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Aaron Sims Scholarship: for PhD Students on Language or Comparative Literature MPhil Programmes

Instituted under the will of Dr Aaron Sims, a former student of Birkbeck, University of London, the Aaron Sims MPhil/PhD Scholarship is a bursary covering full-time (three years) or part-time (five years) tuition fees up to the equivalent of UK Home enrolment fees, even if the actual fee payable is higher.

The bursary is open to applicants and eligible current students on the following part-time or full-time MPhil programmes:

  • MPhil Comparative Literature
  • MPhil French
  • MPhil German
  • MPhil Iberian and Latin American Studies  
  • MPhil Japanese 
In line with the criteria for the original bequest, preference may be given to candidates whose project relates to French, German, Dutch or Portuguese language subjects.

ADVICE FOR APPLICANTS

VALUE AND LENGTH OF FUNDING

  • Funding covers tuition fees up to the equivalent of UK Home enrolment fees (students who are not eligible for home fees will need to pay the difference), for either full time (three years) or part time (five years). 
  • The overall length of the student's PhD may be up to four years (full time) or seven years (part time). 
  • The bursary is paid directly into the awardee's fee account after they have enrolled each autumn.
  • All payments are subject to confirmation of satisfactory attendance and progress and will be up to the equivalent of UK Home enrolment fees even if the actual fee payable is higher.

START DATE

  • The preferred start date is October 2024.

ELIGIBILITY

  • Applicants must be Home/EU or International students.
  • Applicants should either:
    • have applied to an MPhil programme, for the 2024/25 academic year, offered by the School of Creative Writing, Culture and Communication, ideally starting in October 2024. Programmes currently eligible:
      • MPhil Comparative Literature
      • MPhil French
      • MPhil German
      • MPhil Iberian and Latin American Studies 
      • MPhil Japanese
    • Be currently enrolled on a MPhil programme offered by the School of Creative Writing, Culture and Communication in either your first year full-time or first or second year part-time (current eligible programmes same as the above).
  • Applicants will also need to demonstrate academic excellence (at least a 2:1 or equivalent in an undergraduate degree) and ensure they have made sufficient financial provision to meet the remaining costs associated with their studies.

Application deadline

  • 2 September 2024 by 2pm.

HOW TO APPLY

References/supervisor statement

  • New applicants
    • Referees will be automatically prompted to upload their references when you submit your programme application.
    • Please note that all references must be uploaded by 9 September 2024. We strongly encourage you to contact referees as early as possible to ensure they are prepared to upload their reference following submission of your application.
    • Closing date for applications: 2 September 2024, 2pm
    • Deadline for references: 9 September 2024, 2pm
  • Current students
    • Alongside your application, we require a supporting statement from your supervisor. This should be no more than 500 words and speak to your project, progress and development since registration.
    • Supporting statements should be  with the following subject line:
      • Your full name and student number 
      • The name of the award that the supporting statement relates to
    • Closing date for applications: 2 September 2024, 2pm
    • Deadline for supervisor supporting statement: 9 September 2024, 2pm

FURTHER INFORMATION