Doctoral Landscape Awards

About the project

Applications are invited for three fully-funded Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Doctoral Landscape Awards (DLA).

About the awards

We have three fully-funded studentships to award.

Proposed projects must be arts and humanities-led, with the majority of methodologies, research questions and outputs (including the PhD) within the AHRC’s remit .

We invite applications from a range of doctoral pathways, including written theses and professional-practice doctorates.

Each award provides funding for three and a half years full-time study (or the part-time equivalent), covering tuition fees and a stipend at the standard UKRI ‘home’ student rate .

Both UK and international students can apply. International students pay higher fees than UK students and must pay the difference if they receive the award.

Find out more about UK and international postgraduate research fees .

Eligibility criteria

• The awards are open to UK and international students.
• Applications for either full-time or part-time study are welcome. The mode of study will not be assessed in the selection process.
• You are expected to live within commuting distance from the University. We do not offer distance-learning PhDs.
• You should have a first or upper second-class undergraduate degree and a distinction in your masters degree in a relevant subject. Your qualifications must be from a UK higher education institution or a recognised international university.
• If you do not have the requested qualifications, you must be able to demonstrate equivalent qualifications and experience. If you have non-traditional qualifications, you should include evidence of significant changes and enhancements you have made in your field or area of work.
• You cannot apply if you are a current doctoral student.

Applicants from under-represented or disadvantaged groups

We want to widen participation in higher education to include more students from underrepresented or disadvantaged groups.

We aim to give at least one doctoral landscape award to an applicant who meets the eligibility criteria and whose experience includes:

To be considered for the widening participation studentship, provide the relevant information in the personal statement section of the application portal.

• Economic disadvantage, such as getting universal credit or free school meals.
• Ethnic minority background.
• Disability.
• Having a gender or sexuality that is underrepresented.
• Being the first in their family to go into higher education.
• Caring responsibilities.
• Experience of being in care.
• Having refugee or humanitarian protection status.
• Significant disruption to education due to illness or other personal circumstances.

How to apply

You should discuss your proposals with an academic member of staff or nominated supervisor in your primary research area before applying.

In the first instance, contact the appropriate Doctoral College departmental leads:

• Architecture: Yamuna Kaluarachchi [email protected]
• Art and Design: Alison Slater [email protected]
• English (including creative writing, Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, Place Writing, Performance, Gothic Studies, Game Studies) - Berthold Schoene ( [email protected] ) or Marijana Macis ( [email protected] ).
• Fashion: Celina Jones [email protected]
• History, Politics and Philosophy: Mercedes Penalba-Sotorrio [email protected]
• Digital Arts: Jenny Baines [email protected]
• Sociology and Criminology: Caitlinn Nunn [email protected]

Deadline for applications

You must submit your application by 5pm on 9 February 2026.

Your application must include:

• A formal PhD application
• A completed doctoral thesis proposal, detailing the proposed project (1,500–2,000 words) and a timeline for completion of the project.
• A completed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion monitoring form .
• Supporting documents, including: Two reference letters. Degree transcripts, qualifications and certificates. CV. Proof of English language proficiency, if relevant.
• Two reference letters.
• Degree transcripts, qualifications and certificates.
• CV.
• Proof of English language proficiency, if relevant.

Selection processes

An interdisciplinary panel in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities will assess your application.

We will notify you of our decision by mid-May 2026.

Additional contacts

For further information on the Doctoral Landscape Award studentships, please contact:

For general application queries, please contact:

• Dr Derek Bousfield, Doctoral College Faculty Head: [email protected]
• Professor Antony Rowland, Deputy Faculty Head: [email protected]
• Doctoral Services: [email protected]
• Postgraduate Admissions: [email protected]

Research areas