Postgraduate research funding

These scholarships and studentships are available to postgraduate researchers in the School of Arts and Creative Technologies.

Your chosen course, level of study and other statuses may all affect your eligibility for the opportunities listed here.

AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards in the Arts and Humanities

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funds outstanding original research across the arts and humanities. The University of York is pleased to be awarding six of these AHRC Doctoral Landscape awards to fund students beginning their doctoral research in our Faculty of Arts and Humanities.

  • Funding: Home fee status level, calculated based on the estimated UKRI rate
  • Academic year: 2026/27
  • Department: Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies, Centre for Medieval Studies, Centre for Renaissance and Early Modern Studies, Department of Archaeology, Department of English and Related Literature and more (see eligibility)
  • Application deadline: Wednesday 21 January 2026, 5pm GMT
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research
  • Open to: International (including EU), International (non-EU) and UK (home) students
  • Number available: 6

Dixon Scholarship

This award arises from a benefaction by Ken and Pat Dixon, for Master's candidates specialising in performance.

  • Funding: £5,000
  • Academic year: 2024/25
  • Department: School of Arts and Creative Technologies
  • Application deadline: Sunday 1 June 2025, 11.59pm BST
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research and Postgraduate taught
  • Open to: EU, International (non-EU) and UK (home) students
  • Number available: 1

Holmes Scholarship

This award arises from a benefaction by Terry Holmes, for postgraduate students specialising in composition.

  • Funding: £1,500 fee waiver
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: School of Arts and Creative Technologies
  • Application deadline: Sunday 1 June 2025, 11.59pm BST
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research and Postgraduate taught
  • Open to: EU, International (non-EU) and UK (home) students
  • Number available: 1

Paynter Scholarship

For postgraduate students in the School of ACT.

  • Funding: £1,500 fee waiver
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: School of Arts and Creative Technologies
  • Application deadline: Sunday 1 June 2025, 11.59pm BST
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research and Postgraduate taught
  • Open to: EU, International (non-EU) and UK (home) students
  • Number available: 1

Sir Jack Lyons Research Scholarship

The Sir Jack Lyons Scholarship is for a PhD student. The scholarship provides a contribution towards fees equal to the full Home rate plus a contribution towards maintenance. The scholarship is for the duration of PhD registration (three years). It does not cover any writing up time.

  • Funding: The scholarship comprises home fees plus a stipend of up to £3000 per annum for the 3 years of your degree. It does not cover any writing up time.
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: School of Arts and Creative Technologies
  • Application deadline: Sunday 1 June 2025, 11.59pm BST
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research
  • Open to: International (including EU), International (non-EU) and UK (home) students

Vinson Scholarship

The Vinson Scholarship originates from a bequest made to the School of Arts and Creative Technologies.

  • Funding: £2,432 fee waiver - or 50% of home PGR tuition fees
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: School of Arts and Creative Technologies
  • Application deadline: Sunday 1 June 2025, 11.59pm BST
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research and Postgraduate taught
  • Open to: EU, International (non-EU) and UK (home) students
  • Number available: 2

York Performance Award

The York Performance Award is the result of a generous endowment by Sir Ron and Lady Barbara Cooke. The Award enables University of York students to perform in a venue beyond York in a drama and/or music performance.

  • Funding: £1000
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: School of Arts and Creative Technologies
  • Application deadline: Sunday 1 June 2025, 11.59pm BST
  • Open to: International (including EU) and UK (home) students
  • Number available: 1 or 2 (divided)

ANID / Becas Chile

We offer a 25% tuition fee discount for Becas Chile-sponsored postgraduate students.

  • Funding: 25% tuition fee discount
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research and Postgraduate taught
  • Open to: Students from Chile

Commonwealth Scholarship

The University of York is a host university for the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. Various opportunities are available throughout the year. The majority of awards are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

  • Funding: various
  • Academic year: 2024/25
  • Department: Any
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research and Postgraduate taught
  • Open to: Students from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize and more (see eligibility)

Gowrie bursary

This bursary is targeted at those who are serving or have served in the Australian Defence Forces and their lineal descendants, particularly those for whom the monetary value will make a real difference.

  • Funding: $8,000 AUD per annum
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research
  • Open to: Students from Australia
  • Number available: 2

Jansons Scholarships

Jansons scholarship will help to finance studying abroad for certain postgraduate degrees.

  • Funding: up to NOK 150,000
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research and Postgraduate taught
  • Open to: Students from Norway

John Monash Scholarship

The John Monash Scholarship provides yearly funding to outstanding postgraduate taught and research students from Australia.

  • Funding: $75,000 AUD for each year of study
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research and Postgraduate taught
  • Open to: Students from Australia
  • Number available: 10-20

Overseas PhD Scholarships for University of the Punjab in service non-PhD teachers

This scholarship is aimed at candidates who have secured a PhD place for at a university ranked in the top 200 of the QS World University Rankings.

