(More detailed information for candidates and faculty about the Lionel Pearson Fellowship can be found here)
2024-2025 Application Cycle
The Pearson Fellowship Committee invites applications from undergraduate students for the 2025-2026 Lionel Pearson Fellowship, which seeks to contribute to the continuing education of American- and Canadian-trained classicists by providing for a year of graduate study at an English or Scottish university. The competition is open to any outstanding candidate with a B.A. in Greek, Latin, Classics, or closely related fields at any American or Canadian college or university. This cycle is open to students who either will complete their undergraduate studies during the 2024-2025 academic year or have completed their undergraduate studies during the 2023-2024 academic year. The SCS encourages applications from groups traditionally under-represented in the field of classical studies.
For this year's fellowship application, any eligible undergraduate studying in the US or Canada may apply directly to the Pearson Fellowship Committee. We are not asking institutions to nominate students this year, and there is no limit to the number of students who may apply from any single institution.
During the fellowship year, the successful candidate will undertake a course of study that broadens and develops their knowledge of Greek and Latin texts in the original languages; candidates should therefore have a good foundation in the classical languages. The term of the Fellowship is one year. The recipient may use the Fellowship for part of a longer program of study, but under no circumstances will support from the Fellowship extend beyond one year. Fellows are responsible for seeking and obtaining admission to the English or Scottish university where they intend to study. With regards to their applications to English or Scottish universities, candidates should seek out information about their respective application deadlines, and we encourage candidates to apply if they are short-listed.
The maximum amount of the Fellowship is $27,000, which may be used to offset academic fees, travel expenses, housing and subsistence costs, and book purchases. The Pearson Fellowship may be used at any university in the United Kingdom, however, the Classics Faculties of both Cambridge and Oxford Universities have historically provided a partial tuition subvention for any Pearson Fellow enrolled in their programs. Students wishing to study with other faculties at Cambridge or Oxford may have access to such support at the discretion of those faculties. The SCS will attempt to obtain a similar accommodation should the Fellow attend another university, but any additional funding is at the discretion of the host institution.
Important Dates for the 2024-2025 Application Cycle
- By 11:59pm Eastern Time on November 4, 2024, candidates should submit the application form and all other required materials, including an 8-10 page writing sample, double-spaced, including notes and bibliography. To apply, please submit an application through our award, fellowship, and grant application system: apply.classicalstudies.org.
- By December 9, 2024 candidates will be notified whether they are on the short-list for the January 2025 virtual interviews.
- By 11:59pm Eastern Time on December 20, 2024, short-listed candidates must provide a 17-20 page writing sample, double-spaced, including notes and bibliography.
- In January 2025, short-listed candidates will be interviewed via Zoom by the committee, and candidates will be notified of the committee’s decision shortly after these interviews. In addition, the short-listed candidates will be invited to attend the annual meeting of SCS in January 2025 in Philadelphia, with expenses paid by SCS, although interviews will not take place during the conference.
For questions about the fellowship and application process, please contact the Pearson Fellowship Committee Chair, Anna Uhlig (asuhlig@ucdavis.edu)
The components of the application are:
- The application form.
- A personal statement divided into two parts. In the first part, candidates should discuss their personal background, development as a scholar, and aspirations beyond their undergraduate experience. Naturally, each aspect of these statements should address the candidate’s specific interests in Classics. In the second part, candidates should focus more specifically on why they wish to pursue a year of study in England or Scotland, how this experience fits into their overall goals as a scholar, and what their proposed plan of study will be. Combined, these statements should not exceed 1,000 words in length.
- A sample of the candidate’s writing on a topic in Classics, preferably from a senior thesis or similar research project. For the candidate’s initial application, they should include an 8-10 page writing sample, double-spaced, including notes and bibliography. Shortlisted candidates must provide a 17-20 page writing sample, double-spaced, including notes and bibliography.
- Transcripts from the candidate’s college or university. Candidates should obtain a transcript from any institution they have attended for one or more years. Separate transcripts to account for a semester abroad or summer program are not necessary. Candidates should, however, make note of these experiences in the application form or personal statement, if a record of their performance does not appear on a college transcript.
- Three confidential letters of recommendation, including a letter from a faculty member who knows your work in Classics well. (Please note that the application form calls for the names and email addresses of those who will be writing letters of recommendation.) The application materials include a form, which candidates must provide to their recommenders and which must accompany the letters.
Applicants themselves should submit the first four items listed above. In addition, applicants need to request three letters of recommendation that referees will send directly to the SCS Office. When the application form is submitted, the recommender will be sent an automatic email with instructions on uploading the letter.
For additional information on the application process, visit the Information for Candidates and Faculty page.
To apply, please submit an application through our award, fellowship, and grant application system: apply.classicalstudies.org.
To see previous winners click here.