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

Funding and Awards

The Department of English is pleased to offer one AHRC BGP Studentship and one Queen Mary Principal’s Studentship 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.

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 1800 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.
  • 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.

The Awards
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.

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.

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 Friday 25 May 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 6 - 15 June 2012 (specific dates are yet to be confirmed).

Further Information
For further information please contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Professor Jerry Brotton

IMPORTANT: 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.