The University of Surrey is offering a fully funded 3.5-year PhD studentship in Linguistics through the Surrey Morphology Group (SMG). The research focuses on the predictability of verbal inflection in Romance languages and forms part of the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship project, Scaling Predictability in Morphological Paradigms. Open to UK, EU, and international applicants, the studentship covers full tuition fees, an annual UKRI-standard stipend, and conference travel support.
Important Dates / Deadline
- Application deadline: December 20, 2026
- Expected start date: April 2027
- Alternative start dates: Later start dates may be possible following consultation with the project supervisor.
- Reference number: PGR-2627-003
Organization
- University: University of Surrey
- Research group: Surrey Morphology Group (SMG)
- PhD program: Linguistics PhD
- Research project: Scaling Predictability in Morphological Paradigms
- Funding program: UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship
Supervisors:
Location / Study Destination
Guildford, United Kingdom. This is a full-time PhD research opportunity based at the University of Surrey within the Surrey Morphology Group.
Who Can Apply
Applications are open to:
- UK students.
- EU students.
- International students.
- Candidates with excellent undergraduate academic performance.
- Applicants with expertise in morphological description and analysis.
- Candidates familiar with Romance linguistics.
- Applicants who meet the English language requirements for the University of Surrey’s Linguistics PhD program.
- Candidates interested in developing computational research skills, including those without previous experience in computational methodology.
All applicants must meet the minimum admission requirements for the university’s Linguistics PhD program.
Key Benefits / Funding
- Funding duration: 3.5 years (42 months).
- Tuition coverage: Full UK or international tuition fees.
- Annual living stipend: £21,805 for the 2026/27 academic year, following the UKRI standard rate.
- Conference support: Funding for conference travel.
- Research resources: Access to extensive resources associated with the funded research project.
- Research collaboration: Opportunities to work with researchers developing computational methodologies and comparative linguistic datasets.
- Academic environment: Membership in the Surrey Morphology Group, a research center specializing in morphological theory, typology, and linguistic description.
Main Requirements
Academic and linguistic qualifications
Applicants will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Excellent overall academic performance at the undergraduate level.
- Expertise in morphological description and analysis.
- Familiarity with Romance linguistics.
- Ability to meet the English language entry requirements for the Linguistics PhD program.
- Willingness to learn computational methodologies used in linguistic research.
Prior computational expertise is not required.
Research focus
The studentship investigates how speakers predict the forms of inflected words and how predictability varies across Romance languages and historical periods.
The project addresses questions such as:
- How accurately can speakers predict unfamiliar inflected word forms?
- Which morphological structures make verbal inflection more predictable?
- How does predictability differ across languages?
- How does morphological predictability change over time?
- What information is available to speakers when making inferences about word forms?
Research activities
The successful candidate will contribute to research involving:
- Comparative analysis of verbal inflection in Romance languages.
- Investigation of synchronic and diachronic patterns in morphological predictability.
- Application of computational tools to measure information available for predicting inflected forms.
- Analysis of comparable linguistic datasets.
- Collaboration with researchers developing computational methods and studying predictability in other language families.
The research combines linguistic theory, morphological analysis, historical linguistics, and computational approaches.
How to Apply
Step 1: Review the PhD entry requirements
Visit the University of Surrey Linguistics PhD program page to review the admission requirements and application procedures.
Step 2: Submit the university application
Apply through the Linguistics PhD program application process.
Step 3: Prepare additional application documents
Prepare a CV and a one-page statement of interest explaining your motivation and suitability for the research project.
Step 4: Email the required documents
Send your CV and one-page statement of interest to:
Alison Stubley
Email: a.stubley@surrey.ac.uk
Your email must specify:
- The project title: Predictability in Romance Verbal Inflection.
- The names of the supervisors: Dr. Sacha Beniamine, Dr. Oliver Bond, and Dr. Matteo Pellegrini.
Step 5: Submit before the deadline
Complete the application process by December 20, 2026.
For questions about the studentship, contact:
Dr. Sacha Beniamine
Email: s.beniamine@surrey.ac.uk
Applicants interested in a later start date may contact Dr. Beniamine after the application deadline.
Documents Needed
- University PhD application: Submitted through the Linguistics PhD program application process.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): Summarizing academic qualifications, relevant research experience, and linguistic expertise.
- One-page statement of interest: Explaining interest in the project and suitability for the research.
- Project and supervisor details: Included in the email accompanying the CV and statement of interest.
Important Notes
- The scholarship is open to UK, EU, and international candidates.
- Both UK and international tuition fees are fully covered.
- Funding is provided for 42 months.
- The expected start date is April 2027, although later start dates may be possible.
- Applicants must meet the university’s Linguistics PhD entry requirements, including English language requirements.
- Prior experience with computational methodology is not essential, but willingness to learn is required.
- The research focuses specifically on Romance verbal inflection and its synchronic and diachronic predictability.
- Applications must be submitted through the university’s Linguistics PhD program, with a separate CV and statement of interest emailed to Alison Stubley.