Midlands4Cities Open Doctoral Award

Funding

Awards for UK residents cover UK tuition fees and provide a stipend at the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) rate.

EU/International* applicants will be eligible for tuition fees at the UK rate and a stipend to support living costs. 
*UKRI (AHRC) funding will not cover international fees set by universities as such International applicants may be required to fund the difference between UK and International fees. 

Full-time studentships

• Payment of approved fees (as set and agreed by UK Research and Innovation), currently £4,407 p.a for 2020.
• Maintenance grant (or stipend) for the student, currently £15,285 p.a. for 2020 entry
• Research Development Fund (RDF) and Engagement Fund (EF) which support UK/overseas fieldwork/archive visits, attendance at conferences and skills training
• Collaborative Doctoral Award holders will receive an additional £500 per annum to facilitate partnership working

Part-time studentships (UK only)

• Payment of approved pro-rata part-time fees
• A pro-rata maintenance grant at 50% (stipend)
• Research Development Fund (RDF) and Engagement Fund (EF) which support UK/overseas fieldwork/archive visits, attendance at conferences and skills training

Entry requirements

You should either hold a Master's qualification at the time of application or be able to state that you will have completed one by the time your PhD begins (even though the result may not be known and the final examination board may not yet have taken place). You can also apply on the basis of having equivalent relevant professional experience in lieu of a Master's qualification.

University of Leicester English language requirements may apply.

Informal enquiries

University of Leicester Site Directors

• Professor Neil Christie
• Professor Sarah Knight

Leicester funding and application enquiries

• Louise Taylor

Midlands4Cities 

• For enquiries about M4C funding, contact M4C
• Midlands4Cities website

How to apply

Applications for 2021 are now open

To apply for AHRC Midlands4Cities Open Doctoral Awards 

• Find a supervisor from within the following schools and make contact with them to discuss your M4C proposal:
  • Archaeology and Ancient History
  • English
  • History
  • History of Art and Film
  • Human Geography
  • Law
  • Media and Communication
  • Modern Languages
  • Museum Studies
  • Politics and International Relations

   

• We recommend you book a place on the Application writing workshop to be held on 7th November
• Prepare your research proposal
• Follow the guidance below to submit both of the following:

a) University of Leicester PhD application

b) Midlands4Cities funding application

Step 1 Submit your University of Leicester application

Apply for your Leicester PhD using the relevant subject Apply button at the bottom of the page and select September 2021 entry.

• If you apply for more than one studentship in the same department, please only submit one University application form, but indicate both projects/funding sources. 
• If you are applying for projects in different departments, please complete a separate University application form for each department/project.
• Under the funding section select Studentship and in the drop-down list select AHRC Midlands4Cities.
• In the References section, do not include your referee's email address. Instead, in the tab provided use pgradmissions@le.ac.uk as the email for both referees.
• References are requested as part of the AHRC M4C funding application in process Step 2below.

We would recommend you try, where possible, to submit your PhD application to Leicester before Christmas or at the very latest by 4th January 2021 so that you have your application ID number. This will allow you time to submit your M4C funding application (Step 2) in good time for your referees to submit their references before the deadline which is noon on 13th January 2021.

Step 2 Submit your Midlands4Cities application

Complete the Midlands4Cities application form This includes your M4C application, nominating your two referees and equal opportunities information.

The deadline for your M4C application and receipt of your two references is noon on 13th January 2021

For more details please refer to the M4C website and please read the M4C guidance notes.

Eligibility

From the academic year 2021/22 AHRC funding is open to UK and International research students as detailed on the UKRI website.

You should either hold a Masters qualification at the time of application or be able to state that you will have completed one by the time your PhD begins (even though the result may not be known and the final examination board may not yet have taken place). You can also apply on the basis of having equivalent relevant professional experience in lieu of a Masters qualification.

Awards for UK residents cover UK tuition fees and provide a stipend at the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) rate.

International applicants will be eligible for tuition fees at the UK rate and a stipend to support living costs.

UKRI (AHRC) funding will not cover international fees set by universities. Funding for this may be available from other sources but specific guidance on this is currently not available. Please watch out for updated information on the UKRI and Midlands4Cities websites. 

Evidence of English language proficiency may apply.