Mesopotamian Funding Information

1. Funding to bring Mesopotamianists to Cambridge

Applicants for Undergraduate study
Applicants for MPhil study
Applicants for PhD study
Post-doctoral scholars

Funding to bring Mesopotamianists to Cambridge

See also the University's Funding Search Page for awards offered by the University.

Applicants for Undergraduate study

Undergraduate study of Ancient Mesopotamia is conducted under the aegis of the Archaeology Tripos.

Funding information is available here.

In addition, students at the University of Heidelberg can attend classes in Cambridge via the year-long exchange programme with St John's and St Catherine's College. Deadline usually in November.

Applicants for MPhil study

Mesopotamia can be studied at MPhil level in the specialised MPhil in Assyriology, or as part of the broader MPhil in Archaeology.

General Funding Information

Funding information is available here.

Philological Society Bursaries

The Philological Society awards "a limited number of annual bursaries (£4000) for students embarking on a taught postgraduate programme in the areas of linguistics or philology". One of these is "given normally to someone working on Ancient Languages (including non-Indo-European ones)".

The Society's Martin Burr Fund "may be used to support a Masters bursary for a mature student".

Chadwick Fund Studentships

The fund offers partial Graduate studentships "only for supplementary support". The amount (up tp £2000) "will be determined in each case by the Committee of Managers, after taking into consideration the amount of any other emoluments received by the applicant". Incoming students are eligible to apply as well as current ones. The topic should relate to the ANE before 1000 BC.

German Citizens

German Citizens and those having completed their Undergraduate in Germany can apply for a DAAD one-year scholarship (Jahresstipendium), which covers maintenance costs. Deadline usually in late September.

Greek Citizens

Greek citizens can apply for Onassis scholarships for Hellenes (deadline usually in late February).

Spanish Citizens

The Caixa Foundation offers Spanish citizens grants of 9-24 months for postgraduate study in Europe.

US Citizens

US Citizens can apply for Marshall and Fulbright scholarships.

Students at Heidelberg

Students at the University of Heidelberg can attend classes in Cambridge via the year-long exchange programme with St John's and St Catherine's College. Deadline usually in November.

Applicants from the Université Libre de Bruxelles

The Wiener-Anspach Foundation awards one-year fellowships "to graduates from the ULB who wish to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford or Cambridge"

Applicants for PhD study

Prospective PhD students are encouraged to contact a prospective supervisor in advance of application.

General Funding Information

Funding information is available here.

Chadwick Fund Studentships

Gerda Henkel Foundation

The Gerda Henkel Foundation's PhD grants cover maintenance expenses for two years, in euros, for applicants from any country or University. The Foundation advises that extension to a third year may be possible, via a separate application.

The Trudeau Foundation

The Trudeau Foundation funds PhDs relating to the themes of People and Their Natural Environment and Human Rights and Dignity (as well as other themes, less relevant to Mesopotamian Studies).

Greek Citizens

Greek citizens can apply for Onassis scholarships for Hellenes (deadline usually in late February).

US Citizens

US Citizens can apply for Marshall and Fulbright scholarships.

Post-doctoral scholars

Post-doctoral Mesopotamianists in Cambridge are based at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. Prospective applicants should contact a mentor or collaborator in advance of application.

McDonald Institute Renfrew Fellowships

Three-year postdoctoral research fellowship open to all areas covered by the McDonald Institute, including Assyriology. See the relevant announcement on the McDonald Institute jobs page.

British Academy Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

Open to UK or EEA nationals and/or to those who have completed a doctorate at a British University. Deadline usually in early October. See further information here.

British Academy Visiting Fellowships

For researchers based anywhere outside the UK and at any career stage, to spend up to six months in at a UK host institution, "to develop new research collaborations and/or deepen existing partnerships." See further information here.

Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships

The Leverhulme Trust's Early Career Fellowships pay half the costs for early career researcher researchers who either hold a degree from a UK higher education institution or have an academic position in the UK. Matching funding is provided by the Newton Trust. Owing to internal pre-selections, the deadline for putting oneself forward is considerably earlier than the Leverhulme Trust's deadline. See the relevant announcement on the McDonald Institute jobs page.

Newton International Fellowships

Newton International Fellowships "support the development and training of postdoctoral researchers at an early stage of their career from any country outside the UK, by providing an opportunity to work at a UK research institution for two years". Application deadline normally in March, but potential sponsors in Cambridge should be contacted several months in advance.

Marie Curie Individual Fellowships

The European Commission's Individual Fellowships under the aegis of the Marie Curie Actions are for scholars with a PhD or at least four years' research experience, to conduct research at a host institution. They last one, two, or three years. Mobility across borders is a prerequisite. The Department has internal deadlines for pre-application of 1st March and 1st June.

College Junior Research Fellowships

Most Cambridge Colleges offer 3-year Junior Research Fellowships, open to all subjects, for those who are completing or have just completed their PhDs. The first applications usually open in late August, and subsequent ones appear throughout the Autumn. Holders of such fellowships with Mesopotamian interests are welcome to involve themselves in the Cambridge Mesopotamian Community.

