Wednesday 26 November, 4pm Bedson Teaching Centre 2.39

 Under AHRC’s Block Grant Partnership 2 scheme, Newcastle is the lead University in Northern Bridge, a Doctoral Training Partnership with Durham University, Queen’s University Belfast and 13 Strategic Partners. The award of £11.2m from AHRC and a further investment of over £9m by the 3 universities allows NB to offer 250 fully- funded doctoral studentships to Home/EU applicants over the 5 years  Creative Writing, Drama & Theatre Studies, English Language and Literature, Film and Linguistics are amongst the subject areas in which NB is offering studentships.  Those with AHRC studentships have their tuition fees paid and also receive a a tax- free maintenance grant set at the UK Research Council’s national postgraduate rate, which is currently £13,863 (subject to review)  In addition, the School provides support to a number of Masters students (MA/MLitt) through School Bursary Awards and there are also Postgraduate Excellence Scholarships available from Faculty.  Joanne Clement, one of our Northern Bridge studentship awardholders, will tell you about her experience of applying for the award after this presentation. 2

 To be eligible for a place on one of our Master’s programmes, you preferably need a First Class BA in the relevant subject – English or Linguistics – although high 2.1 applicants will be considered. Please note that the Masters in Film is co-taught with SML and is currently owned by SML.  Duration of programmes is 12 months for FT students and 24 months for PT students. 3

 Structure: 180 credits (20 research training, assignments, dissertation). MLitt dissertations are worth 80 credits, MA 60 credits.  FT Tuition fees in 2015/16 for Home/EU students taking taught Master’s programmes in the School (MA) will be £5,500 p.a., for research Master’s (MLitt) will be £4,450.  PT Tuition fees in 2015/16 for Home/EU students taking MA programmes in the School will be £2,750 p.a., for research Master’s (MLitt) will be £2,225.  An Alumni Tuition fee discount of 20% applies to self-funding graduates of Newcastle University.  To find out more about our Master’s degree programmes, go to:  If you intend to fund yourself, apply here: 4

 MA in English Literature (Enquiries to Dr Ella Dzelzainis –  MA in Modern and Contemporary Literature (Enquiries to Dr Stacy Gillis –  MA in Film Theory & Practice (currently in SML) (Enquiries to Dr Sabrina Yu –  MA in Creative Writing (Enquiries to Margaret Wilkinson –  MLitt in English Literature (Enquiries to Dr Anne Whitehead –  MLitt in Film Studies (currently in SML) (Enquiries to Dr Sabrina Yu – 5

 MA in Linguistics (Enquiries to Dr Cristina Dye,  MLitt in English Language and/or Linguistics (Enquiries to Dr Heike Pichler, The School is also home to the Integrated PhD in Linguistics and English Language. This is part taught/ part research. (Enquiries to Dr. Heike Pichler, 6

 The School expects to fund six Bursary Awards, worth £12k each, to the strongest applicants who are offered a full-time place on one of the following programmes:  MA in English Literature  MA in Modern and Contemporary Literature  MLitt in English Literature  MA in Creative Writing  MA in Linguistics  MLitt in Linguistics and/or English Language  The details of how to apply for a School Bursary Award will be announced at the end of February and the scheme will have a closing date in June. Decisions will be announced in July  Applicants will be expected to demonstrate outstanding performance at undergraduate level and clear evidence of how the proposed Masters programme would lead to doctoral study. 7

 Excellence Scholarships are for returning students  Must achieve 65% in undergraduate degree  Masters level (MA/MLitt)  £2,000 discount on tuition fees  Can be combined with Alumni discount and School Bursary  Opens end of November 2014  olarships 8

 Staff in the School supervise PhD degrees in Creative Writing, Drama & Theatre Studies, English Literature, Film, Linguistics and English Language. For more info’ about staff research expertise, see:  PhDs may be studied over three years (full-time) or six years (part-time).  The School offers dedicated facilities for research students in the Percy Building and a very strong, dynamic pg culture.  FT Tuition fees in 2015/16 for Home/EU students taking PhDs in the School will be £4,500 p.a. PT fees will be £2,225p.a.  An Alumni Tuition fee discount of 20% applies for self-funding Newcastle University graduates. 9

 To be eligible to apply for a place on a PhD programme you preferably need a Distinction in a relevant Master’s degree (although high Merit applicants will be considered), an excellent research proposal, and there needs to be two members of staff with relevant research expertise available to supervise you.  If you intend to fund yourself, apply online here  For general information about PhD degrees in the School please contact Sherelle Coulson 10

