University (BCU) in the United Kingdom. This fully funded PhD scheme offers six studentships for September 2027 entry, three funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and three match funded by BCU. The awards cover arts and humanities research, including Art and Design, Architecture, English, Law, Media and Cultural Studies, and Music and Performing Arts. Both UK/Home and international students can apply.
Home students receive full UK tuition fees and a tax free yearly stipend of £21,805 (2026/27 rate), while one international applicant each year receives a full tuition fee waiver and the same stipend. The final application deadline is 20 January 2027 at 12pm (noon, UK time). The official guidance does not mention any application fee, and applying is done through the BCU online application portal. You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.
Key Details:
- Degree level: PhD (doctoral research)
- Host country: United Kingdom
- Host university: Birmingham City University
- Funding type: Fully funded
- Open to: UK/Home and international students.
- Expression of Interest deadline: 16 November 2026, 12pm (noon, UK time)
- Final application deadline: 20 January 2027, 12pm (noon, UK time)
- Application fee: None
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What This Scholarship Offers:
- Your full UK tuition fees are covered for the PhD.
- You receive a tax free yearly stipend of £21,805 (2026/27 rate), adjusted each year.
- You can apply for extra funding for fieldwork, archive visits, practice and conferences.
- One international applicant per year receives a full tuition fee waiver and the same stipend. Visa fees and the health surcharge are not covered.
- You work with leading arts and humanities researchers, and can add supervisors from other Midlands universities.
- You join the East and West Midlands Doctoral Hub, with training, networking and connections to cultural and industry partners.
- You gain professional development, plus teaching and placement opportunities that strengthen your CV.
- The That’s Me! Studentship gives Global Majority candidates bespoke career mentoring from senior leadership.
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Eligibility Criteria:
Who Can Apply
- UK/Home and international applicants are both eligible
- You must not already hold a doctoral level qualification
- You must not be currently enrolled as a doctoral student at BCU or any other institution
- Your research must fall within one of the AHRC’s primary subject areas
- For interdisciplinary projects, at least 50% of the work must focus on an AHRC primary research area
- You can apply a maximum of two times, in two separate recruitment rounds
Academic Requirements
You need a good undergraduate degree plus one of the following:
- A Masters degree at the time of application
- A Masters degree in progress that you will complete before your PhD starts
- Professional or creative experience relevant to your research
Home Fee Status Requirements
You count as a Home student if you are one of the following (with the residency requirements):
- A UK national
- A person with settled status
- A person with pre settled status
- A person with indefinite leave to remain or enter
- An Irish national
Everyone else applies as an international applicant. UKCISA has a fee status guide if you are unsure.
That’s Me! Studentship
At least one of the six studentships each year is reserved for a UK/Home candidate from a Global Majority background. Candidates can tick a box on the application form to be considered, and the optional personal statement does not affect scoring.
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Programs Available:
Applicants are expected to apply under one of these fields:
- Art and Design
- Architecture
- English
- Law
- Media and Cultural Studies
- Music and Performing Arts (Conservatoire)
Interdisciplinary and practice based projects are welcome, as long as at least half the project sits within an AHRC subject area.
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How to Apply:
- Begin a BCU Online Application Form for their chosen Postgraduate Research Degree.
- Complete the Doctoral Landscape Award Funding Application Form and upload this to the BCU Online Application Form
- Upload Two Completed References (using the DLA specific reference request form) to the BCU Online Application Form
- Upload copies of their Higher Education Certificate and Transcripts to the BCU Online Application Form
- Submit their BCU Online Application Form, with all of the above documents uploaded, before the final application deadline of 12pm (Noon, UK Time) on 20 January 2027.
- Applications which are incomplete or submitted after the deadline on 20 January 2027 (Noon, UK Time) will not be considered, other than in very exceptional cases provided for by our extenuating circumstances policy. Please see the Doctoral Landscape Award Guidance Notes for full details.
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