The William R McFarlane Scholarship

Other eligibility requirements

Eligibility

The award is open to UK and international students, commencing an on-campus History PhD degree in the academic year 2026-27. Those applying for a HCA PhD by Distance programme, as well as current PhD students, are not eligible to apply for the William R McFarlane Scholarship. 

The scholarship panel will consider all high quality proposals relating to migration and/or diaspora studies from any period, and from any geographical region. Although Scottish history is a core concern, the Migration, Slavery and Diaspora Studies Hub has broad transnational interests, and welcomes projects relating to other nations or regions that put the Scottish example in a comparative perspective. Current/recent projects have focused on issues surrounding memory and identity (including military Scottishness, Irish diasporas in Melbourne and Chicago, and mapping memories of slavery), Scottish, Dutch, Jewish, and enslaved African diasporas in the early modern Atlantic World, and the impact of Scottish involvement with the slave economy on material culture at home. Prospective applicants are welcome to propose topics in related areas, but should not feel obliged to do so.  

Criteria

To be considered for the William R McFarlane Scholarship, you must:

Hold a UK 2.1 or first class honours undergraduate degree (or overseas equivalent) in a relevant field

Hold, or successfully achieve before commencing your PhD with us, a relevant Masters degree with an overall mark of at least 65%, or its international equivalent.