Durham University has opened applications for up to 11 fully funded PhD studentships in Transformative Humanities, starting in October 2027. Backed by the university’s AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award, the scheme is open to UK and international applicants across arts, humanities, and social sciences, with up to nine awards for home students and up to two for overseas students.
Each studentship includes a full tuition fee waiver, plus a living stipend at the UKRI rate for 3.5 years of full-time study or seven years part-time. Award holders also gain access to additional funding, training, and placement opportunities, and up to six will be associated with the AHRC Northern Hub. The two overseas awards cover tuition at the overseas fee level.
Projects must align with one of six themes: Creativity, Culture, and Heritage; Digital Humanities; Environmental Humanities; Medical Humanities; Science-Humanities; or Social Justice, Communities, and Policy. Supervision is led from Arts and Humanities or Social Sciences, spanning departments such as English, History, Philosophy, Law, Geography, Education, and Sociology, and must involve at least two departments. Only candidates accepted onto a Durham PhD programme will be considered.
Candidates apply to the PhD programme of their lead supervisor’s department and enter “Transformative Humanities” in the funding field. Each application needs:
- A research proposal of up to 1,000 words, including footnotes but excluding the bibliography
- A CV of no more than two pages
- An equal opportunities monitoring form
- Contact details for two referees
International applicants whose research fits Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) can also explore Durham’s Hunt-Raymond Global Grand Challenges Studentships, which include one overseas award and close at 5:00 PM on 8th February 2027.
With the deadline less than three months away, starting supervisor conversations now gives you time to build a proposal that stands out. StudyIn’s counsellors can help you plan your Durham University application, from shortlisting departments to preparing documents and your UK Student visa.