Support for study of the humanities at York
Posted on 16 September 2011
York is one of just nine universities across the UK selected to take part in a pilot funding programme of postgraduate scholarships, reflecting its excellence and academic rigour in the field of humanities.
I am delighted that the Wolfson Foundation has recognised the importance of supporting the humanities
Professor Brian Cantor, Vice-Chancellor
The Wolfson Postgraduate Scholarships in the Humanities will be in three disciplines - history, literature and languages, with each university being offered three Wolfson Scholarships, one for each of the disciplines. In total over £2 million is being allocated over the first year for 27 scholarships at the nine universities.
The scholarships will be awarded to outstanding students who demonstrate the potential to make an impact on one of these fields and to be future academic leaders. They will be awarded solely on merit to students aspiring to an academic career.
The University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Cantor said: “I am delighted that the Wolfson Foundation has recognised the importance of supporting the humanities. The University of York has invested very heavily in the humanities over the last ten years and the Wolfson postgraduate scholarships will reflect our mutual and profound commitment to the humanities in these challenging times for higher education.”
Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said: “High quality research in the humanities is of critical importance to British society. The announcement of this pilot scheme reflects our concern about the effect of undergraduate debt on numbers of students continuing to postgraduate research. We are also acutely aware of pressures on funding in the humanities. The hope is that many students funded through this programme will be future academic leaders.”
The first awards are for students beginning their doctoral study at the start of the academic year 2012-13.
Notes to editors:
- The selected host universities are: University of York, University College London, University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, University of Oxford, University of Sheffield, University of Southampton, University of Warwick and the School of Oriental and African Studies. The institutions have been carefully selected based on a formula drawing on 2008 Research Assessment Exercise scores and average number of Arts and Humanities Research Council postgraduate awards.
- The awards are available for doctoral research only, and will be paid over three years (or up to six years part time). The value of each award is £75,000 (£25,000 per annum on a full time basis). The award will cover full fees, maintenance and an element for research and training costs. The selection of students to be awarded a scholarship will be made by each university, with recommendations agreed by the Wolfson Foundation.
- For information about the Wolfson Foundation visit www.wolfson.org.uk
- For information on the University’s Department of History visit www.york.ac.uk/history
- For information on the University’s Department of English and Related Literature visit www.york.ac.uk/english
- For information on the University’s Department of Language and Linguistic Science visit www.york.ac.uk/language
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