Quirk PhD Scholarships

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.  

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. 

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.

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