Quirk PhD Scholarships
Applications are currently open for Quirk PhD Scholarships for October 2026 entry.
The Quirk PhD Scholarships support students in financial need to conduct research leading to a PhD in the fields of language and literature within the Arts & Humanities.
Key Information
Value: UK/ home rate fees, a maintenance stipend (£22,780) for 2026/27*
Number of awards: Two scholarships starting in October 2026
Duration: Three years
Available to: Prospective students
Selection criteria: Financial need as assessed by UCL** and academic potential
Eligible fee status: UK/ home
Eligible degrees: Research degrees in relevant research areas (see below) with principal supervisor based in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Application deadline: See Departmental Guidance - Departmental nominations to Faculty must be received by 30th January
*Estimated values, confirmed annually, usually in Spring by UKRI and UCL
**UCL uses a financial assessment tool which considers household income and other influencing factors such as exceptional household expenditure.
About the Quirk PhD Scholarship
The Faculty of Arts and Humanities invites applications to the Quirk PhD Scholarships, funded by the Lord Randolph Quirk Endowment. The Lord Randolph Quirk Endowment was established from the generous bequest of Professor the Lord Charles Randolph Quirk, 1920-2017, linguist and life peer.
Lord Quirk's interests encompassed not only the discipline of English Language and Literature (in its widest forms, from grammar in English usage to the accessibility of Old English literature and the writing of Charles Dickens), but also the teaching of language (including English) across all sectors of society and the concomitant role of language in societal activity. Professor Quirk’s endowment is to support ‘humanistic scholarship’ in the fields of language and literature, broadly conceived.
This scholarship offers full tuition fees plus an annual allowance to cover living and study expenses for the normal duration of 3 years for a PhD programme. Your principal supervisor must be based in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities and research themes must be in one of the following areas:
- Accessibility
- Bilingualism/ multilingualism (Including English as one of the languages)
- Creative and cultural industries
- Digital Humanities
- English language and literature
- Language education
- Language and society
We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.
We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented at PhD level. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds and people with disabilities.
Read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
Eligibility criteria for October 2026
Candidates must:
- Have applied to a research degree (including your referee submitting references) in the following subject areas:
- Accessibility
- Bilingualism/ multilingualism (Including English as one of the languages)
- Creative and cultural industries
- Digital Humanities
- English language and literature
- Language education
- Language and society
- Be UK domiciled with home fee status
- Be in financial need as assessed by UCL
- Demonstrate academic potential through:
- Application form: responses to questions around your motivation and skills
- Research proposal: a lay summary of your research proposal
- Prior results: upload your transcript as part of the application form
- References: submitted as part of your application to a relevant research degree
How to apply
Applications for the Quirk Scholarship should be made directly to the Department of your chosen research degree.
To be considered for the Quirk scholarship you must have applied for a place on an eligible research degree (you can apply for both your degree and the scholarship at the same time).
To apply for the scholarship, you must complete and submit the following documents:
-
File
- CV
- Academic Transcript
- References (submitted as part of your degree application)
Plan your scholarship application: Read all the information and the FAQs on this page carefully and note deadlines. Make sure that you meet the eligibility criteria.
In addition to the initial application, part of the process will involve answering some further questions from our Student Funding team regarding your socio-economic background.
UCL uses a financial assessment tool which considers household income and other influencing factors such as exceptional household expenditure.
Selection
A panel will select the awardees on the basis of:
- Financial need-based on socio-economic background
- Academic potential – as demonstrated by your application form, research proposal, prior results, and references.
Essential Information for all funding scheme applicants.
FAQs
See the frequently asked questions and answers about the Quirk PhD Scholarship.
Eligibility
The Quirk PhD Scholarships aims to support students in financial need to conduct research leading to a PhD in the fields of language and literature within the Arts & Humanities.
Candidates must:
- Be UK domiciled with home fee status.
