Studentships and Prizes

Studentships and Prizes

The Middle East Centre annually awards one doctoral studentship.

  • HADID (in Middle Eastern Studies)

The Hadid Doctoral Studentship

Applications for The Hadid Doctoral Studentship 2022-23 are currently closed.

The 2022-2023 Hadid Doctoral Scholarship was awarded to Yasmine Zarhloule (St Antony's).


Raghid and Camillia El-Solh Travel Grant

Applications are currently closed. The next competition will be announced at the beginning of Hilary Term 2023.


Azizeh Sheibani Essay Prize in Iranian and Persian-speaking World Studies

Applications are now open - (PDF icon here are the details on how to apply).

The prize is open to two categories, graduate and undergraduate students. These categories will be judged separately. A prize will not necessarily be awarded in both categories. The prize(s) will be awarded to the best essay(s) in Iranian and Persian-speaking World Studies, in any discipline of the humanities or social sciences. Essays may be on any chronological period: ancient, medieval or modern. Essays should make use of primary sources and will be assessed on the basis of the strength and originality of the research or argumentation.

Essays should be between 6,000 and 8,000 words in length, including footnotes and references. Applicants may choose the most suitable form of citation, though all submissions should be written to the highest academic standard.

The criterion for eligibility is that entrants must be currently registered for a degree at Oxford, or have been so registered in the previous academic year. Essays must not have been published elsewhere, including online.

Results will be announced in sixth/seventh week, with the prize awarded in seventh/eighth week.

All submissions should be sent as a PDF file by email to Dr Stephanie Cronin at stephanie.cronin@orinst.ox.ac.uk. Submission deadline is 23 May 2023.

Previous winners of the Azizeh Sheibani essay prize


Walter Zander

Applications are currently closed. The next competition will be announced at the beginning of Hilary Term 2023.

This is the highest honour given for the M.Phil. in Modern Middle Eastern Studies.  The prize is awarded to the student who achieved the highest result in the final written examinations for the M.Phil.  The Prize was established through a generous gift from Dr Walter Zander, a former Senior Associate Member of the College.  The first prize was awarded in 1988. The 2020 award goes to Ms Hannah Cowdell (St Antony's College).