Based in Norwich’s rich literary heritage and prestigious status as a UNESCO City of Literature and building on UEA’s world-renowned reputation for excellence in Creative Writing, this Bursary reflects a shared commitment to creativity, community, and global collaboration.

This Bursary opportunity is a collaboration between the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing, the Norwich UNESCO City of Literature Vision Group and the National Centre for Writing, each as active partners in this research.

Applicants will be asked to explain how their proposed research aligns with one or more of the three priority areas identified for the Bursary:

1. Citizens of the Word – focussed on systemic, comparatively low literacy rates in Norwich and Norfolk (particularly for children and adults from economically disadvantaged backgrounds).

2. A Welcoming City - harnessing the power of reading and writing to foster empathy and understanding for people seeking sanctuary.

3. A World City – Building on Norwich’s international reputation as a literary powerhouse and exploring the role of place writing in cultural tourism

The successful candidate will be supported by UEA and NCW UNESCO to undertake one or more placements during their Period of Study. The placement/s is expected to be for a minimum duration of six weeks and maximum duration of three months. This may be undertaken over a single continuous period or divided into several smaller units of time.

The Bursary can be undertaken on either a full-time or part-time basis and is available only to a candidate who is eligible for UK home fee status.

To apply for this bursary, applicants must submit a PhD application to UEA with a research proposal of no more than 1500 words by 6 February 2026. Further details on how to apply can be found here.

The Norwich UNESCO City of Literature Creative Writing in the Community Bursary is looking to support a creative writing PhD project that engages directly with Norwich’s literary identity and UNESCO’s broader City of Literature strategies. 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.
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.
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.
In the 1500 word research proposal which you will submit as part of your PhD application to UEA, you should:

a) outline how the UNESCO Norwich City of Literature-based placement opportunity offered as part of the Bursary will inform or relate to your proposed PhD project , and

b) describe how your research and/or creative writing would engage with at least one of the following Norwich UNESCO City of Literature key strategies:

Citizens of the Word – focussed on systemic, comparatively low literacy rates in Norwich and Norfolk (particularly for children and adults from economically disadvantaged backgrounds).

A Welcoming City - harnessing the power of reading and writing to foster empathy and understanding for people seeking sanctuary.

A World City – Building on Norwich’s international reputation as a literary powerhouse and exploring the role of place writing in cultural tourism.

More information can be found about the UNESCO City of Literature strategy here

Candidates should clearly state that they wish to be considered for:

• Norwich UNESCO City of Literature Creative Writing the Community Bursary

Further enquiries should be directed to Prof Tiffany Atkinson, LDC
tiffany.atkinson@uea.ac.uk

General Terms and Conditions