Research at Ulster University
Ulster’s international reputation for research excellence has received worldwide recognition. International experts have judged Ulster University as being in the top 25% of UK universities based on research power, with 72% of our research activity having been judged to be world-leading and internationally excellent.
We are proud that Ulster was ranked 2nd in the UK in the 2021 UK Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES).
Join Ulster’s Research Community
PhD supervision in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences is available within the following areas: Art and Design (History Practice & Theory); Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management; Education; English Language and Literature; History; Law (including Transitional Justice); Music; Drama; Performing Arts; Film and Screen Studies (including Museum and Heritage Studies); Modern Languages and Linguistics (including Celtic Studies); and Social Work and Social Policy.
The Faculty is home to several centres of excellence, and depending on their criteria, PhD researchers may be able to affiliate with one of these.
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The University’s annual PhD Scholarship Competition offers over 100 exciting full-time funded PhD scholarship opportunities across all subject areas including those within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
Scholarships will cover fees for three years, an annual non-taxable maintenance grant of approx. £15,600 and a Research Training and Support Grant worth £900 per year.
Ulster’s PhD Scholarship Competition for entry in September 2022 is now open.
Applications for PhDs with the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and all supplemental documents should be submitted online before 4.00pm on 28 February 2022 at: www.ulster.ac.uk/phdcomp
Applicants should hold (or expect to hold) a first or upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent). Candidates from the UK, EU and overseas are eligible to apply. Please see project descriptions for further details on eligibility.
Applications will be considered on the basis of candidates’ qualifications, skills, experience and research interests.
Applicants should discuss their applications with project supervisors prior to submission. Contact details are provided within the individual project descriptions.
You do not need to make a separate application for a scholarship. However, please indicate on your application for admission that you are not a self-funded/private sponsor research applicant.
You should inform the University in your application, or as soon as possible thereafter, of any disability or personal circumstances that should be taken into account so that suitable arrangements can be made.
Further Information
Applications for admission on a self-funded or externally funded basis, both part-time and full-time are also welcome at any time throughout the year.
Please contact the Ulster Doctoral College if you have any queries about PhD study at: researchstudent@ulster.ac.uk