Research and Scholarly Activity

University College is an exciting multidisciplinary learning community. Whilst undergraduate and postgraduate students receive formal degree teaching in their academic departments, there are plenty of formal and informal learning opportunities within the College, supported by our connections with learned institutions, research fellows and wider research networks.  

The College regularly hosts visiting academics from around the world, often in collaboration with Institutes including the Institute for Advanced Study and the Institute for Medieval and Early Modern Studies. The College also has a range of scholarships available to support study. We currently have three Fellowships associated with the College:

• Early Career Research Fellows, one for each Faculty, for ECRs at Durham to connect, support and inspire our Postgraduate Research students
• The Solway Fellow, for research in Theology & Religion. This Fellowship is combined with our Chaplain.
• The Slater Fellow, for a senior academic working in the field of Medieval and Early Modern Studies to visit for a term.

University College Early Career Research Fellowships

Applications are now open for the new University College Early Career Research Fellowships.

We are reimagining the University College Fellowship programme and are excited to launch an ECR Fellowship scheme for 2023-24. This is an important part of our college strategic plan, which includes fostering intellectual curiosity within our learning community. The funding is provided courtesy of our endowed Slater Fund, to benefit University College’s research culture.

Through the ECR Fellows scheme we will

• further strengthen intellectual engagement in our college community.
• share ECR experiences with University College postgraduate students.
• provide a multidisciplinary network and learning community for ECRs who may be new to Durham University.

ECR Fellows will lead one initiative per year to support, inspire or encourage Castle’s postgrad research community. Fellows will receive a stipend of £800 to support their own research and access to funding to enable their initiative for PGRs.

For more details please see the attached summary. The deadline for applications is 1 September 2023.

University College Early Career Fellowships

MA Museum and Artefact Studies Scholarship, 2023/25

The University College Durham Trust MA Museum and Artefact Studies Scholarship has been generously established in Memory of Lt-Col Angus Alexander Macfarlane-Grieve, Master of University College from 1939-1953, and funded by donations made by the College’s alumni.  The scholarship is to support a postgraduate student on a two-year part-time course in Museum and Artefact Studies at Durham University. 

The scholarship will be awarded to one applicant biennially and the successful candidate will have access to the College collections while undertaking their studies, research and dissertation, and may potentially support both the Curator and the wider College in its efforts to improve the College as a museum and accessible heritage site. The course is carried out part-time over a period of two years. In addition, a willingness to play a full part in the life of the University College and Department of Archaeology is expected.

Applications for this Scholarship are now closed and the Scholarship has been awarded for 2023-25.