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Department of Theology and Religion
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Postgraduate Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards

 

Alumni Fee Scholarship 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 Entry

This Scholarship for Durham University alumni will contribute part of the cost of tuition fees for postgraduate degree and PGCE programmes across all faculties of the University

As a Durham graduate would you like a scholarship for further study at Durham?
Are you considering options for further study, retraining, and career advancement?  We can help.

We are keen to support you in realising this through the Durham University Alumni Fee Scholarship.  This Scholarship will contribute part of the cost of tuition fees. 

Further information, Eligibility and How to apply is available here.

Faculty of Arts and Humanities MA Bursary - not available for October 2025 intake.

PhD Funding

Environmental Humanities PhD Scholarships

Four funded studentships by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities to create a cohort of doctoral students in the area of Environmental Humanities for the 2024/25 year.  Environmental Humanities is understood broadly in terms of explorations of the interaction of nature and society and focussed on transformative research that brings the humanities - including the research carried out by all of our departments - to our most pressing problems in this area (such as the climate emergency).

Chinese Scholarship Council

A full tuition fee scholarship towards Doctoral students in partnership with the Chinese Scholarships Council.

The China Scholarship Council (CSC) scholarships are available, thanks to a partnership with the China Scholarships Council.  The scholarships are open to applicants from Mainland China wishing to study for a PhD at Durham.  

Details of the eligibility criteria along with information specific to applicants applying for this joint scheme are included in the following link:  Chinese Scholarships Council - Durham University

Please ensure you have submitted an academic application and provide all relevant documents including transcripts, study certificates, academic references and English Language certificates to Durham University via the postgraduate online application portal by 23.59h on 15 January 2025.

Please note: When completing your online academic application form for your programme of study: In the section of Funding, please answer 'Yes' to the question 'Have you either applied or are going to apply for a scholarship?' Then select 'other' from the drop-down menu and insert China Scholarship Council - Durham Joint Award in the text box.

Northern Bridge Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership Competition 2024/25

Northern Bridge Consortium offers up to 67 funded doctoral studentships to outstanding applicants across a full range of arts and humanities subjects, including Creative Practice disciplines, and interdisciplinary studies.  They run an annual competition to select the best doctoral candidates and provide a comprehensive package of financial support over the duration of study.  

The open competition for the October 2025 intake has now been launched.  This will be the final intake for Northern Bridge.

Guidance and documents for the 2024-25 studentship competition (October 2025 intake) can be viewed using the following link:-
https://www.northernbridge.ac.uk/applyforastudentship/theopenstudentshipcompetition/

Prospective applicants are expected to read the full Guidance notes and to make themselves aware of the competition process and the Department deadline, and to approach prospective supervisors at the earliest opportunity.

PLEASE NOTE: The Department of Theology and Religion deadline for receiving applications is
midnight on Monday 2 December 2024 (this is earlier than the Northern Bridge deadline advertised).  This is to allow the Scholarships Committee time to review all applications received.

If you have any queries, please contact: [email protected]

Workshops for prospective applicants to develop their research proposals
NBCDTP hosted two online Workshops for Applicants in October and November to help support prospective applicants to develop their research proposals.  They are unable to offer additional workshops, so for those who were unable to attend, please click the following link to view the recording of the workshops:-

https://www.northernbridge.ac.uk/applyforastudentship/theopenstudentshipcompetition/

Please note: all applicants must indicate that they wish to be considered for the AHRC Northern Bridge Studentship competition.  Please select "Northern Bridge AHRC Studentship" from the drop-down menu on the online portal under 'How do you propose to fund your studies?' when submitting your PG Application and supporting documents. 

If an applicant has already applied or has omitted to indicate on the application form that they wish to be considered for a Northern Bridge Studentship from their postgraduate application, they should contact [email protected] as soon as possible, before the above department deadline.

The Centre for Catholic Studies

The Centre for Catholic Studies (CCS) at Durham University has opened applications for Scholarships and Bursaries for 2025/26.  

  • In partnership with the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ), the CCS is offering ONE FCJ Bicentenary Scholarship to a full-time or part-time MA or PhD candidate in Catholic Theology or Catholic Studies in the Dept of Theology and Religion at Durham University.  The award includes full tuition fees (at the UK/Home rate) and a maintenance allowance of up to the UKRI level (pro rata) per annum.
  • Other tuition fee only awards, made possible by donations from the Congregation of Jesus, the Carmelite Nuns, the Hartley Trust, and individual donors, are also being offered for 2025-26.

Applications for the MA in Christian Theology (Catholic Studies) V8K607, and PhD’s in the following areas of Catholic Theology and Catholic Studies will be considered:

  • Constructive Catholic Theology;
  • Catholic Historical Theology;
  • Interpretation of Scripture in Catholic Tradition;
  • Catholic Social Thought and Practice;
  • The History of Catholicism;
  • Lived Catholicism;
  • Social-Scientific study of Catholicism;
  • Franciscan Studies. 

Full details of the awards available for 2025/26, including eligibility criteria and an application form, are available at Funding - Durham University

The closing date for applications for the FCJ Bicentenary Scholarship is Sunday 23 February 2025. New candidates for a postgraduate degree within the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University must also complete a standard DU application for postgraduate admission with all supporting documents by Sunday 2 February 2025. The closing date for all other awards is 1 June 2025.

If you have any questions about the CCS scholarships, please do not hesitate to get in touch – [email protected] or 0191 334 3952.

Barry Scholarships

Registered postgraduate students in Theology and Religion can apply for these scholarships—usually worth about £500—in October of each year. Information on how to apply is sent to all eligible students. The Department's Learning and Teaching Assistant Manager can be contacted for further information.

Postgraduate Scholarships

We are committed to supporting the best students irrespective of financial circumstances.  The scholarships and bursaries are either funded by the University, through partnerships with external organisations or through generous donations from alumni and friends of the University.

The scholarships, awards and bursaries are dedicated to supporting students from countries around the world.  Other options for funding your studies may also be available and can be found through the funding database.

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