Midlands4Cities Open Doctoral Award

Qualification: PhD

Departments: Archaeology and Ancient History School of Criminology English Geography History History of Art and Film Leicester Law School Media and Communication Modern Languages Museum Studies Politics and International Relations

Application deadline: noon on 13th January 2021

Start date: September 2021

Overview

AHRC Midlands4Cities PhD funding for UK/International applicants

The Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training Partnership (M4C) brings together eight leading universities across the Midlands to support the professional and personal development of the next generation of arts and humanities doctoral researchers. M4C is a collaboration between the University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, University of Warwick, Coventry University, University of Leicester, De Montfort University, Nottingham Trent University and The University of Nottingham.

M4C is awarding up to 89 doctoral studentships for UK and International applicants for 2021 entry through an open competition and 21 Collaborative Doctoral Awards (CDA) through a linked competition with a range of partner organisations in the cultural, creative and heritage sector.

The University of Leicester is keen to receive applications from prospective research students looking to complete a PhD with research focusing around Arts and Humanities topics, which are available to receive funding from the AHRC.

Our Open Doctoral Awards are student-led, and we invite high-quality applications within any disciplinary and interdisciplinary area of the arts and humanities. You will:

Agree a research proposal with academic supervisors within the M4C partnership, with the potential to build cross-institutional supervisory teams to maximise fit and expertise.
Be accepted for study at a particular institution (your ‘home’ university).
Produce a quality thesis and take advantage of personal, professional, and career development opportunities through M4C’s commitment to ‘quality thesis plus’.

In addition to the Open Doctoral Award, M4C also offer an alternative Collaborative Doctoral Award in which you will work with an external partner.

Duration of study

The normal maximum award tenure is 3.5 years (42 months) for full-time study and six years (72 months) for part-time study. These periods can be extended if you make a case to the AHRC. You can do this as part of your AHRC M4C application.

Advice and support with your application

Application writing workshops

There is advice and support to help you with your application available at one of the online writing workshops aimed at potential students who are planning to submit an application for PhD research to Midlands4Cities.

The online Application Writing Workshop for Leicester applicants will be held on 7th November. Please book your place using the Eventbrite booking system

Consult the application guidance notes.

Contact the M4C central team if there is anything you are unsure of in the guidance notes.

Doctoral training partnerships

Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) and Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) are multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional schemes designed to support the training of the next generation of world-class researchers. The University of Leicester is a lead partner in four DTPs/CDTs through which we can offer funded PhD studentships in a wide range of research areas.

Studentships are available to highly motivated and qualified applicants and provide a generous support package usually including a full fee waiver, annual stipend, and research training support grant. Studentships are in most cases offered early in the year for September start. Enquiries outside of the main application periods are welcomed.

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.

Further information can be found on the UKRI and Midlands4Cities websites.

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

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:
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.