Applications open for the WFA’s 2026 PhD Grant Scheme

Applications are now open for the WFA’s PhD Grant Scheme, offering doctoral researchers up to £2,500 towards new work on the First World War.

The scheme is open to candidates in their second year of study or later, at any UK or international institution, on any First World War topic — the Western Front is not a requirement. Past winners have ranged widely, from war artists in Sinai and Palestine to Ersatz food production in Germany, and the judging panel is as interested in how a grant will be used as in the subject itself: several past awards have gone towards reaching archives a candidate couldn’t otherwise afford to visit.

Last year’s winner, Qianyi Zhang (Pembroke College, University of Oxford), researched ‘The Chinese Labour Corps: Empire, Ideologies, and Everyday Experiences’. Runners-up Aimee Dion (Université Laval, Quebec) and Sandham Singh (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune) looked at war posters in French Canada and Ireland, and Manipur’s cultural memory of the war, respectively.

In return for their award, recipients are expected to produce a short article for Stand To! and/or the WFA website, bringing their research to members.

Applications close on Tuesday 1 December 2026. Full eligibility criteria, judging criteria and the application form are on the University PhD Grant Scheme webpage.

Questions should be directed to Dr Adam Prime at universities@westernfrontassociation.com.