Note that to be eligible for these stipends you must have been accepted onto the relevant course. You should apply for the course first (deadline end of March), which does not commit you to accepting the place.

Award Description

The “Global Philosophy of Religion: Fundamental Spiritual Reality, Human Purpose, and Living Well” (GPR-2) is a major international initiative funded by the John Templeton Foundation to make the philosophy of religion a truly global field (Dec.2024-Aug.2027). The project will enhance and promote cutting-edge research on central issues in the philosophy of religion by creating opportunities for researchers and students representing regions of the world and religious and wisdom traditions that are currently underrepresented in Anglo-American philosophy of religion.

In 2022 The University of Birmingham launched a world-leading teaching and research programme in Jainism, made possible by generous supporters from the global Jain community. Jainism is an ancient religion originating from India, emphasising non-violence, self-control, compassion and non-possessiveness. Named after an apostle of unconditional nonviolence, the Dharmanath Network in Jain Studies is developing teaching and research in relation to contemporary issues, such as environmental protection, human rights and interfaith dialogue.

As part of these exciting initiatives, we are offering scholarships to support two exceptional candidates to undertake a Master by Research Degree in Theology and Religion in the School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion at the University of Birmingham, with a dissertation on Jainism.

The MA by Research in Theology and Religion is a full-time fixed-term appointment for 12 months for either campus or distance learning researchers. Students on this course will usually have an option to progress onto a second year. However, the Dharmanath MA by Research in Jain Studies Scholarship is available in year one only.

You will investigate central topics in Jainism, which can range from any study area, from philosophy and philosophy of religion to textual and cultural studies that have a philosophical impact.

Value of Award

Successful students will be awarded up to 100% of their tuition fees (one scholarship is available to at a home fees rate and one is available at an overseas fees rate). Please visit our website for fees and course details for September 2025 entry.

The Dharmanath MA by Research in Jain Studies Scholarship is generously supported by Drs. Jasvant N. Modi and Meera Modi and family, and  by the William Paton Trust, which is managed by the University of Birmingham.

Eligibility Criteria

• You have applied for the full time, 12 month MA by Research in Theology and Religion (on campus or by distance learning) at the University of Birmingham and you intend to write an MA thesis on Jainism that is relevant to the theme of GPR-2.
• You commit to taking part in engagement activities related to the Dharmanath Network in Jain Studies and GPR-2. For example funder meetings and public lectures and related activities.
• Self-funded: You must be self-funding and have sufficient funds to cover the full cost of living at the University of Birmingham, plus any visa/travel expenses associated with studying in the UK.

Find out more about the Dharmanath Jain Studies Network at the University of Birmingham.

How to Apply

 You need to complete and submit an application to our full time MA by Research in Theology and Religion.

You then need to submit the following items written in English as a single PDF file by 23:55 on 30/04/2025 (GMT):

• A CV that includes the applicant’s academic record
• A personal statement

Please email your completed applications to gpr@contacts.bham.ac.uk with the following subject heading: “Jain Studies MA by Research Scholarship [YOUR NAME]”.

We will assess each application according to the following selection criteria:

• The quality of the application, including the personal statement
• The applicant’s academic record as an undergraduate student

Contact

Global Philosophy of Religion team: gpr@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Marie-Hélène Gorisse, Dharmanath Assistant Professor in Jain Studies: m.gorisse@bham.ac.uk

Further Information

For your application to be considered we need to have received a complete application, i.e.  A CV that includes the applicant’s academic record and a personal statement by the deadline.  Your application will then be graded and ranked by School Panels.

We will let you know as soon as possible the outcome of your application - usually within the period from early May to the end of June.

Jainism at the University of Birmingham

Like GPR-2, the Dharmanath Network in Jain Studies at the University of Birmingham has been established as part as a commitment to a global approach to philosophy of religion and ethics, with a focus on interreligious dialogue.

Jainism is not only a underrepresented religion, it is also a philosophy developed around the principles of non-violence and interfaith dialogue. We find in Jainism innovative pre modern approaches for negotiating situations in which one is confronted with opposing statements, by showing how these fit into a broader framework of explanation of the world in which a diversity of perspectives is needed. These approaches are especially relevant for interreligious dialogue, as they respect the particularity and highlight the contribution of other traditions. This, in turn, has consequences for the contemporary practices of the Jains in their negotiation of living in a ‘local yet global’ society.

The Master in Jain Studies is a full-time fixed-term appointment for 12 months. The appointee will investigate central topics in Jain Philosophy, Applied Jainism, or the Ethics of Non-Violence, which can range from any study area, from philosophy and philosophy of religion to textual and cultural studies that have a philosophical impact. Such topics may therefore be as diverse as the doctrine of non-one-sidedness, conceptions of god, the philosophical debates to establish the existence of an omniscient teacher, philosophy of knowledge and transformative practices, prekṣā-dhyāna meditation, ethical consuming, animal rights, end of life and policy making, multilingual and multicultural adaptations of the Rāmāyaṇa and the Mahābhārata and their societal impact, business ethics, the development of digital religion, or societal challenges and the diaspora, to quote a few.

Irrespectively of the chosen topic, the successful candidate will contribute to the better representation of Jainim, as well as to reshaping traditional fields of investigation from a global approach. The Master student will join a lively and flourishing research community in a collegiate and highly ambitious environment. Since we support early career scholars working in the field, our hope is that this Master dissertation and experience will then enable the successful candidate to apply to a doctoral grant.