Doctoral scholarships for Master of Arts graduates
Both recipients of the Victoria University Medal for Academic Excellence for top Bachelor of Arts (Honours) marks in their respective years, Alistair and Jake have also completed their Master of Arts with distinction.
Jake will begin a Doctor of Philosophy in English at St Edmund Hall at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, in October this year. He says he was overjoyed at receiving Oxford’s Clarendon Scholarship. “I knew it was a long shot, so getting the Clarendon was life-changing news.”
Jake credits the support of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the School of English, Film, Theatre, and Media Studies for his success. “It’s been an extremely supportive environment. I had research opportunities that broadened my interests and my CV, and every lecturer and tutor I had challenged my thinking and encouraged my ambitions.”
It’s no different for Alistair Murray, who says the Faculty and School staff have had an enormous influence on his development as a student. “They are tireless in the support and encouragement they offer and I’ve had the benefit of studying with some brilliant teachers and thinkers.”
Alistair, who is heading off to the University of Chicago in the United States in September, says the application process for American PhD programmes was a bit daunting and going through it would have been unthinkable without the encouragement and guidance he received.
“I was thrilled to learn that I'd been accepted into the doctoral programme and that the offer came with full funding. Some of my favourite scholars are working in the Department of English there, so I’m very excited to be joining the graduate programme.”
Both Jake and Alistair are extremely grateful to their MA supervisors: respectively, Associate Professors Sarah Ross and Anna Jackson, and Dr Dougal McNeill and Dr Adam Grener.