The School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture (LLMVC) is pleased to offer open-topic full-time PhD studentships. The LLMVC New Kings Studentships comprise a fee waiver for full-time, supervised study. Any applicants with supervisors housed in LLMVC are eligible to apply regardless of their nationality, but they should commence their PhD project in the academic year 2026-27 (between September 2026 and August 2027). The successful applicants are expected to conduct their research on campus.
Selection will be based on the strength of the proposed project, its fit with the research specialisms of the school, and the academic track record of the applicant. There will be up to three scholarships available, and one of them may be considered for international applications. You can find more information about the disciplines within the School and their research strengths as well as links to the Postgraduate Research at the University of Aberdeen . Applicants are welcome to contact potential supervisors to discuss potential projects.
Details on how to apply and eligibility criteria are set out below.
- Funding
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The LLMVC New Kings Studentships comprise a fee waiver for full-time, supervised study.
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
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Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) are fundamental to the delivery of exceptional Higher Education and research. We welcome students from every background, particularly those from marginalised backgrounds. Our goal is to understand your learning style and help you create environments where you can thrive.
For the 2026 competition, LLMVC is ring-fencing one studentship for applicants with a protected characteristic, such as age, disability, or race as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. This ring-fenced studentship represents a minimum recruitment. Applicants will be asked to indicate in their application process that they wish to be considered for such a ringfenced award, but the details will not be seen by the panel reviewers. Only the School’s EDI lead will assess the justification of the selection.
- International Eligibility
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Any applicants with supervisors housed in LLMVC are eligible to apply regardless of their nationality. There will be up to three scholarships available, and one of them may be considered for international applications.
- How to Apply
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- To apply for the New Kings Studentship, you should first submit your PhD application via the University's PhD Application Portal . Only those who have successfully applied for our PhD programme and have received their offer will be considered for the scholarship. Current PhD students are not eligible for this scholarship.
- You can apply for a New Kings Studentship at the same time as your PhD programme. However, considering that the review process for your PhD application can take up to six weeks, you need to make sure to submit your PhD application by 15 April 2026 at the latest.
- Please make sure to submit all the materials that your PhD application process requires you to submit in time. Most importantly, you need to include a detailed project proposal (1000-1500 words), degree transcripts and certificates, and two academic references (or one academic reference if you have studied with us before or are currently on a masters programme at Aberdeen) when you submit your PhD application.
- Once you have submitted your PhD application, you also need to fill out the online New Kings Scholarship application.
- To apply for the New Kings Studentship, you should first submit your PhD application via the University's PhD Application Portal . Only those who have successfully applied for our PhD programme and have received their offer will be considered for the scholarship. Current PhD students are not eligible for this scholarship.
- Key Dates
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To allow sufficient time for assessment and interview, new applicants to our PhD programmes must apply to their programme via the University Application portal by 15 April 2026.
The deadline for completing the New Kings Scholarship Online Application is 1 May 2026.
- Next Steps
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Successful applicants will be notified by 19 June 2026 and applicants will be expected to submit a SGSAH funding application during year 1. They will receive appropriate support and guidance in preparing this application.