S. A. Cook Bye-fellowship

From time to time, Gonville & Caius College advertises a one-year Bye-fellowship under the will of the late S.A. Cook "for research in one of the following fields: Biblical Studies, including Rabbinics and Patristics; The comparative study of religion; Ancient Eastern languages and literature". The Bye-fellowship is "open to University graduates, including those who would be in Cambridge on leave or on secondment from University posts in or outside the UK". "The funds available [are] in of the order of £20,000. Ten free meals per week in College will also be provided and, accommodation may be available. The Bye-Fellow is expected to reside in Cambridge, but outside research trips may be permitted. The funds may be used to supplement an existing salary, or as a research grant."

EURIAS

The European Institutes for Advanced Study offer 10-month junior fellowships, which can be held at CRASSH, in Cambridge. Applicants must have "2 to 9 years of full-time research experience after obtaining the PhD (PhD training is not considered in the calculation of experience)", and "must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in the country of the selected host institute for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to" a specified date.

Thyssen Stipends

The Fritz Thyssen foundation offers two-year postdoctoral stipends to those who received the PhD within the last two years. There is no deadline, and decisions are usually reached within eight weeks. The application should not be under consideration by other funding bodies at the same time. Enquiries elicited the information that their stipulation "topics related thematically to German research interests" refers to "research that is of interest to the research landscape in Germany. This does not necessarily mean that this must be research about Germany. In each case, we examine on an individual basis to what extent this relationship exists in a project."

Applicants from the University of Chicago

A three-year research fellowship at Corpus Christi College, which is advertised from time to time, is reserved for students at the University of Chicago.

Applicants from the Netherlands

The Rubicon programme enables those who "have conducted scientific research at an academic research institute in the Netherlands for a period at least equivalent to three years fulltime" to spend one or two months at an institution abroad.

Applicants from Switzerland

The SNF Early Postdoc Mobility Programme enables Swiss citizens and those who have done "no less than 3 years at a research institution in Switzerland" to spend 18 months conducting research at an institution abroad.

Applicants from the Université Libre de Bruxelles

The Wiener-Anspach Foundation's postdoctoral grants enable researchers who obtained their doctorate at ULB to carry out research in Cambridge.

Applicants from the US and China

Magdalene College offers one-term 'Yip Visiting Fellowships', "unrestricted as to the field of interest", to scholars who are a) "full-time Faculty members of a recognized US academic institution and hold American citizenship" or b) "a full-time Faculty member of a recognized Chinese academic institution (or of a standing such that a secondment as Yip Visiting Fellow would bring distinction to the College, and whose primary affiliation is in China)" and "citizens of Mainland China or one of the two SARs of the PRC (Hong Kong or Macau)". The College provides single accommodation and meals.

Applications (usually by end December for the subsequent academic year), including CV, two references and 1-page research proposal, should be sent to the President's Secretary. There seems to be no webpage associated with the competition.

Applicants from Commonwealth Countries

The Commonwealth Rutherford Scholarships are "for highly skilled researchers from other Commonwealth countries to spend one or two years at an eligible UK university or higher education institution conducting postdoctoral research." The project's "impact on wider society" is an important part of the application. Deadline in early December (but prospective applicants should contact the Host Institution as soon as possible, as this has to issue documents).

Funds available to those in Cambridge

Most of the University-based funds listed below give out quite small amounts (a few hundred pounds). Funds restricted to members of particular Colleges are not listed.

See also the University's Funding Search Page for awards offered by the University.

The Cambridge Assyriology Funds

The Cambridge Assyriology funds support graduate students, the Ancient Near Eastern Seminar Series, and miscellaneous academic projects by members of the Cambridge Mesopotamian community (including Undergraduates). For more information, see here.

The H. M. Chadwick Fund

Based in the Dept of ASNaC, the fund promotes the study of or research in "history, literature, thought, religion, sociology, antiquities, and art of any ... people or peoples of the Near East primarily before 1000 BC". Deadline is 1st March annually.

Mesopotamian Undergraduates have successfully applied to it to fund academic projects.

CRASSH Conference Funding

CRASSH offers up to £2500 of funding for 2-day interdisciplinary conferences convened by Cambridge researchers (including Graduate students). Venue and Admin support included. Application deadline in January.

The Crowther-Beynon Fund

Based in the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the fund supports "the improvement" of the Museum's collections.

"Projects may be related to material already in the Museum, or can involve acquiring new material for the Museum's collections. Projects related to existing collections should enhance and consolidate knowledge of a selected group of artefacts through research and / or documentation. Grants are also available to improve the care and condition of artefacts, and to facilitate access to the Museum's collections, e.g. through exhibition or publication."

Awards typically £400-£1200. Deadline in April.

The Judith Wilson Fund

Supports "activities relating to poetry and drama, in the Drama Studio and in Cambridge more widely". Further information here. The Fund supported the Poor Man of Nippur film.

Funds for travel

Cambridge-Africa Alborada Research Fund

The Fund makes awards of 10.000-20.000 pounds to support collaborations between Cambridge and Sub-Saharan Universities, for purposes including "research-related travel between Cambridge and Africa" and "conducting research training activities in Africa (e.g. setting up courses/workshops)". Deadline in December.

The Gibbs Travelling Research Fellowship

Administered by Newnham College, and worth c. £18.000, "This Travelling Fellowship has been endowed with the object of assisting women graduates who have considerable experience of research (normally beyond the doctoral level), who intend to undertake fieldwork projects outside the British isles ... with preference for Archaeology or Biology." It is open "to women who are or have been members of ... or University Officers in, the University of Cambridge, but preference will be given to present or former members of Newnham College if two proposals are judged to be of equal quality."

