with the Windsor Fellowship and is intended to support BAME postgraduate research degree students. 

Application process

1. Prospective candidates must apply to the department by the first Monday in December for entry in September the following year. Please indicate in the funding section of the application form that you wish to be considered for this scholarship.
2. Current students should contact the Institute of the Americas Teaching Administration Team (ia-programmes@ucl.ac.uk) by the first Monday in December. Please note, that for current students awarded a UCL-ROS, the funding will begin at the start of the next full academic year and cover the remaining standard length of research years of your programme.
3. If selected by the department for admission, in order to be considered for UCL-ROS scholarship, applicants must tick the relevant box to indicate they wish to be put forward for this funding when applying to the UCL Doctoral School for the Institute of the Americas Research Degree programme.

Full details can be found on the UCL-ROS webpage.

UCL-ROS webpage

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UCL is a participant in the London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP). LAHP offers approximately 90 postgraduate studentships per year across the participating institutions and a wide range of arts and humanities subjects. They are typically awarded to applicants with excellent academic track records and strong research proposals.

Application process

1. Prospective candidates must apply to the department by the first Monday in December for entry in September the following year. Please indicate in the funding section of the application form that you wish to be considered for this studentship
2. Current students should contact the Institute of the Americas Teaching Administration Team (ia-programmes@ucl.ac.uk) by the first Monday in December.
3. If selected by the department for admission, in order to be considered for AHRC funding, applicants must tick the relevant box to indicate you wish to be put forward for this funding when applying to the UCL Doctoral School for the Institute of the Americas Research Degree programme.
4. Applicants must also apply to the LAHP via their online application portal. Please consult the LAHP studentship webpages for full details and deadlines.
5. The nominated primary supervisor will also be required to submit a statement of support.

 Please consult the LAHP studentship webpages for full details and deadlines.

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This ESRC-funded scheme brings together six leading London academic institutions including University College London (UCL), Birkbeck University and the University of East London (UEL). This scheme offers over 40 funded studentships across the participating institutions. Studentships comprise full-time fees (UK/EU) and maintenance. 

• Candidates can apply under various subject pathways. The UCL Institute of the Americas is represented in the History and Heritage Studies pathway and can co-supervise projects in other relevant pathways such as Politics and International Relations. For details of the scheme, eligibility, pathways, and how to apply, please carefully consult the UBEL-DTP website 
• Candidates applying for primary supervision at the Institute of the Americas should submit their application through the History and Heritage Studies pathway.

Application process

1. Please contact the Department Graduate Tutor (Research) at the UCL Institute of the Americas, Professor Gareth Davies before you apply for this scholarship. The ESRC deadline for 2025/26 admission is 2 December 2024.  
2. If selected by the department for admission,  you will be asked to apply for admission to the UCL Doctoral School for the Institute of the Americas Research Degree programme
3. Submit a preliminary application via the DTP application portal by the publicised deadline.
4. If you are successful at the preliminary stage, you will be invited to submit a full application. 

ESRC UBEL DTP webpages

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UCL’s Research Excellence Scholarship (UCL-RES) is a prestigious scholarship which aims to attract outstanding scholars to undertake doctoral research at UCL. Up to 40 fully funded UCL Research Excellence Scholarships (RES) will be offered to exceptional applicants from any country. 

Application process

1. Prospective candidates must apply to the department by the first Monday in December for entry in September the following year. Please indicate in the funding section of the application form that you wish to be considered for this scholarship.
2. Current students should contact the Institute of the Americas Teaching Administration Team (ia-programmes@ucl.ac.uk) by the first Monday in December. Please note, that for current students awarded a UCL-ROS, the funding will begin at the start of the next full academic year and cover the remaining standard length of research years of your programme.
3. If selected by the department for admission, in order to be considered for UCL-RES scholarship, applicants must tick the relevant box to indicate you wish to be put forward for this funding when applying to the UCL Doctoral School for the Institute of the Americas Research Degree programme.

Full details can be found on the UCL-RES webpage.

UCL-RES webpage

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Wolfson Scholarships are awarded to outstanding students who demonstrate the potential to make an impact on their chosen field. Wolfson Scholarships will be awarded solely on academic merit. Ideally, the successful students would aspire to an academic career. The Wolfson Foundation is offering three postgraduate research scholarships for Faculty of Social and Historical students in 2025/26, in history, literature and languages.

Application process

1. Prospective candidates must apply to the department by the first Monday in December for entry in September the following year. Please indicate in the funding section of the application form that you wish to be considered for this scholarship.
2. If selected by the department for admission, in order to be considered for Wolfson scholarship, applicants must tick the relevant box to indicate you wish to be put forward for this funding when applying to the UCL Doctoral School for the Institute of the Americas Research Degree programme.

Full details can be found on the UCL Wolfson Scholarship website.

Wolfson Scholarship webpage

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The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation provides scholarships to prospective and current students who carry out research in areas broadly related to the Foundation's four themes below in the social sciences and humanities

• Human Rights and Dignitiy
• Responsible Citizenship
• Canada and the World
• People and their Natural Environment

The scholarship is for Canadian students studying at either a Canadian, or an international university. International students studying at a Canadian university may also apply. Students from international universities that are living outside Canada are not eligible. 

Application Process

The Foundation asks all applicants to apply directly via its application platform. Universities are not required to nominate their candidates. The Foundation will review and assess all candidates who submit completed applications Full details can be found on the Trudeau Foundation webpage.

Trudeau Foundation webpage

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For other scholarships available to Graduate Research Students at UCL please see the UCL Scholarships Finder.

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