Scholarships and Support – The Highland Institute

Funding the Future of Research

The Highland Institute is committed to making advanced research training accessible and equitable. All admitted candidates to the PGCertR programme receive a full tuition waiver and access to academic resources and supervision. We aim to remove financial barriers for promising researchers, particularly those working in or on underrepresented regions and themes.

What the Programme Covers

All participants accepted into the PGCertR receive:

Full tuition waiver for all seminars, workshops, lectures, and training modules
Supervision and mentorship by members of the Highland Fellowship and guest scholars
Access to the Highland Institute’s research library and digital archive
Participation in the Summer School, Winter Research Colloquium, and all associated symposia
Certification upon completion (either Internship Certificate or full PGCertR)

What You Will Need to Cover

While the programme is tuition-free, participants are responsible for:

Travel and accommodation for in-person sessions (e.g. Summer School in June, Winter Colloquium in December)
Daily living expenses during the fieldwork and writing phases
Research expenses not covered by external grants (e.g. transcription, local transport, materials)

Additional Support

We recognise that some researchers may face financial constraints that go beyond tuition. To address this, the Institute works to secure additional support, including:

Travel stipends for selected students to attend the Winter Colloquium and Summer School (based on need and available funding)
Research microgrants for fieldwork or archival access (subject to donor support and project alignment)
Academic writing support, including editorial feedback and grant-writing consultations

We also encourage accepted candidates to explore:

Institutional co-sponsorship from their home university or department
External travel grants (such as those from the British Academy, Wenner-Gren Foundation, or SSRC)
Regional scholarships for indigenous and community-based researchers

Committed to Inclusion

As part of our vision to decentralise knowledge and support emerging scholars from marginalised regions, we especially encourage applications from:

Indigenous researchers and community knowledge holders
Scholars from Northeast India, the Eastern Himalayas, and the broader Asian highlands
Women and gender-diverse researchers in the humanities and social sciences

For any questions about financial support or to discuss your particular situation, contact the Academic Office at:
info@highlandinstitute.org