The Gladstone Memorial Trust

The Gladstone Memorial Trust offers Travel Awards (max. £600) to first or second year Undergraduates (or third year of a four year course) at Oxford or Cambridge "an opportunity to travel abroad and extend their knowledge of foreign countries... The awards are not intended to support scientific expeditions or projects connected with academic courses of research."

New Zealand Exchange

The exchange programme with the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, is open to Cambridge staff members (one to three months, four in exceptional cases).

Student Travel Awards

Through these awards of up to £1200, the University's Development Office links up current students with alumni in Europe.

The Wiener-Anspach Foundation

The Wiener-Anspach Foundation's 'short stay' grants "can help cover travel and accommodation expenses for PhD students, researchers and academics from ULB, Oxford and Cambridge who wish to conduct research for a limited period of time at one of the partner universities."

Worts Travelling Scholars Fund

Up to £600. Managed by the University. Preference given to Undergraduates, but Graduate Students will also be considered. Does not support: "participation in study programmes or language courses; volunteer work with established charities; conferences (either to present a paper or to attend); fieldwork for M.Phil. theses; medical electives; seeing veterinary practice; laboratory visits or work experience".

The 2010 advert in the Reporter is accessible here (as a sample) - look out for the up-to-date one. See also here.

Topic-specific funds and prizes

The Rose Book-Collecting Prize

Through this prize, the University Library "is offering students the chance to win £500 by building their own book collections." Entries (a list of the collection together with a short essay, explaining the theme and significance of the collection) are due by the first day of the Lent full term. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to talk about their collection to the judges.

Finance

The University runs a paper (i.e. presentation) prize in Finance for Graduate students. Enquiries elicited the information that submissions from Graduate students in the Department of Archaeology (e.g. on the Mesopotamian or Egyptian economy) would be admissible.

Law

The University's Frederic William Maitland Memorial Fund supports "research and instruction in the History of Law and of Legal Language and Institutions".

The University's Yorke Prize is "awarded annually for an essay on a legal subject (including the history, analysis, administration and reform of law) and is open to any graduate of the University or any person who is or has been registered as a Graduate Student of the University. Candidates should first obtain the approval of the Faculty Board of Law for the proposed essay subject and, assuming approval, submit the essay to the Registrary to arrive not later than the last day of the Michaelmas Term".

The University and City of Innsbruck's Preis für ‚Antike Rechtsgeschichte’ (3000 EUR) is awarded every two years, in odd numbers. Submissions in English are accepted.

Literature

The University's Le Bas Prize of £200 "for an essay on a literary subject" is open to "members of the University who are graduates, of this or another university, and who will not have attained the age of thirty years on 30 June of the year of the award". Title/topic to be sent in by 14th Feb, and, if approved, essay (between 15.000 and 30.000 words) to follow by 30th June. The 2003 advert in the Reporter is accessible here (as a sample) - look out for the up-to-date one.

The University's Jebb Fund makes "grants for maintenance, travel in connection with research, and research expenses" to "persons engaged in study or research in the University in classical or other literary studies". Annual deadline is end March (or 1st May? Online info seems contradictory).

Liturgy

The University runs the George Williams Prize, "for some subject connected with liturgical study". Proposed topic to be sent in February, essay (no longer than 20.000 words) in December. If your dissertation falls in this area, consider entering.

Palaeography and Manuscript Studies

The University runs the Gordon Duff Prize (£500) for an essay on "bibliography, palaeography, typography, book-binding, book-illustration, or the science of books and manuscripts and the arts relating thereto". Word limit = 10.000 words. Title/topic to be proposed by end of Michaelmas, and, if approved, essay to be submitted by end of Lent. [The University Library confirms that cuneiform tablets (and indeed papyri) count as manuscripts].

Philosophy of religion

The University runs the Gregg Bury Prize, for submissions between 10.000 and 20.000 words. If your dissertation falls in this area, consider entering. The 2009 advert in the Reporter is accessible here (as a sample) - look out for the up-to-date one.

Funds available more widely

ABTA PhD Award

The Association of British and Turkish academics runs an annual award for PhD students at UK Universities (and those in their first postdoc year), open to all subjects. First prize = £300.

Cambridge Mesopotamianists have been successful in the past.

The Augustinus Foundation

The Augustinus Foundation accepts applications from abroad for activities which take place in Denmark, or for projects involving Danish researchers.

The Aurelius Charitable Trust

The Trust makes grants (different websites give different ranges: £1000-10000, £500-5000) to charitable organisations (not individuals) "involved with conservation of culture inherited from the past and the dissemination of knowledge, particularly in the humanities field". There is no deadline for applications.

The Bogliasco Foundation

The Bogliasco Foundation gives one-month Fellowships (board and lodging only, no stipend) at a villa in Liguria. "Students currently in a degree-granting program" are not eligible. Deadlines are "January 15th for residencies during the subsequent fall semester, and April 15th for residences during the subsequent spring semester."

The British Institute for the Study of Iraq

Makes grants for outreach initiatives, conferences and pilot projects.

Camargo Foundation

The Camargo Foundation (in Cassis, France) offers residential fellowships, with a stipend of 250 USD per week. Deadline usually in October for Fellowships starting twelve or more months later. "Applicants are expected either to hold a PhD and a record of post-doctoral scholarship, or to be PhD candidates completing the final stages of research for, or writing of, their dissertation."

