The Faculty of Arts and Humanities has a tradition of producing internationally excellent, creative, and innovative research both within and across disciplines. Our research is at the forefront of contemporary scholarly debates, and it reaches beyond the academy into the world at large. Our Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs) are central to that work.
The Arts and Humanities Graduate School is home to a diverse body of over 275 PGRs. The Graduate School provides a rich training programme, tailored to the individual needs of each student. It also acts as an interdisciplinary hub where researchers from across the Faculty of Arts and Humanities meet to exchange ideas and to learn from one another.
Training and Placements
All PGRs work with their supervisors to create a personal training plan and have access to a range of bespoke opportunities for training in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, as well as across the university. The HUM pathway, a map for intellectual, professional, and behavioural development, is used to guide PGRs at all levels of research. The Graduate School also benefits from its membership of the AHRC-funded CHASE consortium. All arts and humanities PGRs at UEA (regardless of their funding status) can access CHASE training, and benefit from many other opportunities for development, including placements, the biannual CHASE Encounters Conference, highly active student networks, and a dedicated journal with opportunities for publication review and editorial work.
Community and Governance
The Graduate School is responsive to the changing needs of its students. The Graduate School Student Forum is a vital group which includes student representatives from each school. The Forum provides a platform for student-led initiatives, as well as advocating for the interests of our PGRs. PGR representatives also attend the Graduate School Executive and often attend various meetings in their individual Schools of study. Each year the Graduate School hosts a prize ceremony, where we celebrate the achievements of our PGRs in research publications, teaching, public engagement, and supporting the PGR community.
How to Apply
Prospective applicants for our PGR programmes are advised to make contact with a potential supervisor before making an application. Please browse the people pages to find UEA academics with expertise in your field. You can also direct subject-specific enquiries to the Director of Postgraduate Research in the individual School to which you are applying. These details can be found on the PGR pages in each of our Schools:
- Art, Media and American Studies - PGR degrees
- History - PGR and PhD opportunities
- Interdisciplinary Institute for the Humanities - PGR and PhD opportunities
- Literature, Drama and Creative Writing - PGR and PhD opportunities
- Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies - PGR and PhD opportunities
Once you have discussed your research proposal with a potential supervisory team, you will need to apply online.
Apply for Postgraduate Research Degree
Studentships
There are three main sources of studentship funding for arts and humanities PGRs at UEA.
First, as members of the CHASE consortium, our students are eligible to apply for CHASE AHRC studentships. Second, those proposing research in the ESRC remit can apply for SeNSS studentships, for example in the Politics and International Relations; Linguistics; or Social Anthropology SeNSS pathways. SeNSS funding is available for PhD-only studentships, but can also be used to fund Master’s courses as part of a ‘1+3’-year (Master’s and PhD) studentship. Further details can be found on UEA’s SeNSS web pages.
Both home and international students are eligible to apply for these studentships, which cover tuition fees and provide a stipend to cover living expenses, set at the UKRI rate.
Both competitions open in October with application deadlines in December and January each year. Applicants need to secure the support of a supervisor in advance of any application for studentship funding, so are strongly encouraged to make contact with potential supervisors as early as possible in the process, and very much in advance of any deadline.
Other opportunities for funded PhD places, often attached to specific research projects, are also available. Please find more opportunities available on our PhD and Research Studentships page. Applicants may also find sponsorship from governments, charities or employers.'
Doctoral Loans
PGR students may be eligible for a Doctoral Loan, to help with the costs of a PhD.