Predoctoral Scholarly Activity Awards

From 2024-2029, the BSHP will offer two Predoctoral Scholarly Activity Awards per year. Candidates, who must be predoctoral students, may apply for up to £500 to fund activities related to the history of philosophy, which will support their academic and professional development. Doctoral and postdoctoral candidates should apply under this separate scheme.

Examples of such activities include the cost of travel and accommodation to a specialist library or archive; the cost of travel and accommodation to give a conference paper; the cost of childcare associated with such projects; and, the cost of attending a summer school.

The application deadline is 28 February each year. Membership of the BSHP is not a requirement for applying.

Applicants should complete the form available here and email their application to by the deadline.

Successful applicants must agree to abide by the following rules:

• The research funded must relate substantially to history of philosophy.
• The support of the BSHP must be acknowledged in any publications, in print or online, or in any other media, arising from the research. See our page on Acknowledging support for details.
• Reports on planning and progress must be delivered to the Management Committee of the BSHP on request.
• The BSHP must be satisfied that the awards made are used for their intended purpose. Payment of the award will normally be made after the event has occurred and only upon receipt of a satisfactory report and receipts for expenses.
• As signatories to the BPA Environment/Travel Guidelines, the BSHP prefers travel by train rather than airplane for short and intermediate travel. Additional funding is available in order to accommodate this preference.

Past Award-holders

• 2024: Stefano Parrinello: Attending an intensive Aristotle Reading Group
• 2024: Amy Ward: Archival Work and Conference Attendance relating to Murdoch and Weil

Testimonials

"With the BSHP Predoctoral Scholarly Activity Award, I was able to fly from Canada to Europe to attend three conferences and spend a week at the Iris Murdoch Collections at Kingston University Archives in London. Each of these activities were edifying and informative, but the most meaningful experience of my trip was the opportunity to present a major part of my master’s research at a conference in Ireland alongside top scholars in my field. The connections and conversations I had throughout my visit to Europe have been vital to my growth as a researcher and philosopher. Thank you to the BSHP for supporting young researchers like me in their philosophical endeavors!" Amy Ward, 2024

"I am deeply grateful to the British Society for the History of Philosophy for awarding me a Predoctoral Scholarly Activity Award. This generous support enabled me to participate in the collaborative residential reading group in Ancient Philosophy hosted by the University of Toronto and the University of Turin at the British School at Athens. Thanks to this award, I was relieved of financial concerns related to travel and accommodation, allowing me to engage fully with the event. The insights I gained during the reading group on Aristotle's De Caelo have significantly influenced the development of my current research interests as a PhD candidate at the University of St Andrews. I am profoundly thankful to the BSHP for their contribution in making this invaluable experience possible." Stefano Parinello, 2024

Margaret Cavendish