Applications are invited from postgraduate students and early career researchers for up to seven scholarships to attend and participate in the Harlaxton Medieval Symposium. The scholarships are intended in the first instance for students who have not previously attended the Symposium.
Two Barrie Dobson scholarships are funded by the Symposium, with an additional five funded by the Yorkist History Trust to celebrate their Ruby Anniversary.
The scholarships will be awarded taking into account the academic excellence of candidates and the relevance of the theme of the Symposium to their research interests. Successful applicants will be granted the title of either ‘Dobson Scholar’ or ‘Yorkist History Trust Scholar’ and will be expected to be active members of the Symposium, contributing to discussions, asking questions and engaging in conversation with other delegates.
All scholarship recipients are required to participate in our PGR/ECR presentation competition on the first evening of the Symposium. This will be preceded by a drinks reception sponsored by the Yorkist History Trust.
The successful Dobson Scholars will be expected to write a short report (1,000 words) on their experiences which will appear on the Harlaxton Medieval Symposium website. Please see here for previous reports.
Eligibility
Candidates must be registered for a doctorate at any university, or have been awarded a doctorate within three years of the application deadline. Candidates must not hold a permanent academic position at the time of award.
Applicants who have previously been awarded a Dobson Scholarship will not be eligible for consideration. Applicants who have previously applied unsuccessfully can continue to apply for as long as they meet the eligibility criteria.
Stipends
The Scholarship will cover attendance fees for the Symposium, accommodation and subsistence (including attendance at the conference dinner). Scholarships do not include travel to or from the venue.
Deadlines and Application Format
Candidates must complete and submit the form below no later than Friday 16th May 2025.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that a supporting letter of reference is sent by their named referee to the secretaries at harlaxtonsymposium@gmail.com no later than the application deadline. In the first instance, references should be provided by the candidate’s doctoral supervisor, although another referee can be named if necessary.
Candidates must also submit a booking form by the same date.
Further Guidelines
- Only completed applications received before the deadline and accompanied by an academic reference will be considered. Applicants are encouraged to seek a reference early in the application process to ensure that this is available and submitted ahead of the deadline in order to avoid disappointment.
- References should not be supplied by members of the Harlaxton Steering Committee to avoid a conflict of interest.
- Applications will be considered based on academic merit and the relevance of the Symposium theme to the applicant’s research. Hardship is not a criterion for the scholarships. Applicants should use the personal statement to demonstrate how their research fits the Symposium theme.
- The selection committee will consider how the applicant may benefit from attending specific sessions or papers and from presenting a poster at the Symposium. Applicants should, therefore – where possible – indicate which sessions or papers will be of greatest benefit to their research.
Scholarships application form
The Symposium gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Yorkist History Trust.