AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award PhD Scholarships for research in Arts and Humanities (2026)

What you get

As an AHRC DLA 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 £20,780 p.a.) plus some research and training costs (e.g. conferences, participant costs, overseas fieldwork, language training, placement costs). 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 (£17,569 in 2025-6) will have to be met from other sources.

Open to candidates whose research falls within the remit of the AHRC.

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

• Have received an offer of a place on a PhD programme at Sussex in the Faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities;
• Expect to begin their studies PhD studies in autumn 2026 (deferrals are not permitted);
• 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 internship).

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

Number of scholarships available

Up to 5 awards including 2 Stuart Hall Foundation Scholarships

Deadline

How to apply

There are two deadlines.

1. If you wish to apply for an AHRC DLA studentship you must apply for a place on a PhD course at the University of Sussex by 4pm on Friday 12 December 2025.
2. You should discuss your application with your proposed supervisor and may refine your application before the funding application deadline of 4pm on Friday 30 January 2026.  

You must also complete our EDI Monitoring form by the January 30 deadline

 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 

If you are interested in applying for a DLA scholarship, you can find out more at the Applicant Webinar on 3 December. Details to follow.

Useful links: 

https://www.vitae.ac.uk/doing-research/doing-a-doctorate 

Writing your research proposal : Tips for applying for a PhD at Sussex : ... : Study with us : University of Sussex

Sponsors

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

Deadline for submitting Sussex PGR application: 12 December 2025

Deadline for submitting final version of the application: 30 January 2026

Successful applicants will be informed by the end of April 2026.