  • Funding: TBC
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research
  • Open to: Students from Pakistan

Rem@ke PhD Studentship

The School of Arts and Creative Technologies at the University of York is pleased to invite applications for a fully funded PhD studentship as part of the ERC Synergy Project “REM@KE” (Reconstructing Embodied Musical Knowledge at the Keyboard).

  • Funding: Fully funded PhD
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Application deadline: Thursday 8 May 2025, 12pm BST
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research
  • Open to: International (including EU) and UK (home) students

Roberta Sykes scholarship

The Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation provides supplementary financial assistance to Indigenous Postgraduate students who wish to undertake studies at recognised universities outside of Australia.

  • Funding: $60,000 AUD per year
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research and Postgraduate taught
  • Open to: Students from Australia

Tan Kah Kee Scholarship

The Tan Kah Kee Scholarship offers postgraduate scholarships for Singapore citizens and permanent residents pursuing full-time PhD or Masters degrees.

  • Funding: $12,000
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Application deadline: Saturday 31 May 2025, 11.30am BST
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research and Postgraduate taught
  • Open to: Students from Singapore

York Minster Choral Scholarships

York Minster offers choral scholarships lasting 12 months or longer to altos, tenors and basses who are undergraduate or postgraduate students.

  • Funding: Approx £8,000
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research, Postgraduate taught and Undergraduate
  • Open to: International (including EU) and UK (home) students

Yorkshire Bach Choir

We are now accepting applications for our choral scholarship scheme for 2025/26. The 12-month scholarships will be open to all four voice parts.

  • Funding: £500 (to be paid in 2 instalments, one in December, one in June)
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research, Postgraduate taught and Undergraduate
  • Open to: International (including EU) and UK (home) students

China Scholarships Council Scholarship

We're pleased to offer up to ten joint-funded PhD scholarships in collaboration with the China Scholarships Council.

  • Funding: 100% of tuition fees for the full duration, which is typically three years; a grant for living costs; one return flight from China; UK visa fees
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research
  • Open to: Students from China
  • Number available: 10

ANID / Becas Chile

We offer a 25% tuition fee discount for Becas Chile-sponsored postgraduate students.

  • Funding: 25% tuition fee discount
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research and Postgraduate taught
  • Open to: Students from Chile

Commonwealth Scholarship

The University of York is a host university for the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. Various opportunities are available throughout the year. The majority of awards are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

  • Funding: various
  • Academic year: 2024/25
  • Department: Any
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research and Postgraduate taught
  • Open to: Students from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize and more (see eligibility)

Gowrie bursary

This bursary is targeted at those who are serving or have served in the Australian Defence Forces and their lineal descendants, particularly those for whom the monetary value will make a real difference.

  • Funding: $8,000 AUD per annum
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research
  • Open to: Students from Australia
  • Number available: 2

Jansons Scholarships

Jansons scholarship will help to finance studying abroad for certain postgraduate degrees.

  • Funding: up to NOK 150,000
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research and Postgraduate taught
  • Open to: Students from Norway

John Monash Scholarship

The John Monash Scholarship provides yearly funding to outstanding postgraduate taught and research students from Australia.

  • Funding: $75,000 AUD for each year of study
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research and Postgraduate taught
  • Open to: Students from Australia
  • Number available: 10-20

Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund Lånekassen

The Ministry provides grants and loans for higher education study outside of the Nordic region.

  • Funding: Various
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research, Postgraduate taught and Undergraduate
  • Open to: Students from Norway

Overseas PhD Scholarships for University of the Punjab in service non-PhD teachers

This scholarship is aimed at candidates who have secured a PhD place for at a university ranked in the top 200 of the QS World University Rankings.

  • Funding: TBC
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research
  • Open to: Students from Pakistan

Roberta Sykes scholarship

The Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation provides supplementary financial assistance to Indigenous Postgraduate students who wish to undertake studies at recognised universities outside of Australia.

  • Funding: $60,000 AUD per year
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research and Postgraduate taught
  • Open to: Students from Australia

Tan Kah Kee Scholarship

The Tan Kah Kee Scholarship offers postgraduate scholarships for Singapore citizens and permanent residents pursuing full-time PhD or Masters degrees.

  • Funding: $12,000
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Application deadline: Saturday 31 May 2025, 11.30am BST
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research and Postgraduate taught
  • Open to: Students from Singapore

Extracurricular funding

While not directly related to your studies, these opportunities can help you get the most from your time at York.

York Minster Choral Scholarships

York Minster offers choral scholarships lasting 12 months or longer to altos, tenors and basses who are undergraduate or postgraduate students.

  • Funding: Approx £8,000
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research, Postgraduate taught and Undergraduate
  • Open to: International (including EU) and UK (home) students

Yorkshire Bach Choir

We are now accepting applications for our choral scholarship scheme for 2025/26. The 12-month scholarships will be open to all four voice parts.

  • Funding: £500 (to be paid in 2 instalments, one in December, one in June)
  • Academic year: 2025/26
  • Department: Any
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research, Postgraduate taught and Undergraduate
  • Open to: International (including EU) and UK (home) students

Previous funding opportunities

These opportunities are closed to applications. They may reopen in future years.

Further information

Postgraduate research fees and funding