- Be in financial need as assessed by UCL
- Demonstrate academic merit as demonstrated by prior results, references and publications
- Have applied to a research degree programme in the following subject areas:
- Accessibility
- Bilingualism/ multilingualism (Including English as one of the languages)
- Creative and cultural industries
- Digital Humanities
- English language and literature
- Language education
- Language and society
No, for 2026/27 the Quirk PhD Scholarships are for UK domiciled students with home fee status only.
Applying to the Quirk PhD Scholarship
Once you have submitted an application for admission onto an eligible research degree, you can submit your application for the Quirk PhD Scholarship.
Please contact your Department to confirm their application deadline. The deadline for Departments to submit their nominations to the Faculty is 30th January 2026.
The successful applicants will be notified by email in early April.
Your UK domiciled and home fee status will be assessed by the admissions teams.
Yes, you can apply if you are currently registered for a Master’s but do not have the result yet.
No. Only students starting their PhD in October 2026 can apply.
Typically, UCL would classify 'low-income' as a household with annual income of £25,000 or less and 'lower-income' as £42,875 or less (or overseas equivalent), but this is a guide only as other factors are taken into account during the selection process.
You will be assessed on financial need and academic potential. Academic potential will be assessed via your responses to questions on your application form, research proposal, prior results and the references submitted as part of your application to a relevant research degree.
No, you can apply if you have submitted an application to an eligible research degree.
No, you can apply if you have submitted an application to an eligible research degree.
The PhD scholarship is for a maximum of three years if studying full-time and pro rata for part-time study.
Appeals and complaints
As applications are reviewed by panels of academic staff in a multi-step process, it will not be possible to request an appeal if you disagree with the outcome of your application on grounds of the academic assessment or judgement made.
However, if you think that the published process (as shown on this webpage) has not been followed, you may contact ah-education@ucl.ac.uk to raise your concern. Please clearly mark your email Scholarship Recruitment Appeal.
Scholarship value
There is no additional funding to cover relocation.
The maintenance stipend for 2026/27 is £22,780 in line with current estimated UKRI rates. The stipend amount will increase slightly for each year of study in line with UKRI rates.
There is also an additional £1,000 allocated for research expenses.
The fees will be paid directly by the Quirk PhD Scholarship to UCL. The maintenance stipend will be paid in equal monthly instalments into your personal bank account as disclosed to UCL.
There is an additional £1,000 allocated for research expenses.
No, you cannot hold any other awards in addition to the Quirk PhD Scholarship.
If you are studying full-time you will be funded until you are awarded your degree by UCL Student Records. This must be within 3 years of starting your degree. If you study part-time, the funding of your programme will be pro rata.
You will have access to UCL’s Doctoral Skills Development Programme, which is designed to help you to expand your research and transferrable skills in order to support your research, professional development and employability. You can consult the Doctoral School Code of Practice to understand the support you can expect from your supervisor. You can also find a wealth of support for your wellbeing from UCL student services and from the Student Union.You will also have access to coaching, mentoring support and advocacy, arranged locally.
Post-acceptance
The Quirk PhD Scholarship covers fees and maintenance allowance to allow scholars to study full time or part time. The scholarship is for the mode of study (full-time or part-time) printed on your UCL offer letter and your scholarship offer letter. If you wish to apply for a change in mode of study you must inform your department and the Quirk PhD Scholarships Team (ah-education@ucl.ac.uk).
Deferral of this award to a new academic session is never permitted, but deferral within an academic session may be permitted in exceptional circumstances. The award cannot be transferred to another institution. The award cannot be applied retrospectively and will only be effective from your first day of enrolment in the academic session 2026/7.
Please consult the Changes to your study pages to understand the process for interrupting your studies. Interruptions of study may be applied for in various circumstances which result in your fee and/ or stipend payments being paused. Each case will be assessed based on circumstances.
Please consult the Changes to your study pages to understand the process for withdrawing from your studies. If you wish to permanently withdraw or terminate your studies, you must inform your department immediately. Your studentship will cease immediately and you will be required to refund any advance payments made for the period beyond the date of termination
Contact details
Contact us if you have any queries about the Quirk PhD Scholarship.
UCL Arts & Humanities
Click to email. ah-education@ucl.ac.uk