School of Arts, Languages and Cultures New Generation PhD Studentships 2025 Entry

Type of award

Studentship

Managing department

Faculty of Humanities

Value

  • Tuition fees
  • An annual maintenance stipend (£19,237 per annum for 2024/25)

Successful candidates will join a dynamic research community at the University of Manchester. You will benefit from a supportive research and training environment, and you will contribute to our School's research excellence.

Specified use

The School of Arts, Languages and Cultures sits in the Faculty of Humanities, part of the University of Manchester, and is located in the vibrant and diverse city of Manchester. The principles of equality, diversity and inclusion are embedded in our teaching and research, ensuring a positive and inclusive environment for work, study and research.

We are committed to improving the diversity of our student and staff populations, as well as the diversity of the Academy and researchers in the Humanities.

For September 2025 entry we are again offering the Excellence through Diversity PhD Scholarships that provide fully funded PhD studentships for Black or Black Heritage candidates who demonstrate the potential for research and academic excellence and who have a high motivation for postgraduate research.

Tenable period

3.5 years full-time or 7 years part-time.

The scholarships will support PhD research on any of our based in any of our ten Departments. 

Continuation of award

Continuation of the award is subject to satisfactory progress.

Number available

3 in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures .

Funding provider

This award is internal.

Level(s) of study

This funding is available to students undertaking the following types of study:

  • Postgraduate research

Allowed study options

This funding is available to students undertaking the following modes of study:

  • Full-time
  • Part-time

Subject restrictions

This funding is available to students undertaking study in:

  • Anthropology, Media and Performance
  • Arab World Studies
  • Archaeology
  • Art History and Visual Studies
  • Arts Management and Cultural Practices
  • Chinese Studies
  • Classics and Ancient History
  • Digital Humanities, Cultures and Media
  • Drama
  • East Asian Studies
  • English Literature, American Studies and Creative Writing
  • French Studies
  • German Studies
  • History
  • Humanitarianism and Conflict Response
  • Institute for Cultural Practices
  • Italian Studies
  • Japanese Studies
  • Linguistics and English Language
  • Middle Eastern Studies
  • Music
  • Religions and Theology
  • Russian and East European Studies
  • Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies
  • Translation, Interpreting and Intercultural Studies

Academic requirements

You must meet the academic requirements of your programme. For most  in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, this is:

  • Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and
  • Master's degree in a relevant subject - with an overall average of 65% or above, a minimum mark of 65% in your dissertation and no mark below 55% (or overseas equivalent)

Nationality restrictions

This funding is available to students from:

  • United Kingdom

Other eligibility criteria

These scholarships are open to UK-domiciled applicants who qualify for home fee status and who identify with one of the following groups currently under-represented in postgraduate research in the Humanities:

  • Black/Black British - African
  • Black/Black British - Caribbean
  • Black/Black British - Other
  • Black/Black British background - Mixed

Section 9 of the application asks for your funding intentions. Candidates for this award will be identified based on whether you have indicated your intention to apply for a New Generation PhD Studentship.

If you identify with the above specified criteria, please add a funding source to section 9 and populate the fields as below:

  • Type of Funding: Uni of Manchester Scheme
  • Awarding Body (free text): SALC New Generation
  • Status of Funding: Intend to Apply

Application procedure

You must submit your online application for a place on your chosen Postgraduate Research programme by 13 January 2025. For what to do before applying, please see the Additional Information section.

To enter the competition, you must also submit an application for one or both of the following competitions:

AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NWCDTP)

ESRC North West Social Science DTP (NWSSDTP)

Your studentship application will be considered based on your programme application; supporting documents; and your NWCDTP or NWSSDTP application.

Application form

Additional documentation

Your full online application must include:

  • A 1,500 word   ; Please state the word count on page 1 of the docment
  • A copy of your Bachelor's and Master's academic transcript and certificate. If your Master's degree is pending, please provide an interim transcript.
  • An up-to-date academic CV summarising your academic record, employment history, publications and highlighting experience demonstrating your research potential.
  • The names of two academic referees, including one from your most recent institution. Your referees will be contacted directly via the Referee Portal following the submission of your application form.
  • A certificate or evidence demonstrating your English language ability and proficiency.

Selection criteria

  • Academic merit and preparedness for research
  • Quality and feasibility of research proposal
  • Consideration of ethical responsibility

Selection body

School of School of Arts, Languages and Cultures Postgraduate Research Committee (PGRC)

Closing date

13 Jan 2025

Your complete online application for your preferred PhD programme must be submitted by 13 January 2025 .

You must submit your research council funding application by the given deadlines:

AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NWCDTP):  5pm GMT, 3 February 2025

ESRC North West Social Science DTP (NWSSDTP) PhD Studentships:  5pm GMT, 3 February 2025

Please note that these are strict deadlines and late or incomplete applications will not be included in the competition.

Decision date

We expect to communicate the outcome to 2025 entry applicants by 30 May 2025.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide feedback on individual applications, as outcomes are determined by independent panels.

Deferral information

Offers of funding are not deferrable. If you cannot start your programme by the date mentioned in your studentship offer letter, the award will be withdrawn. You are permitted to re-apply in future.

Additional information

What you need to do before submitting your PhD application:

  • Explore our research areas and staff profiles through the School website.
  • Approach academics within the School to discuss potential research projects. You can find our email addresses in our research profiles.
  • Guided by your research interests, we will provide advice on writing a research proposal and give you specific feedback on your draft proposal.
  • Fine-tune your research project proposal and submit an application for a PhD place and scholarship.

Contact details for enquiries

Useful links