An enquiry by email in Sep. 2018 elicited the response that Assyriologists are eligible to apply providing the proposed project "engages the cultures and influences of the Mediterranean region".

De Vries Fellowship

The Bert and Sally de Vries Fellowship is administered by ASOR. It "provides support in the amount of $1,500 to an undergraduate or graduate student of any nationality except Jordanian citizens for participation on an archaeological project or research in Jordan".

Fondation Jean Leclant

The Fondation issues an annual prize which is normally for work in Egyptology, but can also in principle ("le cas échéant") support work on the Near East (and other regions). Deadline usually in mid-April.

The Foyle Foundation

Supports "support projects which facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and learning and which have a long-term strategic impact... For Universities we will consider supporting arts, museum, archive or special collection projects, usually for capital funding, which meet a clear public benefit. All University projects should enable general and not just specialist use, the majority of time, and not be limited to out of term use, or be relatively inaccessible by being sited in remote parts of University buildings or campuses where public access will be restricted. In all cases we will expect Universities to be contributing to the project in financial and not just in-kind terms. Some grants may be offered on a matched funding basis."

The Garfield Weston Foundation

The Foundation makes grants (some of them very substantial) to organisations, including Universities, that promote outreach and access. There is no deadline. Decisions are usually reached in about four months.

The Sir George Martin Trust

The Trust makes grants to charities (including Universities) for outreach centred on West and North Yorkshire. The trustees meet in March, July and November. Applications should be received at least two months before the meeting.

The Gerald Averay Wainwright Fund

The Gerald Avery Wainwright Fund in the University of Oxford makes research grants of up to £4000 to those "ordinarily resident in the UK, or affiliated to a UK institution", for the furtherance of the study of the archaeology of the Near East (excluding language, literature and philology). "Although we will not provide funding for DPhil [=PhD] core research, we might provide funds for standalone projects, fieldwork and analytical costs, or support for standalone projects resulting in publication. All other related costs such as fees and subsistence at the home institution are excluded." Annual deadlines: 1st April and 1st October.

The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation

The Foundation makes Humanities grants to institutions. "The geographical concentration is primarily but not exclusively directed toward European and American history and letters, broadly defined." NB their $20,000 grant to The Council of Independent Colleges, Washington DC, "for faculty development seminars on Ancient Greece in the Modern College Classroom.”

The Gilchrist Trust

The Trust makes grants of £500-£4000 to Institutions, for projects which "will fill academic educational gaps or make more widely available a particular aspect of education or learning". Applications by end February, decisions in April or May.

The Henry Sweet Society

The Henry Sweet Society for the History of Linguistic Ideas offers Martin Burr Grants (usually max. £500) "to support any form of activity which brings together language and history and allows them to be enjoyed by a non-academic audience". Annual deadlines are 30 September and 31 March.

The IAA Subsidies for Cuneiform Studies

The International Association for Assyriology awards subsidies for short-term research projects by "advanced students, and scholars within five years of obtaining their doctoral degree", to a total value of 1000 EUR annually.

The Kirby Laing Foundation

Areas of particular interest include "preservation of cultural/environmental heritage and improving access to the arts for young people".

The MBI Al Jaber Foundation

The MBI Al Jaber Foundation makes grants in aid of educational projects which build bridges with the Middle East.

The Mediterranean Archaeology Trust

The Trust offers grants, normally of up to £2000, to expedite publication of excavations at Late Bronze Age sites. Deadline normally end of January. An email enquiry elicited the response that Mesopotamian LBA sites are eligible.

The Philological Society

The Philological Society "has established a fund to support public events and outreach events which promote interest in the structure and history of languages, or public support for the teaching and study of languages in the UK".

The Society also uses its Martin Burr Fund to provide "small grants to support activities by members of PhilSoc who do not have an academic affiliation and do not have access to other sources of funding. For example, it may be used to support ... a member of the Society attending a PhilSoc meeting which is of particular interest to them. The PhilSoc welcomes proposals from members."

The Polonsky Foundation

"The primary objectives of the Foundation are: to promote access to and dissemination of cultural heritage through support of major cultural and educational institutions; to support scholarship and advanced studies in the humanities and social sciences; and to support innovation in higher education and the arts."

The Roger de Haan Charitable Trust

The Trust supports educational/access projects, particularly with a focus on Kent.

Rolex Awards for Enterprise

Rolex makes substantial awards to people aged 18-30 for "projects or work plans that have a clear purpose, are original and have the potential for significant impact" that are "broadly in the areas of the environment, applied science and technology, or exploration".

The Rust Family Foundation

The Rust Foundation's Archaeology Grants Program makes grants of up to $10.000 (but usually $5-6.000) to support "the development of primary archaeological evidence that can help answer major questions about cultural development throughout the world".

The Shelby White and Leon Levy Program for Archaeological Publications

Makes grants of up to $30.000 to "suppor[t] research on terminated and unpublished archaeological field work from significant sites in the Aegean, Anatolia, Balkans, Egypt, Iranian Plateau, Levant, Mesopotamia, Nubia, and Sudan". "Application is open to archaeologists holding a doctorate degree, or to doctoral candidates conducting research on unpublished field work, provided they can devote their full attention to the publication project."

