Center for British Studies Grants

British Studies Logo

The Center for British Studies supports graduate work on any topic that requires substantial research in the UK. Applicants need not have Britain as the primary focus of their research, although preference will given to projects concerned with Britain's imperial or transnational influence and impact.

  • The Graduate Travel (Pre-Dissertation) Grant is specifically intended to fund airfare expenses to Britain for UC Berkeley graduate students in their second or third year who have not yet advanced to candidacy. The winner will receive a round-trip ticket to the UK for the purpose of research, to be booked and paid for by the Center.
  • The Dissertation Research Grant in the amount of $2,000 will be awarded to graduate students who have defended their dissertation prospectus to finish research in the UK and aid them in completing their dissertation.

Requirements:

  • Applicants must be registered students at UC Berkeley
  • Applicants will be expected to demonstrate how their proposed research is part of the a broader course of study supervised by a member of the faculty
  • A faculty recommendation is required for these grant opportunities. Faculty must send letters of recommendation directly to ctrbs@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail)(link sends e-mail)

Deadline: March 1

With questions, contact ctrbs@berkeley.edu


The Robert Kirk Underhill Trust

R. Kirk Underhill (1906 - 1997) was an alumnus of UC Berkeley, graduating in 1928 with a B.S. in Economics. A lifelong devotee to British institutions and customs, he launched San Francisco's “London Weeks” and served as chairman emeritus of the English Speaking Union in San Francisco. He was also a Commander of the British Empire and a Knight in the Order of St. John, and served as a Major in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. The Robert Kirk clothing store, which he founded in San Francisco in 1939, reflected his dedication to British culture. In 2003, the Robert Kirk Underhill Trust established the Center for British Studies at UC Berkeley. The Center celebrates Underhill's legacy by supporting scholarly research and educational initiatives focused on British culture, society and history.