The Edinburgh AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards offer two funded PhD studentships for 2027/28 in History and Archaeology & Classics. They are restricted to new applicants in the University of Edinburgh’s School of History, Classics and Archaeology. Funding includes tuition fees and a UKRI-level stipend for at least 3.5 years.
Applicants must meet two separate deadlines rather than choose between two rounds. Submit the PhD admission application by 19 January 2027 at 17:00 GMT, followed by the funding form by 2 February 2027 at 17:00 GMT. Discuss the research fit and preferred funding option with your supervisory team before completing the award form.
Edinburgh AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards Details
Edinburgh’s advertised open competition is for two places in the specified disciplinary panels. It should not be interpreted as a university-wide doctoral scholarship in every subject.
These awards replace the PhD studentships previously offered through the Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities. Award-holders also receive additional PhD training and cohort-development opportunities through that school.
Host | University of Edinburgh |
|---|---|
School | History, Classics and Archaeology |
Panels | History; Archaeology & Classics |
Places | 2 for 2027/28 |
Base funding | Tuition fees and UKRI-level stipend; minimum 3.5 years |
Entry | September 2027; new PhD applicants |
Admission deadline | 19 January 2027, 17:00 GMT |
Funding form deadline | 2 February 2027, 17:00 GMT |
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Always recheck the official source before submitting an application.
Edinburgh AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards Benefits
The base award covers PhD tuition and a UKRI-level stipend for a minimum of 3.5 years. Additional training options provide support equivalent to six months of stipend, tailored to research and professional development.
Published options combine extra research time with internships, visiting-research placements or fieldwork travel and accommodation. Discuss the preferred option with supervisors; the university can award a different arrangement following its assessment.
Applicants comparing UK doctoral funding can also review the Sheffield AHRC DLA Scholarship, another AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award competition with its own eligibility rules and deadline.
Edinburgh AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards Eligibility
The competition is open to new PhD applicants in the advertised school and panels. Current PhD students and applications outside that school do not qualify.
Candidates normally need a relevant First Class Honours degree and a similarly strong master’s qualification or equivalent professional experience. Awards are available to Home-fee applicants, with limited availability for international candidates under the UKRI rules.
Requirements and Documents
The funding page supplies a Doctoral Landscape Award application form and guidance for applicants. Read those documents and the assessment criteria before filling out the form.
If you will need a Student Route visa and want an internship, you must indicate that at the application stage. The official guidance says an internship cannot be added later if it was not selected at that stage.
How to Apply
Start by agreeing a suitable project and supervisory fit in the advertised disciplinary panels. The first formal deadline concerns the PhD application, not the funding form.
Return the separate funding form to hca-pgr@ed.ac.uk before the later deadline. The university expects award notifications in late April 2027, and some applicants may be placed on a reserve list.
For other UK PhD funding routes, see the Imperial College President’s PhD Scholarships, which have their own subject scope and deadline.
Application Deadline
The PhD admission deadline is 19 January 2027 at 17:00 GMT. The funding application deadline is 2 February 2027 at 17:00 GMT, and both stages are required.
An online information session is scheduled for 4 November 2026 at 15:00 GMT, with no registration required. The session is an advice opportunity, not a replacement for either application deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers below clarify the advertised subject scope and two-stage application. They also identify funding choices that should be settled before submission.
The Edinburgh AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards are governed by the current competition and UKRI criteria. An eligible academic profile does not guarantee one of the two advertised places.
Are all Edinburgh PhD subjects eligible?
No. This competition is restricted to the School of History, Classics and Archaeology, in the History and Archaeology & Classics panels.
Can current PhD students apply?
No. The funding is for new applicants entering the relevant PhD programme in 2027/28.
Are international applicants eligible?
Limited international awards are available under UKRI rules. Successful international award-holders receive university coverage of the fee difference.
Can I submit only by 2 February?
No. The PhD application must first be submitted by 19 January at 17:00 GMT. The 2 February deadline is for the separate funding form.
Can I defer admission to January 2028?
Deferral is normally not permitted for this funding. The official guidance allows it only for exceptional personal circumstances.
Is an internship compulsory?
No. The published funding options include different combinations of research time, internships, visiting placements and fieldwork support. Discuss the appropriate option with your supervisors.
Conclusion
The Edinburgh AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards provide substantial doctoral support within a clearly defined History, Archaeology and Classics competition. The base funding and training options can support both the research project and professional development. Programme fit and a credible supervisory plan are essential.
Prepare for the 19 January admission deadline and the 2 February 2027 funding deadline as separate compulsory stages. Declare any visa-linked internship intention from the outset. Use the official forms and guidance when choosing the funding option.