Topic-specific funds and prizes

Astronomy

The Royal Astronomical Society makes grants, usually of between £250 and £5000 and requiring matching funding. "Activities related to the history of astronomy and geophysics" are eligible. One has to be a Fellow (member) to apply. Student membership starts at £1. Annual deadlines: 15 February and 15 August. Decisions are made within two months.

Coroplastic Studies (i.e. figurines)

The Diphilos Prize of The Association for Coroplastic Studies (ACoSt), worth €1000 to support the publication of the dissertation, goes to "a recent graduate student for an accepted dissertation that focuses on coroplastic material from the Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds from the Neolithic period through late antiquity". Awarded every two years.

Applications are submitted to coroplasticstudies@gmail.com with the words “Diphilos Prize application” in the subject field.

The initial application (first deadline: Feb 15th 2020) consists in "a 550-word summary of the dissertation in either
English, French, German, Italian, or Spanish and up to 20 illustrations, as well as the the defense report or equivalent documentation from the applicant’s university that the dissertation has been accepted. A cover sheet is required that includes the applicant’s name, address, university affiliation, title of the dissertation, and date of acceptance."

"Dissertations to be considered for the Diphilos Prize must be submitted within two years of acceptance by the relevant university, and applicants must be members of the Association for Coroplastic Studies at the time of application for the Prize".

History of Linguistics

The Henry Sweet Society offers an essay prize on the history of linguistics, broadly defined to include "both of the major subject areas of linguistics and also more specialised topics, such as writing systems, literacy, rhetoric, and the application of linguistic ideas within professional and technical fields." Essays (max. 8000 words) to be submitted by end September. First prize £200.

Oriental Institute Collections

The Oriental Institute in Chicago awards grants to Master's and beyond to work on its collections. (Not guaranteed to run in perpetuity, but so far has done for several years. Deadline in April).

Philology

The Robins Prize of the Philological Society - runs every two years (deadline in November).

Sculpture

The Henry Moore Foundation gives research and travel grants of up to £2500 to support research into the history and interpretation of sculpture.

Semitic Studies

The Jonas Greenfield Prize ($5,000) is awarded periodically "to a younger scholar for the best article in any area of Semitic studies that has been published during the most recent three-year period".

Social History of Medicine

The Society for the Social History of Medicine runs a prize (£500) "open to undergraduate and post-graduate students in full or part-time education". Winning entries may be published. All candidates must join the Society for the Social History of Medicine by the date of submission. Length should be 5000-9000 words inc. footnotes.

Syro-Palestinian Archaeology

The Albright Institute in Jerusalem offers the Sean Denver Prize ($650) to PhD students, for a publication on Syro-Palestinian (or Biblical) Archaeology. Deadline 31st December, with the winner announced in March.

Funds for travel

Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres

The Académie gives grants to enable a "Master II", doctoral or postdoctoral researcher who is a French national or a French speaker working on "l’étude des textes bibliques et ... la philologie orientale" to spend a period at the École biblique et archéologique française de Jérusalem. Deadline usually in late May.

ANAMED, Koç University

Koç University's Research Centre for Anatolian Civilisations (ANAMED) offers fellowships to PhD students all nationalities, year-long or for shorter periods. A stipend is payable. Deadline normally in December.

Albright Institute

The Albright Institute for Archaeological Research offers a range of fellowships to be held in Jerusalem, some of which are open to doctoral students.

The Apollo Visiting Fellowship

The Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation (NEAF) at the University of Sydney offers the Apollo Visiting Fellowship "to enable a young scholar from any country (other than Australia) to come to Sydney to consult with academic experts in their field and to work on their research". Closing date usually in January. AUS $4000 [= £2316 on 4.i.2018].

Centre de Recherche Français à Jérusalem

The centre give grants for Graduate students and Postdocs working on "le passé ou le présent de l’espace israélo-palestinien" who have "la nécessité d’un séjour sur place". The grant (1200 EUR per month) enables one to reside in Jerusalem for 3-9 months.

The Getty Foundation

The Getty Foundation offers pre-doctoral scholarships to enable PhD students to conduct research in Los Angeles, on a topic related to the annual research theme. Fellows "are in residence at the Getty Research Institute or Getty Villa for nine months, from late-September to late-June, and receive a stipend of $25,000". Applicants "must have advanced to candidacy by the time of the fellowship start date and should expect to complete their dissertations during the fellowship period".

The Gilchrist Trust

The Trust makes grants of c. £500 to students "who are required, as part of their course, to spend a short period studying abroad". Contact contact The Grants Officer on gilchrist.et@gmail.com.

The Hardt Foundation

The Hardt Foundation offers young scholars (under 35, 2nd year PhD or above) residential research scholarships of 2-4 weeks (not in July or August) for "the publication of articles, books or other written contributions" in the areas of "ancient history, ancient philosophy and ancient law". While usually they take Classicists, an enquiry by email in Feb. 2018 elicited the response that they are open in principle to applications from Mesopotamianists. In the first instance, consult the Geneva library catalogues to see if the Foundation has the resources you need, and, if so, send a preliminary enquiry to Dr Gary Vachicouras describing your project.

The Henry Sweet Society

The Henry Sweet Society for the History of Linguistic Ideas awards up to two bursaries (max £200) "to assist younger scholars and other deserving candidates" to attend the Society's annual Colloquium in order to present a paper there.

