AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award

[Home fee tuition fee waiver; 3.5 year tax-free stipend at UKRI minimum rate plus London weighting (£22,780 per annum for 2025/26); CDA projects are 4 years; professional development, placements, additional funding, London and East of England Hub.]

The University of Westminster is offering three Collaborative Doctoral Awards (CDAs) as part of the prestigious AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award, a major new funding scheme from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). This initiative aims to expand doctoral research capacity in the arts and humanities across the UK, fostering a vibrant and inclusive research culture. For 2026 entry, successful applicants will join a dynamic cohort and benefit from a range of professional development opportunities, placements, and access to the London and East of England Hub.

Each CDA is a fully funded PhD opportunity, including a Home fee tuition waiver (with international students responsible for the difference between Home and International fees), a tax-free stipend at the UKRI minimum rate plus London weighting (£22,780 per annum for 2025/26), and additional support for placements and professional development. CDA projects are designed for a four-year duration, providing ample time for in-depth research and engagement with partner organisations.

CDA 1: Mapping Creative R&D in Art–Technology Ecosystems
This project explores the evolving landscape of Creative Research & Development (R&D) within cultural organisations, policymakers, and industry. In partnership with the Serpentine, a leading contemporary arts organisation, the PhD researcher will develop innovative approaches to research, data gathering, and evaluation, focusing on how knowledge, value, and relationships are produced across creative ecosystems. The project addresses the challenges of measuring and recognising smaller collaborations and the custodial role of cultural institutions.

CDA 2: The Development of a Gayborhood in post-war London: Mapping Soho and its archives
This project provides the first detailed mapping of the history of queer businesses in Soho, London. By utilising materials from the Westminster City Archives and collecting new archival data, the research will document how gay and queer businesses are established, grow, and survive. The project aims to make a groundbreaking contribution to LGBTQ+ business history and deepen understanding of the development of gayborhoods.

CDA 3: Collaborative Research as Pedagogical Method: Reinterpreting Photographic Collections at the RGS-IBG
Focusing on the vast, underutilised photographic collections at the Royal Geographical Society (RGS-IBG), this PhD will use the overlooked work of Elizabeth Wilhelmina Ness (1881-1962) FRGS to develop innovative pedagogical approaches to colonial-era photography. The project embeds principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion, aiming to create meaningful educational tools for both cultural and higher education institutions.

Applicants should have a strong academic background in relevant arts, humanities, or social science disciplines. Applications are submitted via the University of Westminster's online system for doctoral programmes, with the CDA name clearly stated in the application form. Project teams will review and shortlist candidates for interview. The application deadline is 30 April 2026.

For further details and to apply, visit the University of Westminster's research degrees studentships page.