University of Kent Christine and Ian Bolt Scholarship 2026
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University of Kent Christine & Ian Bolt Scholarship 2026 | £10,000 Funding for Postgraduate Research
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Apply for the University of Kent Christine and Ian Bolt Scholarship 2026. Get up to £10,000 to support research or taught postgraduate study includes tuition fees and research support. Deadline: 27 February 2026.Christine and Ian Bolt Scholarship 2026, University of Kent Bolt Scholarship, Kent postgraduate scholarship 2026, UK scholarship for international students, Kent research funding 2026
What Is the Christine & Ian Bolt Scholarship?
The Christine and Ian Bolt Scholarship was established in memory of Christine Bolt, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Kent, and generously funded by her late husband, Ian Bolt. This scholarship offers financial support to selected postgraduate students at Kent enabling a sustained period of research, study, or data-collection, including opportunities involving research in the United States, or access to relevant materials via digital archives.
For students whose research has a significant American component or requires access to U.S.-based materials this scholarship can be a major stepping stone to academic success.
What the Scholarship Offers & Key Benefits
- Funding Amount: Up to £10,000 per award.
- Coverage: The funds can be used to cover tuition fees, research-related expenses, travel costs (if research requires time in the U.S.), and/or obtaining digital or electronic copies of source materials when in-person travel isn’t possible.
- Duration: The award supports a sustained period of research potentially up to a year. Under exceptional circumstances, recipients may be invited to re-apply for a second year of funding.
- Number of Awards: Typically, up to three scholars are supported per funding cycle.
Who Is Eligible & What Fields Are Covered
To apply, you must:
- Hold a first-class or 2:1 honours bachelor’s degree, or a master’s qualification with merit or distinction.
- Have an offer for, or already be enrolled in, a full-time or part-time postgraduate (taught or research) programme at University of Kent within one of the following academic divisions:
- Kent Law School
- School of Arts & Architecture
- School of Humanities
- School of Psychology
- Language Centre
- School of Social Sciences
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (School of Natural Sciences)
- Demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills, and the ability to communicate your project clearly and persuasively to non-specialists.
- Show passion and clarity about the wider value of your research project, including how it could serve as a bridge between the University, your subject, and wider academic or societal audiences.
- Be willing to act as an ambassador for the University and the scholarship programme if awarded.
Applicants whose research involves a substantial American element or requires U.S.-based source material or archives are particularly encouraged to apply, as the scholarship was designed partly to support such endeavors.
What You Need to Do to Apply
Prepare and submit the following documents via the Kent Vision portal before the deadline:
- A detailed research proposal (approximately 2000 words) outlining your objectives, methodology, timeline, and justification for needing the scholarship funds.
- A comprehensive CV / résumé.
- A cover letter explaining why you wish to receive the scholarship (include 2 referees’ names) and how your research aligns with the scholarship’s goals.
- A proposed budget showing how you intend to use the funds (e.g. tuition, travel, data collection, archival work, digital access).
- Two academic references from qualified referees; letters must be in English, on official letterhead, and include full contact information.
Important: Applications must be submitted in Microsoft Word or PDF format submissions in other formats (e.g. Google Docs) will not be accepted.
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed (via Microsoft Teams) so flexibility for a video interview in March 2026 is required.
Application Deadline & Timeline
- Application Deadline: Friday, 27 February 2026.
- Notification & Interviews: Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for a video interview in March 2026.
- Project Start: Once awarded, funds support research for up to one year with possible extension under exceptional circumstances
Why the Bolt Scholarship Is Worth Applying For
- Generous funding: £10,000 can meaningfully support tuition and research-related costs a big boost especially for researchers relying on external funding.
- Flexibility: Funds can be used for tuition or research expenses including travel, archival research, or data access.
- Academic freedom: Opportunity to conduct research using U.S. resources or collaborate internationally opening doors for global research networks.
- Broad eligibility: Covers diverse academic fields from humanities to social sciences and natural sciences increasing your chance if you meet the criteria.
- Support for early-career researchers: Especially beneficial for students from countries with limited research funding or access to international archives.
Final Call to Action
If your postgraduate research or master’s programme at the University of Kent has a transatlantic dimension or you need financial support for tuition, travel, or archival work tied to the U.S. then apply for the Christine and Ian Bolt Scholarship 2026 without delay.
Prepare your proposal, gather references, plan your budget, and submit via Kent Vision portal before 27 February 2026.
Wish you the best with your application and don’t hesitate if you want help drafting the proposal or prepping for the scholarship interview!