The Huntington Library

Doctoral students are eligible to apply for short-term fellowships (up to 5 months) at the Huntington Library. Salary $3000 per month. Applications usually open in September and close in November.

IAA travel grants

Up to five grants annually, of 400 EUR each, to enable recent PhDs (i.e. within 8 years of completion) to attend the Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale.

ICS public engagement grants

The Institute of Classical Studies awards public engagement grants of up to £500. Selena Wisdom's play Ashurbanipal was supported by such a grant.

LCANE grants

The London Centre for the Ancient Near East makes grants to research students, to enable them to attend conferences. The deadline usually falls in November, for events in the subsequent calendar year.

Martin Hinds Travel Fund

Provides grants of up to £100 to graduate students for "travel and residence in the Islamic Middle East and North Africa for those graduate students who wish to pursue the study of the languages, cultures or history" of these regions. Assyriology students are eligible to apply, but preference is given to FAMES students.

NINO Incoming Mobility Grant

NINO (The Netherlands Institute for the Near East) offers Incoming Mobility Grants (max. € 1500) "to graduate students and researchers (any level of seniority) from abroad, who wish to carry out research on the ancient Near East in the Netherlands. The grant may be used for such activities as library and collections research, setting up or engaging in joint research with colleagues in the Netherlands, participation at a conference, workshop, or masterclass in ancient Near Eastern Studies. Not covered are costs for travel to other destinations than the Netherlands, tuition fees, entrance tickets, tourism, food and drink, and equipment." Deadline four times a year (usually 15th of February, May, August and November).

The Philological Society

The Philological Society awards travel and fieldwork bursaries: "Student associate members who are enrolled on a doctoral programme are eligible to apply for bursaries to cover the cost of: (a) giving a paper at a conference in the UK or overseas, or (b) carrying out fieldwork (of long or short duration) in the UK or overseas."

The Society of Antiquaries

The Society issues travel grants of up to £500 to both students and non-students.

Study in Italy

Annual deadline in late April for grants to enable PhD students under the age of 30 to spend 6 or 9 months at an Italian University. B2 level Italian probably necessary. Acceptance letter from host University needed as part of application.

Thyssen Travel Subsidies

Thyssen Travel Subsidies are "generally" only available to those who already have a PhD. They may not be used for "General educational travel, excursions or lecture or congress-related travel". There is no deadline, and decisions are usually reached within eight weeks. The application should not be under consideration by other funding bodies at the same time.

Funds for internships

Elizabeth Bartman Museum Internship

This grant ($2,000 - $4,750) is managed by the Archaeological Institute of America, and only open to those who have joined (but nationality and place of study are irrelevant). It is "to help graduate students, or those who have recently completed a master’s degree, in Archaeology or a related field to meet expenses associated with undertaking a museum internship (minimum duration a summer or semester)." Deadline usually in early April.

The Metropolitan Museum

The Met offers paid and unpaid internships to Graduates and Undergraduates, open to international applicants.

The Gorgias Press book grant

Gorgeous Press run a yearly competition for Graduate Students - the two winners get $500 of GP titles. Application process not onerous. Deadline in April.

***

Note: enquiries have elicited the information that the University's Horst Fund (which supports Hellenistic research) is only available to members of the Divinity faculty; ditto the University's Consort Fund (which supports historical research) and the History Faculty.

Funding for study and research after Cambridge

The following lists pertain only to opportunities which apply year-on-year. Ad hoc opportunities are advertised on the Mesolist, as and when they come to our attention.

Internships

The British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara annually advertises the position of Research Scholar/Assistant for those who are completing / have completed their Master's, and intend to progress to Doctoral research. The position is based in Ankara, and lasts 7-12 months. Applications usually open in October.

Master's Funding

Philological Society Bursaries

The Society's Martin Burr Fund "may be used to support a Masters bursary for a mature student".

Doctoral Funding

The University of Alcalá offers c. 20 PhD scholarships in all subjects, annually. See the 2019 calls here and here (equivalent calls should appear for subsequent years). Deadline usually in October. Enquiries to Josué Justel of the Dept of Ancient History.

Several Universities (particularly North American ones) have full scholarships for PhD programmes (which in the US typically consist of two or three years of taught courses before writing the dissertation, so that they are suitable for those who have just finished their Undergraduate degree).

Information is added here as it becomes known. The absence of a University from the list should not be taken as an indication that it offers no scholarships.

University of Toronto - see here.

Postdoctoral Funding

Albright Institute

The Albright Institute for Archaeological Research in Jerusalem offers a range of fellowships, some of which are open to applicants of all nationalities.

Alcalá

The University of Alcalá offers postdoctoral fellowships in all subjects, annually. See the 2019 call here (equivalent calls should appear for subsequent years). Deadline usually in September. Applicants should have received their PhD in the last 8 years, and have spent 2 years outside Spain and their host country. Applicants must be EU nationals or Spanish residents. Enquiries to Josué Justel of the Dept of Ancient History.

ANAMED, Koç University

Anamed offers postdoctoral fellowships to scholars of all nationalities, year-long or for shorter periods. A stipend is payable. Deadline normally in December.

Berlin

The Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin offers year-long Fellowship for researchers who have a PhD and have published at least one book. Application deadlines in March-May and September-November.

BIAA

The British institute for Archaeology at Ankara offers one or two year postdoctoral positions to those within two years of receipt of the PhD. Applications normally open in February.

