If you’re planning on studying in the Stirling Centre for International Publishing and COmmunication in 2013-14 and are a Home or EU student, you may be eligible for an AHRC studentship. Joanne Marjoribanks, a current studentship holder, writes about her award:

The award of the AHRC studentship grant has been of enormous benefit to me as I have progressed with the MLitt Publishing Studies course.

I have often thought of scholarships as being very competitive with complex and demanding application requirements, therefore I was initially reluctant to apply. However, after further consideration I decided to pursue it. Thankfully, the application process was not as complicated as I thought it would be, and both my course director Claire Squires and Sheilah Greig in the Graduate Office were very helpful. I was absolutely delighted when I found out that I had been selected to receive grant funding. Considering that I almost didn’t apply and that I wasn’t at all confident in my chances, I was even more grateful that I had been chosen. It just goes to show that you should try for things even if you don’t think you’ll be successful.

I was very pleasantly surprised at the level of funding which has been allocated to me. It has paid my tuition fees in full, which, without the grant I would have had to drain my personal savings account to pay for. Being able to retain my savings is obviously a great advantage for my future, especially in this economic climate. Payment of my tuition fees alone would have been a huge help; however, the addition of a quarterly stipend is proving to be an even greater benefit to my studies.

Throughout my academic career, I have found that I work best when I have peace and quiet in my own space. The grant money is enabling me to rent a very comfortable flat by myself in Bridge of Allan, which has provided me with a productive environment for my studies. Furthermore, the grant funding has meant that it is not necessary for me to have a part-time job to pay for my living costs. This has obviously been very beneficial, as I have more time to focus on my studies. The extra time also allows me to get involved in other activities related to publishing, such as attending events run by the Society of Young Publishers, which serve to enhance my experience of the publishing industry while at university.

The grant continues to be a great help to me in pursuing the completion of my degree, and I’m sure it will be a great asset to my CV as well. I would strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to apply for it. You never know, you might have a better chance than you think