PhD Studentship: Norwich UNESCO City of Literature Creative Writing in the Community PhD

The University of East Anglia (UEA) is proud to announce a new partnership with the UNESCO Vision Group and the National Centre for Writing (NCW) to support a PhD Bursary in Creative Writing. Based in Norwich’s rich literary heritage as a UNESCO City of Literature, and building on UEA’s world-renowned excellence in Creative Writing, the Bursary represents an exciting opportunity to combine creative practice, academic research, and civic engagement within a globally recognised framework. The Bursary will sponsor an original creative-critical PhD project, co-supervised between LDC and the NCW, which engages with and illuminates one or more of the three priority areas of NCW UNESCO’s ‘Writing the Future’ strategy. These are:

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 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 relevant community or outreach placements during their Period of Study. The placement/s will be for a minimum duration of six weeks and a maximum duration of three months. This may be undertaken over a single continuous period or divided into several smaller units of time. 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. This exciting initiative reflects a shared commitment to fostering innovation, engagement and collaboration in the championing of the lifelong benefits of reading and writing.

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.

Start date

1 October 2026

For further information and how to apply please visit Norwich UNESCO City of Literature Creative Writing in the Community Bursary

Additional Funding Information

This PhD project is open to UK/Home applicants. The successful candidate will receive funding to cover tuition fees.

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