Centre de Recherche Français à Jérusalem

Chicago

The University of Chicago offers four-year postdoctoral teaching fellowships. "In most years, Fellows teach two courses (usually of identical preparation) for each of three quarters. Each Fellow also has the opportunity to design an independent course and each is eligible for one quarter of research sabbatical in the third year of residence". Applications open in August, deadline in October.

Columbia

The Columbia Society of Fellows offers one-year postdoctoral fellowships (which automatically renew for a second and third year) for those who have recently completed their PhD. The application involved a fee of $25. Fellows are required to do some teaching. Deadline usually in early October.

Cornell

Cornell University's Society for the Humanities offers one-year postdoctoral fellowships in connection with a specified theme. Salary is $50.000. "Fellows ... offer one seminar related to their research [and] are encouraged to explore topics they would not normally teach and, in general, to experiment freely with both the content and the method of their courses." Applicants must have "one or more years of teaching experience, which may include teaching as a graduate student."

Dartmouth

The Dartmouth College Society of Fellows offers three-year postdoctoral fellowships. Holders are expected to do some teaching. "The program ... benefits Dartmouth by complementing existing curricula with underrepresented fields". Deadline normally in mid-September. "Applicants are expected to consult with a relevant faculty colleague at Dartmouth before submitting an application."

Durham

The Addison Wheeler Fellowship is a three-year post-doctoral position open to all subjects. Deadline normally in early December.

EURIAS

The European Institutes for Advanced Study offer 10-month junior fellowships, which can be held at participating institutions. Applicants must have "2 to 9 years of full-time research experience after obtaining the PhD (PhD training is not considered in the calculation of experience)", and "must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in the country of the selected host institute for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to" a specified date.

The Getty Foundation

The Getty Foundation offers postdoctoral scholarships to enable those who acquired the PhD within the last five years to conduct research in Los Angeles, on a topic related to the annual research theme. Fellows "are in residence at the Getty Research Institute or Getty Villa for nine months, from late-September to late-June, and receive a stipend of $30,000".

Harvard

The Harvard Society of Fellows offers three-year postdoctoral fellowships intended to start just before receipt of the PhD, in July. There is no formal application procedure: nomination is through the PhD supervisor (deadline in August), who must also give the names of three people who have agreed to write references by mid-September.

Hong Kong University

Hong Kong University's Society of Fellows in the Humanities offers three-year fellowships for those who complete the PhD in the last years prior to application. Fellows are expected to teach two courses. Application in January, decision in March. Their list of target areas is Asia-heavy.

Humboldt

The Alexander von Humboldt foundation offers postdoctoral fellowships for those who obtained their PhD in the last four years. Fellows spend 6-24 months at an academic host of their choice in Germany. There is no deadline, but decision time is between six and ten months.

The Foundation also offers Sofja Kovalevskaja Awards (1.65 million Euros), which allow you "to spend five years building up a working group and working on a high-profile, innovative research project of your own choice at a research institution of your own choice in Germany". You must be "a successful top-rank junior researcher from abroad, [have] completed your doctorate with distinction in the last six years, and have published work in prestigious international journals or publishing houses". Applications open in the spring.

The Huntington Library

Doctoral students are eligible to apply for short-term (up to 5 months) and long-term (9-12 months) fellowships at the Huntington Library in California. Short-term salary $3000 per month, long-term $50.000. Applications usually open in September and close in November.

ISAW

The Institute for the Study of the Ancient World in New York offers one and two year positions for Visiting Research Scholars. Deadline usually in November.

Konstanz

The Zukunftskolleg of the University Konstanz offers 2 and 5-year postdoctoral fellowships. Candidates must have had their viva before the application deadline. (The 5-year position requires 50.000 Euros of external funding). Positions are advertised from time to time.

Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships

Library of Congress Kluge Fellowships

The Library of Congress offers 4-11 month fellowships in the humanities and social sciences, to those who have received a PhD in the last seven years. "Interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, or multi-lingual research is particularly welcome." Annual deadline is 15th July.

Madrid

The Autonomous Region of Madrid, Spain offers junior and senior postdoctoral fellowships in all subjects.

- "Senior posdocs (46 positions, 4 years each): the fellow should have completed her/his PhD degree between 2007-2014 and at least 3 years of stays abroad (i.e., outside Spain). The salary is 55,000€/year and the fellow can apply for further funding (up to 200,000€ for the whole duration of the contract)".

- "Junior posdocs (40 positions, 4 years each): the fellow should have completed her/his PhD degree after January, 2015 and have passed at least one year (of the last two) abroad (i.e., outside Spain). The salary is 40,000€/year".

See the 2019 call here (equivalent calls should appear for subsequent years).

Marie Curie Individual Fellowships

Michigan

The University of Michigan Society of Fellows offers three-year research fellowships across all subjects.

National Humanities Centre, North Carolina

The National Humanities Centre in North Carolina offers one-year fellowships. "Applicants must have a doctorate or equivalent scholarly credentials. Mid-career scholars as well as senior scholars are encouraged to apply. Emerging scholars with a strong record of peer-reviewed work may also apply." Deadline usually in October.

