Doctoral scholarship opportunities in the College of Arts and Law - frequently asked questions

The doctoral scholarship opportunities currently available in the College of Arts and Law are for campus based students only and you would not therefore be eligible.

Yes, you can apply in advance of receiving an offer on your application for a place to study. However, by 12 noon on Wednesday 11 January 2023 you must have submitted an application to study to the University of Birmingham.

In order for your funding application to be considered we will need to receive two funding references on the AHRC or ESRC doctoral funding application form by 12 noon on Wednesday 11 January 2023. No other format of reference will be considered for funding. These funding references can also be used for Admissions purposes but not the other way round.

Yes, it is your responsibility to contact your referees and explain to them the importance of this reference being completed on this online form only and submitted by the deadline. We would recommend that you are in touch with your referee ahead of the deadline to ensure that references have been completed.

There is no leeway with references, they must be received by the deadline. If references are received late they will not be considered. If references are received but are not on the correct online funding reference form they will not be considered. In any of these circumstances your application will be deemed incomplete and will be withdrawn from the competition.

Students who have already commenced doctoral study in the College may be eligible for some scholarship opportunities.  Please check each scholarship's eligibility criteria.

You will need to have at least 50% (or part-time equivalent) in normal registration remaining at the start of the award in the academic year 2023-2024 (excluding thesis awaited/writing-up). The award would then be made for the remainder of your period of study until the end of your minimum registration period.

Yes, you are still required to obtain two references.  Both of your referees must complete the reference form and submit by 12 noon on Wednesday 11 January 2023.  It is important that the references are up to date and comment on your most recent achievements since you started your programme.

All applications for Doctoral Scholarships must now be submitted to the M4C AHRC competition for 2023-24. Your applications will automatically be considered for any of the relevant doctoral scholarships within the College provided that your application is submitted for AHRC funding by the deadline of 12 noon on Wednesday 11 January 2023.

If you have applied for the ESRC competition for 2023-24 your application will be automatically be considered for any other relevant doctoral scholarships within the College. 

It is important that you adhere to the character count. If you go over the character count your application will be withdrawn from the competition.

You will be notified at various stages of the process. If you are shortlisted, your application will be considered for any relevant College scholarships. We will let you know as soon as possible the outcome of your application - usually within the period from early May to the end of June.  

You would need to email the College Graduate School Office: calpg-research@contacts.bham.ac.uk when you complete your funding application to notify them of your intentions so that your application can be assessed by the relevant panel.

The College of Arts and Law Doctoral scholarships are awarded for campus based study only.  As you would have been awarded the scholarship with this eligibility criteria unfortunately a change to distance learning would mean that the scholarship would end at the point of transfer.