AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award Stuart Hall Foundation Studentships (2027)

The University of Sussex, as part of the University’s AHRC Landscape Doctoral Programme, is working in partnership with the Stuart Hall Foundation (SHF) to offer two funded studentships for the 2027-8 intake.

What you get

As an AHRC Stuart Hall Foundation postgraduate researcher you will:

  • Conduct an independent research project achievable in 3.5 years
  • Undertake a 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.) plus some research and training costs (e.g. conferences, participant costs, overseas fieldwork, language training, placement costs).

Type of award

Postgraduate Research

PhD project

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 recipients will benefit from working with the SHF to develop their career and research profile, forming a cohort of SHF PGRs at Sussex. They will enjoy privileged access to the work of the Foundation to be able to engage with and contribute to its resources and networks, including the annual gathering of Stuart Hall Foundation Scholars and Fellows. This is a positive action initiative under the Equality Act 2010. These studentships are available to start in October 2027. 

Eligibility

We welcome applications regardless of age, disability, religion, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation.  We encourage individuals who have worked in relevant sectors, are changing disciplines or career paths or returning from career breaks, e.g. caring responsibilities, to apply. 

To be eligible for Stuart Hall Foundation award a candidate must:  

  • Be 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) 

         or

  • Be a British person from an Ethnic Minority Background (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)
  • 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 2 Stuart Hall Foundation Scholarships

Deadline

10 December 2026 16:00

How to apply

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 STUART HALL FOUNDATION 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.

How to Apply - 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 Stuart Hall 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 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: 

 

Sponsors

 The Stuart Hall Foundation (SHF) is inspired by the life’s work of Professor Stuart Hall in the interlocking worlds of activism, academia and the arts, through which he articulated, and worked towards, a socially progressive and expansive idea of society at ease with difference.

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

 

You might also be interested in

Useful links: 

How do you Navigate doctoral Research?

How do you write a research proposal?

Timetable

If you are interested in applying for a Stuart Hall Foundation scholarship, you can find out more at the Applicant Webinar, 4-5 PM on Wednesday 18 November. Register here.

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

Availability

At level(s):
PG (research)

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

Countries

The award is available to people from the following country: