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University of Bristol Postgraduate Research and Teaching Scholarships

We are pleased to be able to offer a number of PhD Scholarships and Research Scholarships with Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) contracts to candidates demonstrating exceptional research and teaching potential. Scholarships are renewable for up to four years (full-time) or eight years (part-time), subject to satisfactory research and teaching progress.

The Faculty of Arts offers three types of scholarship: 

  1. Research Scholarship with Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) 

  1. Research Scholarship 

  1. Co-tutelle Scholarship 

Candidates for all scholarships will be selected on the basis of: 

  • The potential for academic excellence 

  • Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) factors 

  • Research fit within the chosen School 

The University of Bristol aims to attract, recruit and retain students with different experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives because diversity – of people and ideas – remains integral to our success. Candidates demonstrating academic excellence from low-income backgrounds and non-Russell group universities, as well as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, Trans and non-binary, and disabled candidates, are strongly encouraged to apply. Research topics with a decolonising focus, those on class relations, and on gender and sexuality will also be prioritised in the selection process. You will have an opportunity in the selection process to clearly articulate any inclusion and widening participation factors that may be relevant to your application. 

Full-time PhD Scholarships will include tuition fees at the Home rate* and a maintenance grant (stipend) in line with UKRI fee. The stipend rates 2022-23 are £17,668 for four years (full-time) or eight years pro rata (part-time), depending on satisfactory progress. Each student will also have £2000 per annum to be spent on associated research costs.

*Overseas students will receive this fee award at the Home rate, and the remainder of their tuition fee will be waived.

Please note that this funding is for new students. Unfortunately, we cannot consider applications from current students already enrolled on a PhD course. 

 

Graduate Teaching Assistantships 

Candidates for Research Scholarships with Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) will additionally be selected on the basis of a clearly articulated teaching philosophy/vision. A Graduate Teaching Assistant scholarship requires the Postgraduate Research (PGR) student to teach Undergraduate students, as well as carry out their research. The GTA will have a teaching contract, making it very clear what is expected from their teaching role, and puts in place the framework to allow them to deliver on both teaching and research. 

GTA scholarships are highly competitive and guided by the principle of supporting the recipient’s educational as well as research development in a holistic way.  Faculty-specific support for GTA post-holders will be complemented by centrally provided support, organised by the Bristol Doctoral College, which will take advantage of the Personal and Professional Development programme available for all Postgraduate Research students. 

The GTA scholarship requires recipients to be involved in up to 250 hours (if full time) of teaching and teaching-related activities each year, including facilitating seminars, seminar preparation, marking, and office hours. As part of this, postholders will be expected to undergo teacher training sessions through the CREATE scheme offered by the University’s Staff Development Unit. 

 

Eligibility

All Scholarships: 

  • Meet our standard admissions requirements for the PhD course you are applying to - please refer to the individual prospectus page for entry requirements; 
  • The applicant will demonstrate promise for doctoral study; 
  • Received an offer of study which must be accepted before or at the same time as receiving any offer of award. 

For Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA): 

  • The applicant will demonstrate promise for doctoral study and promise for teaching at undergraduate level; 
  • Have applied for a campus-based PhD course. Due to the teaching contract we are unable to consider Distance Learning applications as teaching will take place on campus; 
  • Please note that proof of the right to work in the UK will be required upon issuing of the teaching contract. For overseas applicants who would require a Student Visa/Tier 4 Visa there a few additional rules: 
    • Students holding a Student visa/Tier 4 Visa are not allowed to work more than 20 hours per week in total (this includes any contracts within or outside of the university). Hours spent teaching as a GTA count toward this limit. GTAs Holding a Student/Tier 4 Visa must read the information provided here. 
    • For any questions about Student/Tier 4 Visas, please contact one of our student visa advisers at student-visa-advice@bristol.ac.uk 

 

How to apply

The application deadline for these scholarships was Monday 30 January 2023 and we will not be accepting late applications. Thank you for your interest.

Please note that candidates who have been awarded alternative full awards are not eligible for this award.

If you have any queries regarding the Scholarship please contact the Faculty of Arts PhD Admissions team on artf-gradschool-admissions@bristol.ac.uk.  

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