The British Society for the Philosophy of Science offers scholarships for doctoral work in the philosophy of science at a UK university, subject to a candidate of sufficient merit presenting themselves. Scholarships are only available to students applying to degree programmes in philosophy or in philosophy of science.

The 2020 competition will be open to both UK/EU and international students. We anticipate that the scholarship will cover fees at the UK student level, as set by the UK Research Councils. International fees will be covered in part or in full, depending on the case, but will be covered at least up to UK levels. The scholarship also includes a maintenance grant at the UK Research Councils rate. The scholarship will be awarded for a period equal to the institutional norm for PhD study at the student’s institution minus any time already spent on the PhD. For example, applicants in their first year of postgraduate study at institutions that follow a 2+2 (Masters + PhD) model may apply for three years of funding to begin in the second year of their masters degree. Applicants must apply for all other sources of funding for which they are eligible. The scholarship is conditional on being accepted into an appropriate doctoral programme in philosophy of science at a UK university in time for the start of the corresponding academic year.

A. Applicant Submission

Applicants for doctoral scholarships should send as a single PDF which is titled LASTNAME-Firstname.pdf:

1. CV. A curriculum vitae (no more than 2 sides of A4);
2. Proposal. A detailed outline of the proposed research (no more than 1500 words);
3. Transcipt. A transcript (or preliminary transcript) for your most recent relevant degree.
4. Eligibility. A statement that:
   • confirms either that the applicant is not eligible for AHRC funding or that they have taken the necessary steps to be considered for such funding;
   • states how much other funding, if any, the applicant has already secured; and
   • states what other sources of funding have been applied for and the dates by which they will hear whether these applications have been successful.
5. Status. If the applicant has already been accepted onto an appropriate doctoral programme, they should provide evidence that this is so. Otherwise, the award will be made to the successful candidate subject to confirmation at a later date of their having been accepted onto an appropriate programme.

B. Supervisor Submission

The proposed supervisor should send a brief statement to the Assistant to the Committee (no more than 500 words) explaining why they are happy to supervise the applicant on the proposed project and how and why the supervisor’s institution is a good fit for the person and project. (See, also, the Additional Information below.)

C. References

Two academic referees (at most one of whom can be the proposed supervisor) should write reference letters directly to the Assistant to the Committee (see below).

D. How to Submit

All doctoral scholarship applications should be sent by email to the Assistant to the Committee at bspsassistant@gmail.com . Any queries should also be directed to the Assistant to the Committee.

Exclusive Funding

Full BSPS scholarships will not be made to anyone with another source of funding. In cases where an awardee has partial funding from other sources, the size of the BSPS grant will be set accordingly. For example, a successful applicant with fees-only scholarships from elsewhere would still be eligible to receive a maintenance grant from the BSPS.

Multiple Supervisors

Applicants may be in the position of considering a number of different departments for their doctoral studies and thus have a range of possible supervisors in mind. In this event, they should ask their currently preferred supervisor to write for them. Should an applicant be successful in the BSPS doctoral scholarship competition, but end up being accepted onto a PhD programme at a different institution from that of the supervisor who initially wrote for them, it would still be possible to hold the award at the new institution, subject to a suitable endorsement from the new supervisor. It should be noted that where it is obvious that a given applicant and project is a good fit to supervisor and institution, supervisors’ letters may be rather brief without thereby disadvantaging the candidate.

Subject to Renewal

The BSPS scholarship is subject to renewal on a yearly basis, which requires the awardee to provide evidence of adequate progress towards the completion of the PhD programme.