Additional support is available for NWSSDTP Students who need to learn a language to enable them to undertake their research, either to facilitate their fieldwork or to equip them to read key source material in other languages. We can only fund language learning that is required for completion of the PhD project, we are not able to support language courses purely for personal development or potential future need. There are two types of support available: financial support to pay for language learning courses, and extensions to provide additional funded time that may be needed to learn a language to a sufficient level of proficiency to undertake the research.

The process for applying for Difficult Language Training support is outlined below:

• Difficult Language Training Guidance [PDF] ¦ Difficult Language Training Guidance [Word]
• Difficult Language Training Application Form

Deadlines

There are three deadlines per year for Difficult Language Training applications to be submitted. It is not possible to apply outside of these deadlines. It will take up to three weeks for applications to be reviewed and outcomes communicated, so please ensure you apply well in advance of your planned activity.

2025/26

• Friday 7th November 2025 (last possible deadline for activity taking place January – April 2026)
• Friday 6th February 2026 (last possible deadline for activity taking place May – August 2026)
• Friday 5th June 2026 (last possible deadline for activity taking place September – December 2026)

2026/27

• Friday 6th November 2026 (last possible deadline for activity taking place January – April 2027)
• Friday 5th February 2027 (last possible deadline for activity taking place May – August 2027)
• Friday 4th June 2027 (last possible deadline for activity taking place September – December 2027)