Funding and awards at the Department of English, Queen Mary, University of London

Funding and Awards

The Department of English is offering up to eight AHRC and Queen Mary Principal’s Studentships for entry to its PhD programme in September 2012 to candidates wishing to develop a PhD in any area of the Department’s research expertise. Amongst our studentships this year are the following named awards: The Sidney Lee Studentship in Eighteenth-century literary studies; The Wallace Martin Studentship in contemporary literary studies; Early Modern Textual Cultures; and the Histories of Culture in any period.

The Department is widely recognized as one of the country’s leading centres for literary research and English studies. The research and teaching interests of our staff span a wide range of periods from the classical to the contemporary, and we have an international reputation for our pioneering interdisciplinary and collaborative work attracting postgraduate students from all over the world. We have specialists who can offer supervision in the following periods of study: Classical and Medieval, Renaissance and Early Modern, Eighteenth Century and Romanticism, Nineteenth-Century Studies, Modern and Contemporary and Postcolonial. Many of the Department’s staff are known internationally for their work. They bring to their teaching and project supervision expertise in the most recent developments in research methodologies and an awareness of current directions in research. We have a large thriving graduate community with a significant number of PhD projects supported by AHRC and Queen Mary awards.

Making An Application 
You will need to make a formal application to the Department via the College Admissions Office. To do this you have to complete the application form; write a full research proposal (approximately 3.000 words); supply a current academic CV; send two references, which should be by academics wherever possible; and supply your university transcripts. Please consult the College Admissions website for more detailed information. 

  • Your hardcopy or electronic version of the College application form should be sent direct to the College Admissions Office along with all accompanying material.
  • On the electronic application form, where you are requested to upload your references, you can simply indicate that your references have been sent direct to the College by separate cover.
  • For the statement of purpose, just indicate briefly (in a few sentences) why you wish to study for a doctorate.
  • Where you are asked to specify your research group, please put classical, medieval, early modern, eighteenth-century, Romanticism, nineteenth-century, modern or postcolonial.
  • All applicants will be interviewed before they are offered a place.

You are strongly advised to make contact with the Director of Graduate Studies as soon as you to decide to make an application. We can guide you through the application process, choose your supervising team, and offer initial feedback on your proposal.

AHRC and Queen Mary Principal's Studentships
AHRC Studentships are open to suitably qualified candidates from the UK and EU. The Studentship comprises of the full cost of fees and £15,590 a year for maintenance for 3 years for London-based students. For eligibility requirements please consult the AHRC’s guidelines.

Queen Mary Principal’s Studentships are open to suitably qualified candidates from the UK, EU and Overseas. The Studentship comprises of the full cost of (home or overseas) fees and £15,590 a year for maintenance for 3 years for London-based students.

Applicants do not need to submit separate applications if eligible for both Studentships, just indicate in your application that you would like to be considered for both. In addition to the application materials listed above, Studentship applicants will also need to submit a 750-1000 word funding statement as follows: 

In 500 words, and absolutely no more, indicate:

• The subject and conceptual focus of your proposed doctoral dissertation. Please include a brief title.

In the remainder of your document (250-500 words, but no more than 500 words) please address the following questions:

• Why is Queen Mary the right place to undertake this research?
• What research training and professional preparation have you already received?
• What further training and professional preparation will you need to complete the doctorate and begin your career?
• What ethical issues—if any—are relevant to your research?

Application Deadline
The deadline for Studentship applications is 5 pm on Tuesday 31 January 2012. All short-listed applicants will be interviewed (either face-to-face or, in the case of overseas candidates, by telephone or skype) and applicants must be available for interview between 6th February and 24th February 2012 (specific dates are yet to be confirmed).

IMPORTANT: You need to have been offered a place to study for your PhD before you can formally be considered for a studentship. If you have not completed an MA by the time you make your application, if successful you will be offered a conditional place. This will normally be conditional on your successfully completing the MA and gaining at least one mark at Distinction level.