‘Creative writing - focusing on the theme of emigration and immigration between Scotland and Australia (whatever the direction of travel) with particular emphasis on diasporic experience’.

Immigration and Emigration are dominant features of our current global experience but they are foundational to the relationship between Scotland and Australia. Many Scots left Scotland to make a new home in Australia and arrived at the port of Fremantle near Perth and many modern Australians trace their origins to Scotland.

This PhD project focuses on the theme of emigration and immigration between Scotland and Australia (whatever the direction of travel) with particular emphasis on diasporic experience. Approaches might include creative writing which engages with the historical experience of emigration and immigration between the two countries, creative fiction or non-fiction that considers more recent experience, or a more literary exploration of existing works on the topic of Scottish-Australian diasporic experience.


The successful candidate will spend two years in the University of Aberdeen and one year (second year of supervised study) in Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia.

Those wishing to apply are advised to contact Professor Lumsden ([Email Address Removed]) before making a formal application.

Applicants should have (or expect to obtain) the equivalent of a UK first class or upper second class honours degree (and preferably a Masters degree) in English or Creative Writing.

If English is not your first language please visit the link for details of the requirements http://aberdeencurtinalliance.org/research/collaborative-phds/english-language-requirements-phd-scholarships-2018/

A research proposal is required and selection will be made on the basis of academic merit and the quality of the proposal. The proposal should be no more than 750 words and describe your intended approach to the topic. For creative projects it must be accompanied by a writing sample consisting of approximately 3000 words of prose or 120 lines of poetry.