AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards (DLA)
Apply for one of five fully funded AHRC studentships
We have five fully funded AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA) studentships available for October 2027 entry.
Three of these awards are available across all AHRC subjects. Two are available within the thematic areas of 'Creative Places' and 'Policy in Place'.
Each award will include tuition fees (paid at a rate equivalent to the home UK fee) and a minimum stipend per year for living costs, which is currently £21,805.
Successful international students may be required to fund the difference between the home fees and international fees (to be confirmed).
Successful applicants will also be eligible to apply to a fund reserved for supporting primary research costs and development opportunities including, for example, conference attendance, fieldwork, language training, overseas research visits, and placements with a non-HE organisation.
The deadline for postgraduate applications is 16:00 on Friday 15 January 2027.
Prospective applicants must visit our school and research institute webpages, look at academic staff research interests, and contact potential supervisors to discuss their research proposals as soon as possible. We cannot consider applicants who have not approached and secured supervisory support by the 15 January 2027 deadline.
You can find information on research areas on the School webpages and Faculty Research webpages.
Supporting our applicants
We are committed to generating a diverse and inclusive doctoral community. We are looking to attract applicants from all backgrounds.
We will assess AHRC DLA applications not just on previous qualifications. We will place a greater emphasis on prior experience, enthusiasm for research, and the ability to think and work independently. Excellent analytical skills and strong verbal and written communication skills are also essential requirements. You do not require a master’s qualification if you have a minimum 2:1 at undergraduate level and can evidence alternative experience in a work or research-based project equivalent to master's level. Research training is mandatory throughout the DLA, to support students to become effective and confident independent research scholars.
We are adopting the Equity in Doctoral Education through Partnership and Innovation (EDEPI) .
We have received some AI generated answers and would strongly recommend you express your responses to the questions in your own voice. Our review panels are looking for genuine insights and authenticity is key.
Supporting our applicants
Applicants who meet all of the following criteria are eligible to apply:
- UK and international applicants must have a research proposal falling within the , and who meet the
- applicants must meet the entry requirements of their preferred PhD programme at 缅北禁地
- applicants must have secured the support of a supervisory team with expertise in their subject area(s) by Friday 15 January 2027
Students who have already commenced their doctoral studies are not eligible to apply.
How to apply
Please read the 2027 Competition Guidance.pdf for full details.
Stage 1:
By 16:00 on Friday 15 January, 2027:
You must register on the University’s .
1. Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application.’
2. Use ‘Course Search’ to find your programme of study:
- You can search for the Course Title using the programme code if known (for example ‘8210F’) or the Research Area, (for example, ‘History’).
- Select the programme of study (for example, ‘PhD School of History, Classic and Archaeology (full time) – History’).
3. Provide the following information in the ‘Further Questions’ section:
- A completed 2027 Competency-based Assessment Form. Upload the document as your Personal Statement. We will not consider your application for a studentship award if we do not receive this completed form.
- The studentship code AHRC27 in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field.
- An outline of your Research Proposal.
4. In addition, you will need to upload the following supporting documentation:
- Degree transcripts and certificates and, if English is not your first language, a copy of your English language qualification if already completed.
Home and international applicants are welcome to apply. Applicants whose first language is not English need an IELTS score of 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all sub-skills.
You must also submit a completed copy of your 2027 Nomination Form.docx to your school postgraduate Professional Services colleague.
We will not consider applications received after the closing date under any circumstances.
It is not necessary to hold an offer of a place on your chosen programme by this deadline. If we offer you a studentship award, you must fulfil the conditions of your programme offer by the start of your studentship, or we will withdraw the award.
Stage 2:
Schools will review, score, and rank eligible applicants who have submitted all the required documentation.
By 16:00 on Friday 5 February, 2027, schools will select their top five applicants to forward to the second and final stage of the competition.
If you are not successful, your school will notify you.
Selected applicants will have the opportunity to revise and improve their AHRC DLA Nomination Form based on feedback from the Internal Review.
Schools must submit the final Nomination Form and required documents for their five selected applicants to the HaSS Faculty by 16:00 on Tuesday 23 February, 2027, to be assessed by a Faculty Review Panel.
2027 Equal Opps Monitoring Form
We anticipate that the outcome of the competition will be issued to the final nominees, their supervisors, and school postgraduate professional services colleagues during the week commencing 22 March 2027.
Start your application
Stage 1:
You must register on the University’s .
Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application.’
Use ‘Course Search’ to find your programme of study:
You can search for the Course Title using the programme code if known (for example ‘8210F’)
The Research Area, (for example ‘History’)
Select the programme of study, (for example, ‘PhD School of History, Classic and Archaeology (full time) – History’)
Provide the following information in the ‘Further Questions’ section:
- A completed DLA Competency-based Assessment Form - upload the document as your Personal Statement. We will not consider your application for a studentship award if we do not receive this completed form.
- The studentship code AHRC26 in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field.
- An outline of your Research Proposal.
In addition, you will need to upload the following supporting documentation:
- Degree transcripts and certificates and, if English is not your first language, a copy of your English language qualification if already completed.
Home and international applicants are welcome to apply. Applicants whose first language is not English need an IELTS score of 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all sub-skills.
We will not consider applications received after the closing date for a studentship award.
Stage 2:
You must complete a Nomination Form and submit it the school you are applying to.