Fully-funded Doctoral Fellowships (Department of Italian) and Postgraduate Research Scholarships (University of Warwick)

Closing date for expressions of interest: 9 January 2012

The Italian Department at the University of Warwick is offering three Doctoral Fellowships to outstanding applicants for 2012–15. Each fellowship covers all academic fees at the Home-EU student level (at present, £3900/year). In addition, the successful applicants will receive a maintenance grant of £11,000 per year for the three years of the award. (N.B.: Successful candidates classified as overseas students will pay the difference in yearly fees between the Home-EU student rate and that for overseas students, currently £12,115.) Doctoral fellows will be expected to teach in the Department up to a maximum of 6 hours per week (this may include Italian language) during term time as part of the conditions of the award. (Warwick operates three ten-week terms, with four weeks of teaching in the summer term.)

In addition, the University of Warwick is offering a number of Postgraduate Research Scholarships across all its faculties. These will also be open on a competitive basis to applicants in Italian. In general, these scholarships (e.g., the Chancellor’s Scholarships and the Chancellor’s International Scholarships) provide the remission of fees and a maintenance allowance, without teaching or other obligations. Full information on these scholarships is outlined at http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/academicoffice/gsp/scholarship/funding/phd

The Italian Department has a vibrant research culture. In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise it was ranked third nationally, with 60% of its research publications assessed as ‘world leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’. Its seven members of academic staff are able to supervise in most areas of Italian Studies, from Dante and the Renaissance to contemporary literature and culture. Currently the Department has eleven PhD students, making it one of the largest programmes in the country. Fuller details about the Department, staff, and research interests, as well as the current cohort of PhD students and Research Fellows, are available at: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/italian/research.

The Department invites applications from both UK and overseas applicants. Applicants should note that a PhD in the UK generally requires three years and does not include course work. At first, students are enrolled on the MPhil; upon successful completion of an ‘upgrade’ (usually during their first year) they become candidates for the PhD.

Both the Doctoral Fellowships and the Research Scholarships will be assigned on the basis of outstanding academic performance, the quality of the research proposal, and promise of scholarly excellence. Candidates interested in either scheme must apply for both of them by following the steps outlined here. Materials must be sent to the Director of Graduate Studies, Dr David Lines (D.A.Lines@warwick.ac.uk) and must be received by 9 January 2012.