Postgraduate Funding
Funding opportunities for postgraduate study are advertised throughout the year.
The School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics invites applications for a fully funded PhD studentship within the area of comparative Romance syntax and semantics. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape their own research project on Romance causative and perception verbs within the general scope of a wider externally funded project. This research will be supervised by Professor Michelle Sheehan (Newcastle University) and Professor Rob Truswell (University of Edinburgh) and is expected to tie in with the work they are conducting on a Leverhulme Research Project Grant along with Professor Adam Ledgeway (University of Cambridge) and Professor Sonia Cyrino (State University of Campinas).
Applicants will be expected to design their own programme of research focusing on the syntax/semantics of causation and/or perception in relation to at least two Romance varieties. We particularly welcome applications to work on languages/dialects which will increase our coverage of lesser studied Romance varieties such as Romanian and non-European French or Spanish. It will be possible to develop new language expertise but a familiarity with or previous experience of collecting online acceptability judgements and/or using linguistic corpora to carry out quantitative analyses would be an advantage. Statistical analysis of results using R will be required and training will be provided for this purpose.
An MA/MSc-level qualification in linguistics with a specialisation in syntax and/or semantics is essential, as is expertise in at least one modern Romance language and an interest in studying the syntax and semantics of further Romance varieties.
The successful applicant will join a dynamic research team involving the researchers listed above in addition to two 3-year post-doctoral Research Assistants soon to be appointed on the project. They will be based in a thriving School with an energetic, creative, and well-resourced research culture that includes the weekly online Romance Linguistics Circle (co-organised with University of Cambridge) and hybrid linguistics research seminars, the fortnightly in-person syntax reading group, and the regional North East Syntax Seminar (NESS).
Applications should be submitted through the Newcastle University online portal, quoting ‘Leverhulme/SELLL’ under ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’. Your submission should include:
- a brief CV of no more than 2 pages
- a research proposal of no more than 1000 words for a project meeting the above specifications,
- a personal statement setting out how past qualifications and experience have equipped you with the skills and knowledge base to undertake your proposed project,
- the contact details for two referees.
The deadline for submitting applications is 28th March 2024.
The successful applicant is expected to start in September 2024. The studentship will cover annual home tuition fees and comes with a stipend of approximately £19,162 (the proposed UKRI level, which is yet to be confirmed for 2024/5).
Please note that only home student tuition fees will be covered by the studentship.
For informal inquiries, please contact Professor Michelle Sheehan.
Interviews for the position will be held in April 2024.
School Masters Scholarships
The School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics is seeking outstanding applicants for scholarships on our Masters programmes in Literature, English Language, Linguistics and Creative Writing. We are offering several bursaries worth up to £2,500 towards the cost of postgraduate study.
Scholarships will be awarded on a competitive basis to applicants who, at the time the application for the Scholarship is submitted, have completed an application on the admissions portal for 2024/25 entry on one of the following Masters programmes in the School:
- MA in Creative Writing
- MA in Writing Poetry
- MA in Linguistics
- MLitt (Master’s by Research) in English Literature
- MLitt in English Language
- MLitt in Linguistics
Applicants should have achieved, or be predicted to achieve, a first-class or 2.1 undergraduate degree or, where relevant, a lower qualification with professional practice that provides equivalent academic and research skills. Applicants are expected to outline why Newcastle University is the best place to undertake Postgraduate study and how Masters level study will lead to doctoral study or support their future career aspirations.
Successful applicants will join our thriving School in which the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 placed our research in English Literature and Creative Writing 1st in the UK (Times Higher Education) and our research in Modern Languages and Linguistics 7th in the UK (Times Higher Education).
We have an energetic, creative and well-resourced postgraduate community within the School, and we hope successful applicants would contribute to this culture via participation in the Postgraduate Community and Culture Group. Award holders will benefit from expert teaching and supervision. They will have the opportunity to work within the University Library’s Special Collections, with the wide range of linguistic corpora created by the School and with our partner organizations.
(If you intend to apply for a Masters Scholarship to study Creative Writing or Poetry, please be aware that the creative portfolio you included in your application for the MA programme will be used to inform a decision on your Scholarship application. You are also encouraged to get in touch with the Degree Programme Director, Professor Jacob Polley, to discuss your Scholarship application: jake.polley@newcastle.ac.uk)
Shortlisted applicants may be interviewed, with all successful and unsuccessful applicants notified by the end of June 2024.
