Set up in memory of Christine Bolt, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Kent, these scholarships were generously funded by her late husband, Ian Bolt.
Successful applicants will be awarded up to £10,000 each (to include tuition fees) to support a sustained period of research in America for up to one year. In exceptional circumstances, the scholarship holders may be invited to re-apply for a further one year’s funding.
Scholarships are aimed at students whose area of research has an American element and/or where the centre of expertise or an important source of research material is located in the United States of America.
Criteria
Applicants must:
- hold an excellent bachelor’s (1st or 2.1), or master’s degree (merit or distinction);
- hold an offer of a place, or be a currently registered student, for a full-time postgraduate research degree at University of Kent for the following academic year within the Faculty of Humanities or Social Sciences;
- have excellent communication skills, both written and oral, and be able to:
- explain their project clearly and without jargon to non-experts,
- convey their passion for their project to a wider audience,
- convince the panel of the project’s wider value,
- act as ‘ambassador’ for both the University and their subject.
- The successful applicants will be selected on the basis of academic excellence, achievements to date in their chosen field and their communication skills.
Preference will be given to students and to candidates who have not had the opportunity to live or study for an extended period of time in the USA.
Short listed applicants must attend an interview in person in Canterbury on the afternoon of 21 May 2014 time to be confirmed. There are no alternative dates. Applicants not normally resident in the UK may be interviewed by Skype in exceptional circumstances.
How to apply
Send the following documents to the Scholarships Unit before the deadline:
- research proposal of approximately 2000 words;
- CV;
- covering letter stating the reasons why you wish to receive the scholarship. The covering letter should include the names of your two referees;
- proposed budget showing use of scholarship funds;
- academic references from two referees, written in English on official headed paper, that include:
- your suitability to receive the scholarship on both academic and general grounds,
- full name and status/title of referee,
- name, address and telephone number of the referee’s institution or place of work,
- details of the referee’s relationship to the applicant,
- full name of the applicant,
- reference to the Christine and Ian Bolt Scholarship.
The University may contact your referee to verify the authenticity of any reference that they provide. Under the UK Data Protection Act 1998, references received by the University may be disclosed to the applicant. It is your responsibility to ensure that references are received by Scholarships Unit before the deadline below.
Documents can be emailed to scholarships@kent.ac.uk, or posted to:
Scholarships Unit,
Enrolment Management Services,
The Registry,
Canterbury,
Kent CT2 7NZ
References from University of Kent academic staff may be emailed via their University email account.
Candidates are reminded that an application will not be considered until all documents have been received. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that all documents, including references, are received by the Scholarships Unit before the closing date below.
Deadline
Monday 31 March 2014