PhD Funding: Islamic Studies

The Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge invites applications for two fully-funded doctoral awards in Islamic Studies for candidates wishing to commence research from 1 October 2025.  

These opportunities are made possible by the generosity of the Hartwell and Sheikh Zayed Funds. The Hartwell Studentship is offered at the Overseas fee rate, and the Sheikh Zayed Studentship at the Home fee rate, both with maintenance.

Potential applicants are encouraged to consult the Faculty of Divinity website to see whether their research plans align with the research agenda of the Faculty. Among potential supervisors is CIP Academic Director Professor Esra Özyürek, who specialises in the anthropology of Muslim societies and in interfaith relations involving Islam. Other specialists in the Faculty include Dr Tim Winter (Sufism and the development of Ottoman learned institutions, and Muslim-Christian relations), and Dr Tony Street (the intellectual history of the Islamic world in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries CE, in particular in Arabic logic and philosophy).

Practicalities: how to apply

Apply via the Cambridge Postgraduate Application Portal, selecting PhD in Theology and Religious Studies from the course options. Applications must be submitted no later than 7 February 2025.

Please state clearly in your application that your research interests are within the domain of Islamic Studies and that you wish to be considered for these studentships. In addition to making the application via the Portal, please email Katy Williams, the Faculty’s Postgraduate Studies coordinator to communicate your intent to apply for one of these awards.

The Faculty of Divinity is keen to encourage applications from people of a wide range of backgrounds. Studentships will be offered according to the Faculty’s academic judgement of the potential of the applicants to succeed in doctoral research, and of the merit and feasibility of the proposed research projects in the light of the Faculty’s research strengths.

Please contact a potential supervisor before submitting your application.

Access the Cambridge Postgraduate Application Portal (postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk)

Access guidance on Faculty of Divinity PhD applications (divinity.cam.ac.uk)

Existing research at Cambridge

The following examples illustrate a little of the diversity of contemporary research relevant to Islamic Studies:  

• Holocaust memory and Muslims in Germany
• Making British Islam across generations
• Seeing the moon