THE NOTES

Before applying, applicants for CCS Postgraduate Scholarships must be aware of the following points:

(a) International students are invited to apply for CCS scholarships. Where awards state tuition fees will be met at the ‘UK/Home level’, international students, if successful, would need to fund the balance of tuition fees from another source.

(b) To be eligible for consideration, the applicant will be registered in, or applying to, the Department of Theology and Religion[1] at Durham University, and the applicant’s research topic will be in the area of Catholic Theology / Catholic Studies. The following areas of Catholic Theology / Catholic Studies will be considered:

• Constructive Catholic Theology
• Catholic Historical Theology
• Interpretation of Scripture in Catholic Tradition
• Catholic Social Thought and Practice
• The History of Catholicism
• Lived Catholicism
• Social-Scientific study of Catholicism
• Franciscan Studies

If you are unsure whether your area of research would be considered, please do get in touch.

(c) Note for applicants from the MA in Theology and Religion (V8K407)

To be eligible for consideration applicants must opt to pursue an informal pathway in Catholic Studies by undertaking the following:

• Classic Texts in Christian Theology THEO 43430

And at least one of the following modules: (DL denotes an online Distance Learning module)

• Catholic Theology: A Preliminary Tour (DL) THEO 45930
• Catholic Social Thought and Practice (DL) THEO 46230
• The Theology of Thomas Aquinas Selected Topics (DL) THEO 46330
• Conceiving Change in Contemporary Catholicism (DL) THEO 46030
• Conceiving Change in Contemporary Catholicism THEO 40230
• Twentieth Century Catholic Theology (DL) THEO 46130
• High Medieval Franciscan Theology (DL) THEO 46530
• Faith and Reason (DL) THEO 46430

Applicants from the MA in Theology and Religion (V8K407) must also pursue a dissertation with a clear link to Catholic Theology / Catholic Studies as outlined in (b) above.

(d) It is important that new candidates for postgraduate programmes in the Department of Theology and Religion complete their online programme application by the deadlines given above as applicants must have been formally offered a place on an eligible programme of study before their application for a CCS Scholarship can be considered.

(e) Eligible current Department of Theology and Religion students who have not previously been in receipt of a CCS Scholarship may apply for 2026-27. It is expected that these applicants will have regularly participated in CCS seminars and events during their registration in the Department of Theology and Religion. In person participation does not apply to current students on the Distance Learning programmes.

(f) All tuition fee only scholarships will be awarded on the basis of demonstrated financial need, coupled with excellent academic performance.

(g) This note (g) does not apply to students on Distance Learning programmes.

Receipt of any CCS Scholarship implies that recipients will share regularly in-person in the academic programme of the CCS through participation in such things as: the Catholic Theology Research Seminar (CTRS), the annual Bishop Dunn Memorial Lecture, the CCS Friends’ and Benefactors’ event, the Early Career and Postgraduate Conference, and other such events organised by the CCS for the CCS community. Where appropriate and where compatible with students’ other academic commitments, students may be asked to participate in the planning and delivery of such activities.

(h) This note (h) only applies to students on Distance Learning programmes

Receipt of any scholarship from the CCS implies that recipients will be willing to contribute to the CCS as requested, specifically to help encourage awareness of the Distance Learning programme, and to help nurture donor support for CCS scholarships. This might involve making a modest video or writing up a short article about their studies.

(i) This note (i) only applies to PhD students studying at distance from Durham

In certain circumstances, where PhD students being supervised by a CCS staff member are studying at distance applications will be considered for up to £5,000 per annum towards tuition fees. Receipt of any scholarship from the CCS under these circumstances implies that recipients will visit Durham at least once per annum for either the CCS Early Career and Postgraduate Conference or the CCS Friends’ and Benefactors’ event. When considering such applications the CCS Scholarships Committee will take into account the strength of the supervisor’s link to the Centre.

(j) Following application and during the period of any award, receipt of any other scholarship, bursary, or financial assistance towards the cost of tuition fees and/or associated living costs must be declared to the CCS Manager and may lead to a reduction in (and in extreme circumstances total cancellation of) the level of the CCS scholarship award. Failure to declare any such additional assistance will automatically carry the penalty of total cancellation of any CCS Scholarship award. 

(k) Due to the limited funding available for 2026-27, support cannot be given towards maintenance costs, just help towards tuition fees.

Priority will be given to applicants who are pursuing a research topic in the area of Catholic Theology / Catholic Studies, who demonstrate financial need, and who can demonstrate their ability to meet their own maintenance costs and any shortfall in tuition fees.

(l) Unless stated awards are made for one full academic year and do not imply commitment to renewal for future years of study.

(m) That said, priority will be given, where possible, to students who have already been in receipt of a CCS Scholarship during the previous academic year and who have at least one further year of study to pursue. Further awards are subject both to sufficient funds being available and to a satisfactory progress report being received from the student’s primary supervisor or module convenor prior to the meeting of the CCS Scholarships Committee in June.

Please direct any queries to:   Mrs Theresa Phillips

CCS Manager

Department of Theology and Religion

+44 (0) 191 334 3952 or theresa.phillips@durham.ac.uk

durham.ac.uk/theology.religion      centreforcatholicstudies.co.uk

[1] See footnote #4