UEA and partners launch new Creative Writing PhD bursary
By: Communications
Image L-R: Alice Kent (UNESCO City of Literature Manager, National Centre for Writing); James Bridge (Secretary-General & Chief Exec, UK National Commission for UNESCO); Peggy Hughes (CEO, National Centre for Writing), Alice Macdonald MP North; Catherine Richardson (Pro-Vice Chancellor of Arts & Humanities, UEA); Evie Parker-Hornsby (writer); Grace Murray (writer) (photographer David Kirkham, Fisheye Images)
UEA is proud to announce a new partnership with the Norwich UNESCO City of Literature Vision Group and the National Centre for Writing (NCW) to support a PhD bursary in Creative Writing.
This exciting initiative is rooted in Norwich’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature and reflects a shared commitment to fostering innovation, engagement, and collaboration.
Prof Catherine Richardson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Arts and Humanities at UEA, said:
‘We are delighted to partner with the National Centre for Writing in this work – it is vital to the way we think about writing and creativity more generally at UEA.’
The Norwich UNESCO City of Literature Creative Writing in the Community Bursary (CWC Bursary) will be housed within UEA’s School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing (LDC) in partnership with NCW, and will support a research project that engages directly with Norwich’s literary identity and UNESCO’s broader City of Literature strategies.
Prof Richard Hand, Head of LDC at UEA, said:
‘This partnership with UNESCO and NCW represents a remarkable opportunity for a Creative Writing PhD candidate to engage deeply with Norwich’s literary culture while connecting with a global network of Cities of Literature.’
The successful recipient will have the opportunity to explore creative and critical approaches to literature, contributing to the evolving narrative of Norwich as a literary hub.
Peggy Hughes, Chief Executive of NCW, focal office for Norwich City of Literature, said:
'UNESCO city of literature designations are at their best and boldest when brought to life in a variety of city spaces, and this PhD is an innovative addition to our shared commitment.'
A distinctive feature of the bursary is its placement component, which will be developed collaboratively between the candidate, UNESCO, NCW and UEA at the outset of the PhD.
This placement will involve meaningful community outreach and engagement activities, allowing the candidate to work closely with local organisations, literary festivals, and cultural institutions. These activities will be supported by UNESCO and designed to enrich both the candidate’s research and the wider community.
In addition to local engagement, the candidate will benefit from access to UNESCO’s global network of 53 Cities of Literature. This opens up opportunities to share research internationally, attend literary events, and connect with writers, scholars, and cultural leaders around the world.
Prof Jean McNeil, Director of Creating Writing at UEA, said:
‘The UNESCO Cities of Literature network is an enlightened project that reflects the global reach of writing and thinking in literary forms, and such initiatives are more important than ever’
This bursary represents an exciting opportunity to combine creative practice, academic research, and civic engagement within a globally recognised framework. It reflects UEA’s world-leading excellence in Creative Writing and its deep-rooted connection to Norwich’s literary heritage.
Applications will open in November with further details available via UEA’s postgraduate research portal.
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