AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards Studentships

Overview

The AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award is a major new funding scheme from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). Its aim is to grow the UK’s capacity for doctoral research in the arts and humanities and to create a vibrant, inclusive research culture.

The University of Hertfordshire is one of 50 universities across the UK awarded this funding to support 15 doctoral studentships over five years. We will offer the equivalent of three full-time fully funded PhD studentships each year for the duration of the award. 

As well as the traditional PhD, the University of Hertfordshire offers a range of Professional Doctorates, including the Doctorate in Heritage, Doctorate in Design, and Doctorate in Fine Art.

One studentship each year (either full-time or part-time) will be allocated for a PhD, and one (part-time) for a Professional Doctorate.

The remaining funding will be for ‘open’ awards and can be allocated for either PhDs or Professional Doctorates, and these can be either full-time or part-time.

As part of the University of Hertfordshire’s commitment to widening access to postgraduate study, we will reserve one ‘open’ Doctoral Landscape studentship per year for a Global Majority applicant. Moreover, candidates from under-represented groups are encouraged to apply for all studentships.

DLA students will have access to additional funds to support research travel, fieldwork and conference attendance.

DLA students will also belong to a regional doctoral training hub comprising universities from London and the East of England, benefiting from shared expertise and resources to provide comprehensive skills training for doctoral research. 

Areas of supervisory expertise

We have diverse supervisory expertise and are in principle open to applications for doctoral projects on any topic across the Arts and Humanities.

Potential applicants are advised to review the research interests and expertise of the faculty in the following subject areas: English Language and Literature, History, Philosophy, Creative Writing, Film and Media, Music, Architecture, Design, Design History, Heritage Studies, Fine Art, and Animation.

For further details about research and researchers in Arts and Humanities disciplines at UH, please visit: University of Hertfordshire | School of Creative Arts | Research Profiles

Qualification type: PhD or Professional Doctorate (Doctorate in Heritage, Doctorate in Design, Doctorate in Fine Art)

Location: Hatfield, United Kingdom

Funding amount: Full tuition fees covered, including international fees, and an annual stipend (UKRI rate: £20,780 full time for 2025/26), pro rata for part time students.

Duration: 3.5 years full-time, 7 years part-time

Closing application date: 10 April 2026

Expected start: 1 October 2026

Person specification

• You must hold a good honours degree (2:1 or above), and a master’s degree, in a relevant discipline.
• International students can apply. We can award a studentship to one international applicant per yearwho will be eligible for a full tuition fee waiver and a living-cost stipend at the UKRI rate.

• Students can apply to study part time or full time and should indicate this on their application form.
• Applicants wishing to be considered for the Global Majority studentship should indicate this on their application form. Applicants for the Global Majority studentship who are not successful will automatically be transferred to the pool of applicants for other awards.

Application process

Applicants must submit:

• A completed application form.
• A 2000-word research proposal. Please read this guidance.
• Two academic references - to be sent directly from the referee to the Doctoral College.
• Copies of qualification certificates and transcripts.
• A copy of your passport.
• Certification of English language competence (minimum IELTS 6.5 or equivalent) for candidates for whom English is not their first language.

• Where the proposed project includes a creative/practice element (e.g. creative writing, filmmaking, art, music, etc.), a portfolio or samples of relevant creative/practice-based work should also be included (this could be provided via a link in the proposal or written statement).

Full details of the application process can be found via the 'Apply' button above.

For enquiries regarding research degrees at the University of Hertfordshire, please email Doctoral College Admissions.

For advice on the application process, please contact Dr Laura Mee, Research Tutor for the School of Creative Arts.

For information about the Doctoral Landscape Awards at UH more broadly, please contact Dr Rowland Hughes.