William Paton MA Stipends in Global Philosophy of Religion

Global Philosophy of Religion: Fundamental Spiritual Reality, Human Purpose, and Living Well” (GPR-2), which is funded by the John Templeton Foundation, is a major international initiative to make the philosophy of religion a truly global field.

The project will enhance and promote cutting-edge research on central issues in the philosophy of religion by creating opportunities for researchers representing regions of the world and religious and wisdom traditions that are currently underrepresented in Anglo-American philosophy of religion.

Across two academic years (2025-2026 and 2026-2027) we are offering 10 stipends of £2,000 each to students on the campus MA programme in Philosophy of Religion Ethics at the University of Birmingham who choose the Global Philosophy of Religion Pathway. This competition is made possible by funding from University of Birmingham alumni and the William Paton Trust, which is managed by the University of Birmingham.

Who can apply?

• Students who have been accepted onto the campus MA programme in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics at the University of Birmingham and who intend to pursue the Global Philosophy of Religion Pathway.
• Students who intend to write an MA thesis that is relevant to the theme of GPR-2. Please visit the Global Philosophy of Religion Project website for more information on GPR-2 and our research topics.

Students of any nationality can apply for the scholarship. This means that all students can apply whether they're classed as Home or International for tuition fee purposes.

How to Apply

To be considered for the 2026-2027 entry stipends, applicants must submit the following items written in English as a single PDF file by 30/04/2026 (GMT):

• An applicant CV
• A personal statement

Please email your completed applications to gpr@contacts.bham.ac.uk with the following subject heading: “William Paton MA Stipend [YOUR NAME]”.

We will assess each application according to the following selection criteria:

• The quality of the application, including the personal statement and references
• The applicant’s academic record as an undergraduate student

Preference will be given to students who aren't receiving any other funding provided through the University of Birmingham.