AHRC DLA 2027

AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award PhD Scholarships for research in Arts and Humanities (2027)

The University of Sussex is delighted to offer six AHRC-funded PhD scholarships via the Doctoral Landscape Award, with the programme now in its second year. These scholarships are available across our Media, Arts, and Humanities PhD programmes commencing in September 2027.

What you get

As an AHRC DLA postgraduate researcher you will:

  • Conduct an independent research project achievable in 3.5 years
  • Undertake an funded 3-month placement project which can be completed flexibly (part-time or in several blocks)
  • Receive a scholarship for 3.75 years for a PhD, including the placement project
  • Join a regional hub providing innovative training and development opportunities

Scholarships cover UK PhD tuition fees, a stipend at UK Research Council rates (currently £21,805 p.a. for 2026-2027) plus some research and training costs (e.g. conferences, overseas fieldwork, language training, placement costs). Research and Training Support Grantswill be available up to £2000, with the possibility of accessing more funds for high-cost fieldwork.The scholarship does not cover relocation, visa, or NHS surcharge costs. 

Type of award

Postgraduate Research

Eligibility

AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards are open to international students (EU and non-EU students who do not have residency), but the AHRC will only cover the UK (home) fee rate for international students, so the difference between the home fee rate and the international fee rate (£18,262 in 2026-2027) must be met from other sources. 

The scheme is open to candidates whose research falls within the remit of the AHRC. 

To be eligible for an AHRC Landscape Award, a candidate must: 

  • Apply for and be offered a place on a PhD programme at the University of Sussex in the Faculty of Media, Arts, and Humanities. We will accept new applications and applications from candidates with deferred offers of a PhD place at Sussex (see how to apply below for specific instructions).  

  • Expect to begin their PhD studies in autumn 2027;  

  • Have an outstanding academic record, or equivalent experience of working at an outstanding level in a relevant domain in an HEI or non-HEI, or relevant experience in the creative and heritage sectors; 

  • Be resident within the UK for the duration of their studies and live within a reasonable distance of their host university (except for periods of fieldwork or when attending conferences). 

Successful candidates may undertake their study full-time or part-time. No distinction is made during the selection process. Part-time students will have the same amount of funding, but this will be spread across 7.25 years (7 years for the PhD project and a 3-month placement). 

Candidates who have already commenced their doctoral study (i.e. current doctoral researchers) are not eligible for scholarships  through the Landscape Award. 

Number of scholarships available

Up to 6 awards including up to 2 Stuart Hall Foundation Scholarships

Deadline

10 December 2026 16:00

How to apply

For new applicants this year: 

There is a single deadline and application process for both a place on a PhD course at Sussex and the AHRC DLA scholarship funding.  

You must apply for a place on a PhD programme on PG Apply at the University of Sussex by 4pm on Thursday 10 December. Within the same application, you must: 

  • Enter ‘AHRC DLA 2027 (OR AHRC DLA STUART HALL 2027)’ in the ‘sources of funding’ box of your Sussex application, to specify that you wish to be considered for the scholarship funding. 

  • Include degree certificates and two academic references. 

  • Upload a sample of work (either a written essay of up to 5,000 words, or an equivalent creative practice output). Note: you may discuss your application with a proposed supervisor in advance of the application.You should not ask your proposed supervisor for written comments on your sample of work or research proposal. 

Incomplete applications without the full list of requirements above, including full and complete references, will not be considered beyond the deadline.

For applicants who already hold a confirmed place on a PhD programme at the University of Sussex and have deferred to start in Autumn 2027: 

Login to PG Apply and upload a new sample of work, if you wish, as directed above. Title the document, ‘AHRC DLA revised application 2026-27'. Please also send an email to MAH-PGR@sussex.ac.uk, confirming that you have provided revised written work and wish to be considered for a DLA scholarship again this year. 

All applications will be assessed on the quality of the research proposal, the candidate's suitability for doctoral research, and the fit with the supervisory team and wider research environment. You are not required to include any details of a potential placement in your application. 

Useful links: 

How do you Navigate doctoral Research?

How do you write a research proposal?

Sponsors

In partnership with the Stuart Hall Foundation (SHF) under the AHRC Landscape Doctoral Programme, the University of Sussex is offering up to two funded studentships for the 2027-28 intake.    

Inspired by the life and work of Professor Stuart Hall, SHF works collaboratively to forge creative partnerships committed to public education and addressing urgent questions of race and inequality in culture and society.   

The two studentships will be open to the highest ranked applicants who are eligible for the Stuart Hall Foundation Doctoral Programme under the following criteria: 

  • Black British (UK-permanent residents identifying as being from any Black ethnic group including Black or Black British African, Black or Black British Caribbean, Black or Black British other or Mixed Black or Black British)   

  • British People from Ethnic Minority Backgrounds (UK-permanent residents identifying as being from any Black Ethnic group, any Asian Ethnic group or from an Ethnic minority group including white minorities, such as Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller groups)   

More details can be found in our Stuart Hall Foundation Scholarships advert. 

 

Contact us

For questions about the Sussex PGApply applications please contact mah-pgr@sussex.ac.uk   

For questions on the scholarships funding, please contact Sussex Researcher  School: pgr-scholarships@sussex.ac.uk

 

Timetable

 

AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards Information Webinar: 

If you are interested in applying for a Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA) scholarship, you can find out more at the Applicant Webinar, 4-5 PM on Wednesday 18 November. Register here.

Competition Timetable

  • Deadline for submitting full Sussex PGR application, including the application for AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award funding: December 10 2026 
  • Successful applicants to Sussex PhD programmes will be informed by March 13 2027 
  • Successful applicants for the AHRC DLA (including Stuart Hall) funding will be informed by April 30 2027 

Availability

At level(s):
PG (research)

Application deadline:
10 December 2026 16:00 (GMT)

Countries

The award is available to people from these specific countries: