The Faculty of Arts and Humanities has a tradition of producing internationally excellent, creative, and innovative research both within and across disciplines. Our research is at the forefront of contemporary scholarly debates, and it reaches beyond the academy into the world at large. Our Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs) are central to that work.
The Arts and Humanities Graduate School is home to a diverse body of over 275 PGRs. The Graduate School provides a rich training programme, tailored to the individual needs of each student. It also acts as an interdisciplinary hub where researchers from across the Faculty of Arts and Humanities meet to exchange ideas and to learn from one another.
Training and Placements
All PGRs work with their supervisors to create a personal training plan and have access to a range of bespoke opportunities for training in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, as well as across the university. Each Faculty provides a Training Pathway, which is a map for intellectual, professional, and behavioural development, used to guide PGRs at all levels of research. All arts and humanities PGRs at UEA (regardless of their funding status) can access CHASE training, as part of our current Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP). They also benefit from many other opportunities for development, including prioritised application for placements, the biannual CHASE Encounters Conference, highly active student networks, and a dedicated journal with opportunities for publication review and editorial work.
Community and Governance
The Graduate School is responsive to the changing needs of its students. The Graduate School Student Forum is a vital group which includes student representatives from each school. The Forum provides a platform for student-led initiatives, as well as advocating for the interests of our PGRs. PGR representatives also attend the Graduate School Executive and often attend various meetings in their individual Schools of study. Each year the Graduate School hosts a prize ceremony, where we celebrate the achievements of our PGRs in research publications, teaching, public engagement, and supporting the PGR community.
How to Apply
Prospective applicants for our research degree programmes are advised to make contact with a potential supervisor before making an application. Please browse the people pages to find UEA academics with expertise in your field. You can also direct subject-specific enquiries to the Director of Postgraduate Research in the individual School to which you are applying. These details can be found on the PGR or subject pages in each of our Schools:
Interdisciplinary Institute for the Humanities - PGR and PhD opportunities
School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing - PGR and PhD opportunities
Once you have discussed your research proposal with a potential supervisory team, you will need to apply online.
Funding your studies
There are a number sources of studentship funding for arts and humanities PGRs at UEA. In order to be eligible for funding applicants need to have applied for a place to study at UEA and for some funders, may need to be in receipt of an offer of a place before starting the application process for funding. Applicants need to secure the support of a supervisor in advance of any application for studentship funding, so are strongly encouraged to make contact with potential supervisors as early as possible in the process, and very much in advance of any deadline. Writing a funding application can take several months and should be written in consultation with supervisors.
A number of our students are currently funded by Doctoral Training Partnerships, such as the CHASE AHRC DTP. UEA is one of only 50 institutions nationally to receive Landscape Awards, which will provide funding for 15 doctoral studentships over five years from 2026/27. Further information on the funding opportunities for the 2026/27 academic year will be available in October 2025.
For those within the ESRC remit through SENSS (Politics and International Relations; Linguistics; or Social Anthropology). SENSS funding is available for PhD-only studentships, but can also be used to fund Master’s courses as part of a ‘1+3’-year (Master’s and PhD) studentship. Further details can be found on UEA’s SENSS web pages.
Both home and international students are currently eligible to apply for studentships, which cover tuition fees and provide a stipend to cover living expenses, set at the UKRI rate.
Other opportunities for funded PhD places, often attached to specific research projects, are also available. Please find more opportunities available on our PhD and Research Studentships page. Applicants may also find sponsorship from governments, charities or employers.'
Doctoral Loans
PGR students may be eligible for a Doctoral Loan, to help with the costs of a PhD.