 Applying for an AHRC doctoral studentship for September 2015 start is a two-stage process.  Stage One: Initial Application  (1) Contact the subject. Before you apply you will need to explore with the relevant subject area contact whether your area of research can be supervised and supported and begin to identify suitable supervisors. The full list of subject area contacts is available on the Northern Bridge website:  (2) Complete an online Application Form. Our selection processes require you to apply through the online application form:  Your application must include copies of transcripts, a CV (2 sides max), details of two referees and a research proposal of no more than 750 words (excluding bibliography).  If you wish to be considered for a Northern Bridge award you must quote code ‘AH15’ when asked on the form how you intend to fund your studies.  The deadline for applications to Northern Bridge’s 2015 competition is 5pm, Monday 26 January

 The research questions or problems that the research will address.  The research context, i.e. the past and current research and scholarship in the field.  Bearing in mind the research context, the contribution to knowledge and understanding the project will make to the field, and a clear statement of the intellectual significance of the proposed research.  The approach / methodology that will be employed, and an explanation of why it is the most appropriate approach for addressing the research questions/problems.  The resources and facilities that will be used during the research project, where are they located, and how will they be accessed. 12

 Stage Two: Nomination (for selected applicants only)  In Stage Two of the process, subject areas select applicants to nominate to the NBDTP. Selected applicants work with the subject area to complete the Nomination Form. The Nomination Form an accompanying Guidance Notes will be sent to selected applicants soon after 26 January.  The Nomination stage of the process will be co-ordinated by subject areas within Schools / Departments, who will set their own deadlines for the completion of the two sections of the Nomination Form and the receipt of references. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that they forward the completed Section A of the form to their School / Department in time to enable staff in subject areas to complete Section B. Schools / Departments are responsible for submitting the Nomination Form to Sarah Rylance by 5:00pm, Wednesday, 4 th March No Nomination Forms will be accepted after the deadline. 13

 Applying for funding is very time-consuming. Unless you stand a good chance of getting a Distinction in your Master’s, it’s unlikely that you’ll be shortlisted for an AHRC doctoral studentship.  If you wish to apply for AHRC funding you must first consult the relevant subject area contact. Because the competition is so fierce, you will not be encouraged to apply unless you are in with a chance of success.  Your research proposal must be convincing and well-articulated and there should be a good ‘fit’ between your proposal and staff research expertise.  You should choose your referees carefully as they will be required to write a reference that provides detailed and evidenced comment about your achievement and potential as a postgraduate researcher. 14

 The quality of the applicant, including their past academic performance, likely future performance, and their preparedness for doctoral study in terms of relevant research skills and experience.  The quality of the research proposal, including the clarity and cogency of the research questions, awareness of relevant research in the field, the sources to be used, and the appropriateness of the proposed approach / methodology.  The coherence, importance, and viability of the proposed research, and in particular the feasibility of completion within three years.  The fit of the supervisory team, including supervisors’ subject expertise in relation to the proposed research, past success in supervising students, and any involvement in postgraduate training. In identifying supervisory teams, applicants and supervisors should consider the full spectrum of expertise available across the Consortium.  A detailed account of how the specific training and development needs of the applicant will be met.  Quality of the research environment across the Consortium, in terms of School/ Departmental research strengths, interdisciplinary research groups, clusters, Centres, Institutes, and external partnerships, as well as the ways in which the applicant will be integrated into this environment.  Nominated applicants for doctoral studentships will find out whether or not their applications have been successful on 14 April

For routine enquiries about pg funding in the School please contact Sherelle Coulson, the SELLL Postgraduate Secretary:  Staff in the School adhere to guidelines about the extent to which they may comment on draft cases for support. The initiative in funding applications must come from the applicant though you are welcome to consult staff for advice. If you have a general enquiry about the AHRC Studentship/School Bursary Award competition in SELLL, contact Sherelle Coulson in the first instance: who will direct your query to the relevant contact. 16

FUNDING HUMANITIES RESEARCH THROUGH A NORTHERN BRIDGE STUDENTSHIP

Core Idea Course Descriptor Existing Body of work Available Resources

GNM Hatton Gallery Laing Gallery Lit and PhilCity Library Robinson Library Cherryburn The Wordsworth Trust

The Bewick Society June Holmes Network of Specialists Chris Daunt Building Contacts Newcastle University Bill Herbert Sean O’Brien Birtley Aris

Proposal Project Timeline Bibliograp hy Sample Portfolio References Letters of Support Academic CV Application

 Innovative project  Geographic relevance  Appropriate supervisory team  Involvement of strategic partners  Opportunities to engage public Funding Opportunities