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Bursaries & Awards

IMC Bursary Fund

Bursary Applications for IMC 2026 closed on Friday, 17 October 2025 at 23:59:59 BST (GMT +1).

Bursary Applications for IMC 2027 are now open. The deadline for bursary applications for IMC 2027 is Thursday, 15 October 2026 23:59:59 BST (GMT+1). 

Each year, the IMC receives many applications for financial support. As part of our commitment to widening participation at the IMC, the IMC Bursary Fund is available to students, independent scholars, pensioners, unwaged scholars, and delegates from outside Western Europe. The bursaries awarded range in value and may cover all or part of the Registration and Programming Fee, accommodation, and meals.

For IMC 2026 a total amount of £19,00 was awarded. 255 applications were received and 99 applicants were awarded bursaries. Bursaries were awarded to participants from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Macedonia, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, Ukraine, and the USA.

Page Contents:
Application Criteria
How to Apply
Donate to the IMC Bursary Fund
Become a Bursary Patron
The Institute for Medieval Studies Endowment Fund
Templar Heritage Trust Bursaries
Marci Freedman Bursaries

Application Criteria

Applicants are asked to provide contact information such as name, email, country, and affiliation, as well as a supporting statement of at least 100 words.

Bursary applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Generally, supporting statements outline how the applicant fits into the criteria to which the bursary fund is available. The bursary fund is available to students, independent scholars, pensioners, unwaged scholars, and delegates from outside Western Europe.

It may also outline details of personal circumstances which may include, but are not limited to:

  • why the applicant feels they are eligible for an IMC Bursary
  • reasons for attending the IMC
  • any benefits that may arise as a result of attending the IMC
  • any other circumstances that may affect the individual’s attendance at the IMC

You may also optionally provide up to four other files of evidence to support your application. All additional documents must be uploaded separately. Please name each file to indicate what type of document it is (e.g. financial information).

Click here to download the Supporting Statement template [Word Document]. Then upload the edited template when making your application.

If you do not have access to a word processor or need to upload your statement in an alternative format, please email [email protected] as soon as possible.

How to Apply

Applications for Bursary fund support open at the same time as proposals for papers and session each year.

Bursary Applications for IMC 2026 closed on Friday, 17 October 2025 at 23:59:59 BST (GMT +1).

Bursary Applications for IMC 2027 are now open.

The deadline for bursary applications for IMC 2027 is Thursday, 15 October 2026 23:59:59 BST (GMT+1).

Applications should be made via our online submission tool, Confex.

To do so, you will need to create an account or, if you attended a previous IMC or have already submitted a paper/session proposal, log in to your existing one. We recommend creating only one account and using a university/professional email address where possible.

Do not create multiple accounts using different email addresses, as this may mean we are unable to contact you about your various submissions and/or you are unable to access information relating to your present or past involvement(s) in the IMC.

The email address with which you set up your account will be used for all correspondence.

To update your email address, contact [email protected] to ensure you continue to receive important information about your participation in the IMC.

Once you have logged in/set up your account, you can start your bursary application.

Apply for an IMC 2027 Bursary

 

Donate to the IMC Bursary Fund

We are aware that many in our community are facing increased financial pressures, often impacting the most marginal in our communities the hardest. The IMC is run on a not for profit basis, with any surplus from each Congress being reinvested in the Bursary Fund. However, if you feel able to, you can make a donation to the IMC Bursary Fund here. Even small contributions make a great impact.

Donate to the IMC Bursary Fund

 

You can also make a donation to the IMC Bursary Fund when registering to attend the IMC.

Become a Bursary Patron

We are also keen to hear from individuals and organisations who would like to support scholars. Bursary Patrons covering the full cost of at least one bursary for one year or more have the option to be recognised and thanked in the IMC Programme. Bursaries can cover registration fees only or include a contribution towards accommodation and meals. Previous Patrons have included individuals from the medieval studies community, publishers and organisations.

If you are interested in contributing in this way, please get in touch by emailing [email protected].

The Institute for Medieval Studies Endowment Fund

The Institute for Medieval Studies received a substantial bequest from a fellow medievalist which enabled us to establish the Leeds Medieval Studies Endowment Fund. This fund directly contributes to the IMC Bursary Fund, in addition, it provides scholarships for MA and PhD students in the Institute for Medieval Studies, internship opportunities, and support for other activities in the medieval studies community.

For further information about leaving a legacy, or other ways of supporting the Endowment Fund, please email [email protected].

Templar Heritage Trust Bursaries

We would like to thank the Templar Heritage Trust (THT) for offering three bursaries to IMC delegates. The THT is a foundation charity incorporated organisation (registered charity number: 1202183) and makes a number of grants each year in support of academic historical research and skills training for the conservation of historic buildings. The THT takes a particular interest in the literary, architectural, archaeological, and cultural legacy of the medieval Knights Templar and their period in history. 

All eligible proposals will be considered for this bursary automatically.

Marci Freedman Bursaries

Dr Marci Freedman (13 July 1985 - 22 Nov 2024) was an alumna of the Institute for Medieval Studies, University of Leeds and of the University of Manchester. Dr Freedman completed her Ph.D. on the late medieval and early modern reception of Benjamin of Tudela’s travelogue. Throughout her entire career, she was interested in medieval people travelling and their motivations, whether out of curiosity, trade, diplomacy, war, or pilgrimage. An avid traveller herself, it is only fitting that we dedicate this bursary fund to focus on medieval Jewish studies or medieval movements: curiosity, trade, diplomacy, war, or pilgrimage. This fund has been established through contributions from family, friends, and colleagues of Marci.

All eligible proposals will be considered for this bursary automatically.