Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Bursaries for PhD study

  • PhD Bursaries
  • PhD studentship in History
  • PhD studentships with a French-language teaching opportunity

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Portsmouth is currently taking applications for a range of bursaries and studentships to support full-time PhD study, starting in October 2012. Candidates may apply for study within any of our three major Research Centres:

The Centre for European & International Studies Research is the UK’s largest interdisciplinary centre for European Studies, achieving first place in Research Fortnight’s ranking of Research Power based on the RAE2008 results. Its areas of expertise include:

  • European Studies, inc. European Politics and Public Policy, Europe’s relations with the Wider World, Transnational Europe
  • French and Francophone Studies, inc. France and Africa
  • History (Modern & Contemporary British & European) N.B. There is a dedicated studentship available in this area, see below.
  • Modern Languages, Linguistics and Sociolinguistics
  • Sociology

See www.port.ac.uk/ceisr for more details.

The Centre for Studies in Literature is a growing Research Centre with active programmes of research in several areas:

  • Renaissance to Romantic era poetry and prose
  • Nineteenth-century literature and culture
  • Modern & contemporary British and American fiction
  • Postcolonialism & national identity
  • Crime fiction and film

See www.port.ac.uk/csl for more details.

The Institute for Criminal Justice Studies has a worldwide reputation for work in policing, security, counter-fraud and related areas. Particular areas of research interest include:

  • Policing, law enforcement, prisons, probation and offender management
  • Criminal justice policy, procedures, miscarriages of justice
  • Forensic investigation, counter-fraud, risk
  • Regulation, accountability and governance in criminal justice
  • Children and youth in the justice system

See www.port.ac.uk/departments/academic/icjs/research/ for more details.

University funding is for three years subject to satisfactory progress.

Funding opportunities:

The range of funding available includes full bursaries (payment of fees, a maintenance stipend, and an allowance for fieldwork) and two forms of studentship. N.B. The bursary agreement includes a requirement to undertake up to 6 hours teaching per week during each semester.

There is one studentship available in the History field, which will include payment of fees and an agreed package of hourly-paid undergraduate teaching. This is open to candidates interested in any of the areas of history outlined on the CEISR website; we are particularly interested in hearing from candidates with an interest in our ‘Port Towns’ strategic project.

The second form of studentship is available to candidates with a native-speaker competence in French. This offers payment of fees and a paid language-teaching role. There is no restriction on the subject-matter of the proposed PhD project, within the various areas outlined above, but the successful candidate should normally have completed at least four years of study in a recognised institution of higher education in a Francophone country, and will be expected to undertake 12 hours a week of duties appropriate to his or her qualifications and experience. These duties may include up to 6 hours French-language tuition, and, in addition, assisting with the drafting, marking and invigilation of assessments, and assisting with the production of teaching materials in French.

How to apply for an FHSS Bursary:

To apply you should complete our online postgraduate application form, attaching the bursary coversheet:

Applications should specify in the covering letter which form of award they are applying for; eligible candidates are welcome to apply for more than one award on this same form, and should clearly indicate this where relevant. The closing-date for applications is Wednesday 29 February 2012.

Please ensure you follow the procedures indicated below:

  • Complete the Humanities Bursary Coversheet and attach it to your Application Form
  • Complete the Postgraduate Application Form
  • Write a 1,500-word research proposal indicating the following details:
    • Project title
    • Subject Area, including major research questions to be addressed and why
    • Research Context
    • Aims and Objectives
    • Methodology
    • How the topic will break new ground
    • A clear timetable for completion of the project
  • Send a Postgraduate Reference Request Sheet to each of your referees.

If using the online application form you can upload all your supporting documents to the application form - please remember to include the Humanities Bursary Coversheet as well as your research proposal, CV, copies of your qualifications and references.

If using the paper application form please send your completed application form, research proposal and coversheet to the address below, together with:

  • Your Curriculum Vitae
  • Copies (not originals) of your highest qualifications, degree level and above
  • Two academic references (your referees can also send the references separately to us)

University of Portsmouth
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Admissions Centre
Park Building
King Henry I Street
Portsmouth PO1 2DZ
Hampshire/UK

Telephone: +44 (0)23 9284 6037
Fax: +44 (0)23 9284 6011
Email: piers.mcewan@port.ac.uk

All applications must be received by the deadline - 29 February 2012.

Please note that any applications received without a completed coversheet will not be eligible for a bursary.