Irene Silver Memorial Scholarship – Experiences of Jewish Women in Wales (Bangor University) – Apply Now

Application Deadline: July 14, 2026

About the Scholarship

The School of Arts and Humanities at Bangor University, in conjunction with the Jewish History Association of Wales (JHAW), is offering a Master’s by Research studentship to investigate the experiences of the Jewish women of the various immigrant Jewish communities of Wales. This research scholarship presents an exciting opportunity to blaze a trail in an unexplored field, as there has been next to no research on the role and influence of Jewish women in Wales. The project contributes to a broader understanding of the multicultural dimensions of Welsh social history under the supervision of Professor Nathan Abrams. Within this broad brief, applicants, depending on their interests, can focus their research on specific issues affecting Jewish women in Wales or home in on a particular Welsh Jewish community, generation, or historical time period. Applicants might take their cue from existing research on the experiences of Jewish women in other regions of the UK and examine how these issues affected Jewish women in the specifically Welsh context.

Scholarship Benefits

The scholarship will cover:

• One year of full-time (or two-year part-time) Home Student fees (including the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and the Republic of Ireland, currently £5,238)
• A small additional stipend for research activities (travel to conferences, archives, oral histories, etc.)

Additional Expectations: In addition to the 50,000-word thesis, there is also an expectation that the student will provide written and/or oral contributions to the Association’s newsletter, website, public lecture series, and so on.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Requirements:

• You must be eligible for UK home student status
• The scholarship is open to current students or recent graduates who will normally need to have achieved at least a 2.1 or equivalent in a first degree
• The scholarship is not age-restricted; mature students or returnees to study are encouraged to apply
• You need to apply to study at Bangor University and receive an offer before your fee status is confirmed
• The studentship will be awarded following an open competitive process

Ideal Candidate Profile:

The scholarship would suit an applicant with a degree or relevant experience in:

• Archival work
• Oral history
• History
• Gender studies
• Jewish studies
• Social sciences
• Religious studies
• Cognate disciplines

Research Focus

The student will conduct qualitative and quantitative research into Welsh Jewish history. Sources might include:

• Archival holdings across Wales
• A database of interviews with Welsh Jewish women conducted by JHAW
• Outreach through interviews or surveys to descendants of women who grew up in Wales’s former Jewish communities

Suggested Research Areas:

• Specific issues affecting Jewish women in Wales
• A particular Welsh Jewish community, generation, or historical time period
• Comparative research examining how issues affecting Jewish women in other UK regions played out in the Welsh context

How to Apply

Please send your CV and cover letter, explaining why you are interested in this research studentship and indicating your proposed theme or focus, to: Nathan Abrams at n.abrams@bangor.ac.uk

Contact: You can also contact Professor Abrams with any queries and you are encouraged to have a preliminary discussion with him before a formal application.

Why This Scholarship Matters

The experiences of Jewish women in Wales have received next to no scholarly attention, despite the rich history of Jewish immigration to Wales and the significant role women played in sustaining Jewish communities. This scholarship offers a unique opportunity to contribute original research to an understudied area of Welsh social history, gender studies, and Jewish history. For graduates with a background in history, gender studies, Jewish studies, social sciences, or related fields, this scholarship provides funded postgraduate research training and the chance to work with Professor Nathan Abrams, a leading scholar in Jewish studies and film.

For More Information: Visit the Official JHAW New and Upcoming Page