Research Council Awards: AHRC and ESRC
For UK and EU students, the main funding body is the AHRC. Manchester has been awarded among the highest number of studentships under the AHRC's Block Grant Partnership (BGP) scheme of any UK university. AHRC awards are highly competitive and provide payment of tuition fees and a maintenance stipend for UK students, and tuition fees (and in some cases a maintenance stipend, subject to eligibility criteria) for EU students. The selection of candidates is made by the School, with final confirmation of awards by the AHRC. (Please note: it is possible to apply for an AHRC BGP studentship at more than one institution, but only one nomination per student is permitted; applicants offered a studentship at more than one institution must choose which one to accept before nominations are submitted to the AHRC.)
The School has the following AHRC Studentships from September 2012 for UK and EU students:
Doctoral Studentships in the areas of: Archaeology; Art History & Visual Studies; Classics & Ancient History; English & American Studies; Film Studies; History; Music; and Religions & Theology.
For further information on AHRC Postgraduate funding opportunities, please see:
ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council)
The University of Manchester, in partnership with the Universities of Lancaster and Liverpool, has been awarded status an ESRC-accredited Doctoral Training Centre. The North West Doctoral Training Centre (NWDTC) has been granted the largest number of ESRC PhD studentships in England. All students working on subjects within the broad are of Economic and Social History are eligible to apply for an award on either a 1+3 (MA + PhD) or +3 (PhD only, for applicants who already have an MA) basis. Students will be able to draw on the full MA and PhD research training programmes at all three universities in the NWDTC.
The borderline between the AHRC's and the ESRC's subject remit is not defined by the period to be studied, but by the content and/or methodology of the proposed course of study. If the emphasis is on Biography, or on Administrative, Legal, Military, Political or Religious History, the History of Science or of Ideas, or on Historiography, it falls within the AHRC remit. Projects in Social or Economic History, or the History of Education or of Technology fall within the ESRC's remit. There is a considerable area of overlap making it worthwhile to consider applying to both funding competitions. For further information prospective candidates should consult Professor Frank Mort: email: Frank.Mort@manchester.ac.uk and the joint statement by the AHRC and ESRC:
http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/FundingOpportunities/Pages/Subjectstatement.aspx
The other important consideration is the completion of an ESRC recognised Research Training MA. Under the new NWDTC, students intending to complete one of the recognised MAs at Manchester (Economic and Social History; Cultural History; War, Culture, and History; Modern British History; and World History) may apply for a 1+3 studentship which will cover the MA and subsequent PhD (depending on successful completion of the MA). In order to apply for a +3 studentship, students will have completed or will be completing an ESRC recognised Research Training MA and the required research training.
How to Apply
The ESRC DTC application process has two stages:
- You must apply via the University's standard online postgraduate Guidance on writing a Research Proposal
- You must then complete the North West ESRC DTC application form and submit this, together with your transcripts and references, to the SAHC Postgraduate Office (see contact details below) For more information on the scheme and guidance on the application process see North West DTC Guidance for Applicants.
Timetable
23 March 2012: Deadline for Studentship Applications to Schools
Week Beginning 23 April 2012: Successful and Reserve Candidates notified of outcome.