General enquiries: Scott Burdon
Eligibility criteria & application guidelines: Criteria and Guidelines - September 2024 Starters
Deadline for applications: 7th June 2024, 5pm.
Newcastle University is seeking outstanding MA Writing Poetry applicants for a scholarship award for September 2024 entry worth £10,800 (full fees).
Scholarships will be awarded on a competitive basis to applicants who, at the time the application for the Scholarship is submitted, have completed an application on the admissions portal for 2024/25 entry on the MA Writing Poetry (either London (4155P) or Newcastle (4154P)).
This accredited MA uniquely combines masterclasses, workshops and individual teaching with a core footing in the professional poetry world, encompassing all aspects of creative practice. There is expert tuition from nationally and internationally renowned poets: Glyn Maxwell and Meryl Pugh (London); Tara Bergin, W.N. Herbert, Sinéad Morrissey and Jacob Polley (Newcastle). Students come together for a one-week summer school in July, alternating between Newcastle and London each year.
Applicants should have an achieved or predicted first-class or high 2.1 undergraduate degree or, where relevant, a lower qualification with professional practice that provides equivalent academic and research skills.
General enquiries should be directed to Melanie Birch (Newcastle) or Tessa Foley (London)
For further information please read the WP Criteria and Guidelines - September 2024 Starters
The deadline for applications is 7 June 2024, by 5pm.
The Northern Bridge Consortium is a Doctoral Training Partnership funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
It brings together the cutting-edge expertise and exceptional resources of Durham University, Newcastle University, Northumbria University, Queen’s University Belfast, Sunderland University, Teesside University and Ulster University and their strategic partners.
They offer up to 67 fully funded studentships per year to outstanding postgraduate researchers across the full range of Arts and Humanities subjects, including Creative Practice disciplines.
Northern Bridge students benefit from supervision, training and development of the highest quality, tailored to the needs of 21st-century researchers.
The School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics seek outstanding applicants for studentships on our PhD programmes in Literature, Creative Writing or Linguistics.
We invite applications in any area of literary study, from medieval literature to contemporary culture, as well as in a number of areas of Linguistics. We offer a world-leading research environment for doctoral projects in:
- American and African American Literature
- Children's Literature
- Creative Writing (poetry, prose or script)
- 18th Century and Romantic Studies
- Language Acquisition
- Language Variation and Change
- Modern and Contemporary Literature and Culture
- Postcolonial Literature
- Renaissance and Early Modern Literature and Culture
- Syntax, Phonology, Morphology
- Theatre Studies
- Victorian Literature
We also invite student-led applications for Collaborative Doctoral Awards with our partner organisations.
We value equality and diversity and strongly encourage applications from under-represented groups.
The competition for September 2024 entry is now OPEN.
Northern Bridge Doctoral Training Partnership (NBDTP).
Prospective Northern Bridge applicants should discuss their applications with the appropriate academic contact in their subject area:
- English Language and Literature: Robbie McLaughlan
- Creative Writing: Sinead Morrissey
- Drama and Theatre Studies: Emma Whipday
- Linguistics: Niamh Kelly
General queries should be directed to Scott Burdon
There are also opportunities for Linguistics applicants via the ESRC funded NINE Doctoral Training Partnership
The Northern Ireland and North East Doctoral Training Partnership (NINE DTP) is an exciting collaborative enterprise between seven Universities across Northern Ireland and the North East of England. Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), with support from the Department for the Economy Northern Ireland (DfENI), they provide outstanding students with fantastic opportunities to conduct their Doctoral studies and develop core research skills in an exciting and creative environment.
Each year, they award in excess of 50 studentships to exceptional social scientists across the seven partner Universities, providing funding to support Doctoral studies on three year (PhD), three-and-a-half year (PhD with Research Methods) or four year (Masters and PhD) programmes.
They are committed to working with award-holders, partners and collaborators to deliver an innovative and engaging experience, allowing students to deliver real-world impact whilst developing into the next generation of social scientists.
The School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics seeks outstanding applicants for studentships on our PhD programmes in Linguistics.
We offer a world-leading research environment for doctoral projects in:
- Language Acquisition, Bilingualism and Psycholinguistics
- Language Variation and Change
- Syntax, Phonology, Morphology
Find out more about our staff research areas.
The competition for September 2024 entry is now OPEN.
NINE Doctoral Training Partnership.
Prospective NINE applicants should discuss their applications with Niamh Kelly.