NINO Postdoctoral Fellowship

Each year, NINO (The Netherlands Institute for the Near East) "opens one full-time postdoctoral position for the duration of two years (overlapping tenures). Each NINO Postdoctoral Fellow carries out original research at NINO, organises an international workshop on a related theme, publishes the proceedings in a NINO volume, and teaches a seminar for graduate students at OIKOS, the National Research School in Classical Studies in the Netherlands". Deadline in February, to take up the position in September.

North West University, South Africa

Around every two years, the School of Ancient Languages and Text Studies at the NWU offers postdoctoral fellowships (renewable "for up to three years, based on measurable research outputs") in Ancient Near Eastern Languages. The School advises by email that it would also consider appointing a fellow without an advertisement if this would enhance a specific existing project. Enquiries to Dr At Lamprecht.

Oriental Institute

The Chicago OI Postdoctoral Program offers a two-year fellowship (open to all areas of 'Near Eastern Studies', not just Mesopotamia). Activities associated with the position include research and organising a two-day conference. A course may be taught, subject to approval. Deadline usually in January.

Paris

The Institute of Advanced Studies in Paris offers 5 or 9 month postdoctoral positions. One selection criterion is the applicant's contacts to French academia. Comprehension of French is necessary. See the 2018-2019 call here. Deadline usually early March.

Princeton

The Princeton Society of Fellows offers three-year postdoctoral fellowships for those who are completing or have just completed their PhD. One can only apply once. Deadline usually mid-September.

São Paulo

The state of São Paulo, in Brazil, offers visiting fellowships for between two and twelve months. Connection to a local host is required. They also have Young Investigator awards, for those with 2-5 years of Postdoctoral experience.

Southern California

The University of Southern California Society of Fellows offers two-year postdoctoral fellowships. Fellows "are appointed for two-year terms during which they pursue research and teach three courses over four semesters, with one semester for full-time research". Salary is "$57,500 per year plus fringe benefits, with an additional research and travel account of $6,000 per year". PhD must be from the four years previous to application. Deadline usually in early December.

Stanford

Stanford University offers 2-year postdoctoral Mellon fellowships in the Humanities (with possibility of a third year). The salary is $77.000 per year (as of 2017). Fellows teach two courses per year. Eligible subject areas varies form year to year. Applications usually in mid-November.

Swiss National Science Foundation

The Ambizione scheme is a three-year post-doc open to all subjects to be spent at a host in Switzerland. To be eligible, one has to have spent at least a year away from the institution where one gained one's doctorate. Deadline usually 1st November.

Sydney

The University of Sydney's Society of Fellows offers three-year postdoctoral fellowships open to any subject. Applications usually open in May and close in July.

Tel Aviv University

The Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University, has for the past six years advertised two one-year postdoctoral fellowships in the fields of Archaeology, Ancient Israel Studies, or Ancient Near Eastern Cultures. The Institute advises by email that it expects to continue for the foreseeable future. Deadline is usually 1st March, to start in October. There is no associated webpage, look out for the advert.

Thyssen Stipends

Warburg Institute

The Warburg Institute offers a Henri Frankfort Fellowship for research on "the intellectual and cultural history of the ancient Near East". Value (2018/19): £2,800 for the two months. It "may not be held concurrently with another Fellowship or award, including a fully funded PhD studentship." Timing: "Candidates must have completed at least one year’s research on their doctoral dissertation by the time they submit their application for a Fellowship and, if postdoctoral, must have been awarded their doctorate within the preceding five years". Deadline: 1st December.

The Wiener-Anspach Foundation

The Wiener-Anspach Foundation's postdoctoral grants enable researchers who obtained their doctorate at Cambridge to carry out research at the Université Libre de Bruxelles.

***

Disclaimer: the information on this page is offered in good faith, but no responsibility can be taken for its accuracy. If you spot errors or links that no longer work, please notify Martin Worthington, who will also be glad to hear of any additions.

Note: the Barakat Trust responded to an enquiry that it does not fund research of the pre-Islamic Middle East.

Department of Archaeology

Mesopotamian Funding Information

Funding to bring Mesopotamianists to Cambridge

Applicants for Undergraduate study

Applicants for MPhil study

Applicants for PhD study

Post-doctoral scholars

Funds available to those in Cambridge

The Cambridge Assyriology Funds

The H. M. Chadwick Fund

CRASSH Conference Funding

The Crowther-Beynon Fund

The Judith Wilson Fund

Funds for travel

Topic-specific funds and prizes

Funds available more widely

ABTA PhD Award

The Augustinus Foundation

The Aurelius Charitable Trust

The Bogliasco Foundation

The British Institute for the Study of Iraq

Camargo Foundation

De Vries Fellowship

Fondation Jean Leclant

The Foyle Foundation

The Garfield Weston Foundation

The Sir George Martin Trust

The Gerald Averay Wainwright Fund

The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation

The Gilchrist Trust

The Henry Sweet Society

The IAA Subsidies for Cuneiform Studies

The Kirby Laing Foundation

The MBI Al Jaber Foundation

The Mediterranean Archaeology Trust

The Philological Society

The Polonsky Foundation

The Roger de Haan Charitable Trust

Rolex Awards for Enterprise

The Rust Family Foundation

The Shelby White and Leon Levy Program for Archaeological Publications

Topic-specific funds and prizes

Funds for travel

Funds for internships

The Gorgias Press book grant

Funding for study and research after Cambridge

Internships

Master's Funding

Doctoral Funding

Postdoctoral Funding

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