In partnership with Scottish Universities’ International Summer School, we are delighted to announce the recipients of the 2026 Edwin Morgan Scholarships. The scholarships, which cover course and accommodation fees for students to attend the two-week Scottish Literature course at SUISS this August, are awarded to early-career academics from the UK and abroad who do not have Scottish Literature courses at their home universities but who have demonstrated a committed interest in the subject. The EM Scholars participate in a wide-ranging academic and cultural programme and have the chance to engage face-to-face with locally based writers.
Meet the 2026 Edwin Morgan Scholars:
Li Shuchen is currently an MA student based in Nanjing, China. During her master’s studies, she has dedicated herself to the exploration of Scottish literature, with a specialized focus on novels of the Scottish Renaissance period. To date, she has published three papers on relevant themes in academic journals. This September, she will commence her PhD studies, where she will continue her research on modern Scottish literature and delve deeper into this field.
Sena Önvural is an instructor at the Department of Foreign Languages at Gebze Technical University in Kocaeli, Turkey. She holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in English Language and Literature. She is currently pursuing a PhD in English Literature at Yeditepe University in Istanbul. Her research interests span British, Irish, and American literature, with a particular focus on gender studies, dystopian narratives, spatial theory, and cultural representation. Her doctoral research specializes in ecocriticism, examining the relationship between literature and environmental thought.
Özgün Yurtcu is a PhD candidate at Hacettepe University, the department of English Literature. She received her BA from Ege University, the department of English Literature. She received her MA from Hacettepe University, the department of English Literature. Her MA thesis is entitled as “The Changing Status of Women in Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto, Wilkie Collins’ The Woman in White, and Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca”. As for her PhD dissertation, her focus is on Zinnie Harris’s adaptations. She is currently an English Lecturer at Ankara Bilim University.
I first became aware of SUISS through a friend and was immediately inspired to apply, as the programme offers a unique opportunity to deepen my understanding of Scottish literature while engaging with students and instructors from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds. Having not previously studied Scottish literature in a formal academic context, I regard this programme as particularly valuable for my intellectual and professional development. Participation in SUISS will enable me not only to broaden my literary perspective but also to enrich my teaching practice by integrating new texts, methodologies, and critical frameworks into my courses. I am especially interested in examining how Scottish literary traditions intersect with my research areas, particularly ecocriticism and modernist studies. Furthermore, I am keen to contribute to and benefit from meaningful academic exchange within an international scholarly community.
– Sena Önvural
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I have a keen interest in Scottish Literature. Nevertheless, studying Scottish Literature in China comes with some challenges and limitations. As the field is relatively nascent here, scholarly resources remain limited, and accessing primary texts or the latest international criticism can be difficult. In this light, the SUISS programme presents an invaluable opportunity. It offers a unique platform to connect with scholars from all over the world, which I believe will help me cultivate a more global perspective on Scottish literature. And being immersed in the cultural atmosphere of Edinburgh will undoubtedly deepen my understanding of its literary traditions. Yet, beyond my personal growth, I also aspire to bring the insights gained from SUISS back to China to foster a more diverse critical landscape in my nation and to build a bridge for the dissemination and reception of Scottish literature worldwide.
– Li Shuchen
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I have applied to this summer school because my dissertation examines contemporary Scottish drama and literary theory, with a particular focus on Zinnie Harris’s four adaptations through a Kristevan lens. Since my research is particularly specialised, I am aware of the fact that I will be able to access rich resources and engage with scholars whose research areas are relevant to my research, which is something I may have difficulty obtaining in Türkiye. Throughout this course, I will be able to attend several seminars, workshops, lectures, panel discussions, as well as festival performances. Hence, I believe that this experience would allow me to further this inquiry by accessing materials as well as resources and participating in the vibrant intellectual culture that Scotland offers to researchers of Scottish drama and literature. Additionally, during the festival, I am also hoping to have the opportunity to meet Zinnie Harris in person. I am truly honoured to have been awarded the Edwin Morgan Trust Scholarship, which makes this invaluable experience possible.
– Özgün Yurtcu
edwinmorgantrust.com 