Doctoral Studentships

The School of Arts and Social Sciences (SASS) is a cosmopolitan, outward-looking, and internationally excellent centre of research and learning on the human condition in all of its dimensions. In the last Research Excellence Framework (REF) over 70% of SASS research was judged to be world leading or internationally excellent. The School is currently embarking on an exciting agenda of strategic transformation to further its commitment to research and education with real world impact.

We are delighted to announce three fully-funded studentships for PhD study to commence in September 2022. Specific eligibility criteria are given below. The studentship will cover tuition fees and an annual bursary and will be awarded to an individual who works in or across any of the School's sub-disciplinary areas, or within any of its established Research Centres.

What is Offered

The doctoral studentships will consist of:

• A full tuition fee waiver, and

• An annual stipend of £17,609 (raising each year in line with UKRI increases) for three years full time (pro-rated for part time study). This includes London weighting.

Areas of Study

Applications are welcome to all of our Departments and Centres within School of Arts and Social Sciences, including:  

• Economics

• Sociology (including Criminology, Media, and Culture and Creative Industries)

• English

• International Politics (including History)

• Psychology

• Music

• Journalism

The proposed topic should fit with one or more of the key themes of our research communities. We are particularly interested in receiving proposals that demonstrate the potential for real world impact and making a difference beyond academia e.g. responding to an important research question and/or potential for a significant conceptual, methodological, and/or empirical innovation. Projects that involve working with or have application to business and the professions and/or have strong inter-disciplinary potential are particularly welcome.

All applications should meet the university's commitments to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Eligibility

The studentship will be awarded on the basis of outstanding academic or professional equivalent achievement and the potential to produce cutting-edge research.

• Applicants must hold at least a 2.1 Honours degree and a Merit-level Masters degree in a relevant subject (or international equivalent) or provide equivalent qualifications or experience that evidences their preparedness for PhD study.

• Applicants whose first language is not English must have achieved at least 7.0 in IELTS or a recognised equivalent.

• Applicants must not be currently registered as a doctoral student at City, University of London or any other academic institution.

For more information on our entry requirements for research degrees see here.

How to Apply

To apply for studentship funding:

1.     Complete an application form for a place on the PhD programme by selecting the subject here, select ‘How to Apply’ and ‘Apply Now’. You will be asked to register before you can complete your application. Please note that registering does not commit you to studying if you are not successful in gaining funding.

 2.     Upload your research proposal (word limt 2500 words (approximately 4 four sides of typed A4, including references) in any of the areas covered by the research in the School of Arts and Social Sciences. Suggested structure of proposal and guidance available here. 

3. Upload a short cover letter with your application requesting that your application be considered for SASS PhD Studentship funding, together with a statement asserting your eligibility in terms of ethnicity.

It might be useful to identify a potential supervisor in advance of submitting your proposal who can assist with developing your project.

Applications should be submitted by 5pm (BST) on Friday 11th March 2022.

If you have any queries regarding the above, please contact the Doctoral Degrees Officer, Richard Thornbury (richard.thornbury.1@city.ac.uk).

Assessment Process

In our selection of the successful applicant, we will be looking in particular for the following:

• Research proposals that fit with one or more of the key themes of our research communities;

• Research proposals that address real world issues and show potential for making a difference to the world outside of academia;

• Research proposals that involve engagement with external stakeholders;

• Research proposals with strong inter-disciplinary potential;

• Applications which meet the university's commitments to equality, diversity and inclusion.