School of History, Classics and Archaeology, University of Edinburgh - The William R McFarlane Scholarship

What the McFarlane Scholarship gives you

If you are studying for a PhD in History at University of Edinburgh, you will receive a scholarship of living stipend of about EUR 24,500 per year (UKRI rate, £20,780 in 2025/26). A scholarship is a regular payment to cover your living costs. In addition, your tuition fees will be covered in full – at the UK or international rate – and you will receive a travel allowance for research purposes. The funding covers the entire duration of your PhD, up to 36 months. The scholarship is awarded by the Edinburgh Centre for Global History. As a scholarship holder, you will become a member of the ‘Migration, Slavery and Diaspora Studies’ research cluster, a research group that regularly organises workshops for PhD students, in which you will participate.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You will be starting a full-time PhD programme at the University of Edinburgh on campus.
• Field: You are undertaking a PhD in history, Scottish history or economic and social history, and your research project focuses on migration and/or diaspora studies. Any historical period and any region of the world is welcome.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities, both from the UK and abroad, are welcome to apply.
• First degree: You hold a British 2:1 degree, or a first-class honours degree in a relevant subject area, or an equivalent qualification from another country.
• Master's: You hold a relevant Master’s degree with an overall mark of at least 65% (or an equivalent international qualification), or you will have completed it before the start of your PhD.
• Not eligible: You cannot apply for a distance-learning place on a PhD programme, nor can you apply if you are already enrolled on a PhD programme.

How to apply

The application process consists of two stages. First, submit a complete application for the PhD programme via the university’s online system, including a research proposal of between 1,000 and 2,000 words. Then, submit a separate scholarship application via the MyEd portal and select the McFarlane Scholarship. Both deadlines fall between mid-February and early March. You will be notified of the result by May.