University of York Wolfson Postgraduate Scholarships in the Humanities

The Wolfson Humanities Scholarship provides funding from the Wolfson Foundation for doctoral research in History, Literature, and Languages. The disciplines are defined by the Foundation, including limits such as excluding linguistics from Languages and excluding creative writing from Literature. The scholarship supports postgraduate research at the University of York.

The scholarship is open to International (including EU), International (non-EU), and UK (home) students. It is available to students in specified University departments, including Centre for Medieval Studies, Centre for Women's Studies, Department of Archaeology, Department of English and Related Literature, Department of History, Department of History of Art, Department of Language and Linguistic Science, Department of Philosophy, School of Arts and Creative Technologies, and York School of Architecture.

For selection, successful applicants’ details are passed to the relevant scholarship panels for consideration. The Wolfson Foundation awards funding to students who demonstrate the potential to make an impact in their chosen field, and generally expects the available scholarships to represent the three areas: History, Literature, and Languages.

Each scholarship offers £38,000 per student per year and covers tuition fees at the home rate, plus maintenance, research, travel and training costs where there is remaining balance. Continued receipt is conditional on satisfactory academic progress, and award holders must provide annual and final progress reports. Award holders must acknowledge the Wolfson Foundation’s support in outputs during the award period, including the final dissertation or thesis, and if work is published later.

• Open to International (including EU), International (non-EU) and UK (home) students.
• Open to students in the following departments: Centre for Medieval Studies, Centre for Women's Studies, Department of Archaeology, Department of English and Related Literature, Department of History, Department of History of Art, Department of Language and Linguistic Science, Department of Philosophy, School of Arts and Creative Technologies and York School of Architecture.
• Must have applied for, and ideally be in receipt of, an offer of a place on a PhD programme in a relevant department (in the area(s) of architecture, history, literature, and languages).
• Must expect to begin PhD studies in September 2027 (deferrals are not permitted).
• Must have an outstanding academic record, usually a first class honours degrees at undergraduate level and a Masters degree from a recognised university in a field relevant to the proposed doctoral research.
• Must be resident within the UK for the duration of studies and live within a reasonable distance of the host university (except periods of fieldwork or when attending conferences).
• Must demonstrate the potential to make an impact on the chosen field.
• Scheme is open to all nationalities.
• Scheme is open to both full and part-time students.
• For International students: the Foundation will only cover the UK (Home) fee rate; the difference between Home and International fee rate must be met from other sources.

• £38,000 per student per year.
• Tuition fees at the home rate (for overseas students, eligible to apply but the award covers tuition fees at the home rate only).
• Maintenance, research, travel and training costs (where there is remaining balance).

1. Check that you meet the application deadline requirements for the scholarship competition.
2. Use the Google Form application that will be available on Monday 26 October 2026 (a PDF version of the application form can be downloaded to review questions, but the application must be submitted via the Google Form).
3. Submit the application form by the deadline (Wednesday 20 January 2027, 5pm GMT).
4. After submitting, edit the form responses if the option is provided following confirmation of form submission; this option is removed following the closing date.
5. After submission, successful applicants’ details will be passed to the relevant scholarship panels for consideration.

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