University of Leeds School of Design – Art and Design (Practice-based) Scholarship 2023

PGR-F-286

Key facts

Deadline: Monday 3 April 2023
Funding start date: Sunday 1 October 2023
Number of funding places: 1
Country eligibility: UK only
Source of funding: University of Leeds
Key staff: Dr Jeanne-Louise Moys and Dr Judith Tucker
Schools: School of Design

<h2 class="heading hide-accessible">Summary</h2>

One full scholarship is available in the School of Design in 2023/24 for practice-based research. This scholarship is open to UK applicants and covers fees plus UKRI matched maintenance stipend for 3 years. The School of Design invites applications from prospective postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2023/24 for the School of Design Doctoral Scholarship. The award is open to full-time or part-time candidates (UK only) who have been offered a place on a PhD degree at the School of Design. This fully funded PhD place provides an exciting opportunity to pursue postgraduate research on a practice-based research topic within Art and Design. We especially welcome applications that connect to the School&rsquo;s strengths in research-led practice and align with one of these four research themes: Place-based and site responsive practice research, The archive as/in practice research, Contemporary painting as research, and Contemporary drawing as research.

In the <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/design">School of Design</a>, we bring together academic research, creativity and technology to provide innovative, people-centred responses to contemporary issues in art and design. We have excellent relationships with a range of industry and community partners. We invest in advanced technologies to ensure our research is world-leading and has real-world impact. For those interested in engaging with immersive technologies, we offer standalone Android-based Virtual Reality headsets, enabling VR prototype testing and development of research and design projects. Other excellent research facilities include our eye-tracking measurement system including mobile glasses, which are used to understand how users interact with design. We also have EEG (electroencephalography) equipment to understand how users interact with the world. We have a lighting and colour lab with the latest colour measurement and communication tools to explore the role of colour in the design and retail industry and the effect of light on health and wellbeing. Research proposals for this scholarship must align with one of the following practice-led research themes: Place-based and site responsive practice research provides an exciting opportunity to identify key issues pertaining to the potential of practice research for engendering place-value based in the past, present and future of localities. Due to the current environmental ‘crisis’ there is an urgent preoccupation with landscape, place and environment in contemporary art and design practices. Landscape, place, and environment are the medium through which we often try to make sense of the world and our place in it. This has expressed itself in terms of cultural importance through both academic research and artistic innovation.  There has also been a parallel interest in the role of practice research in this area, both in communicating knowledge and opening-up different perceptions of places and creating new understandings of these within wider interdisciplinary, ecocritical, environmental, place-based research. We have expertise in sculpture, audio-visual and lens-based methodologies, painting, drawing, installation and participatory design.  This research area is a strength in the School of Design and is the home of the national place-based research network Land2. The archive as/in practice research is a major strength of the School of Design, many of our academic practice-researchers have worked with, in and from archives and collections. In addition, the University of Leeds has several archives in its own <a href="https://library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections/collection/">special collections</a>, although it is not essential to use these as a catalyst for this PhD proposal. This opportunity offers a practice-researcher the opportunity to explore how art practice as research might both explore, disrupt and reveal hidden histories within an archive or archives. Issues of what and how we remember will be key and through practice-research interventions, both creative and critical unexpected aspects of archives and narratives will be revealed. We have expertise in sculpture, audio-visual and lens-based methodologies, painting, drawing, collage, installation, graphic design and kinetic typology and there are opportunities to work skilled technical staff in VR and AR.  Contemporary painting as research has the important potential to investigate the position of contemporary painting as a research practice and can including working in the expanded field. Proposals might consider how new technologies transform our understanding of painting and how painterly practice-research explorations might include working between moving and still imagery, between the potential of digital images, virtual or augmented reality and the stubborn materiality of paint.  Research proposals for this scholarship must align with one of the following research themes within practice-led research: this practice-research project will be locate painting theoretically through practice, and to consider painting as an arena for enquiry and as a context for discussion. This research area is a strength in the School of Design, there are opportunities to work with academics and skilled technical staff in VR and AR.   Contemporary drawing as research offers the opportunity to push the boundaries of what drawing as research can offer and can include working in the expanded field to include performance. Proposals might consider how new digital technologies transform our understanding of drawing and should use drawing practice as a site of inquiry, reflection, and invention, and as theoretical activity in order to open up our understanding of what drawing can offer. The principal aim of any proposal should be to consider drawing as an act of perception, as a paradoxical practice and to consider drawing as an arena for enquiry and as a context for discussion. This research area is a strength in the School of Design, there are opportunities to work with academics and skilled technical staff in VR and AR. For more information about the School of Design’s expertise in Practice as Research, please see <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/practice-research/doc/practice-as-research">here</a>. All applicants are encouraged to contact one of the following potential supervisors for a preliminary discussion about their proposal ahead of submitting their application: <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/design/staff/203/dr-eirini-boukla">Dr Eirini Boukla</a>, <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/design/staff/276/deborah-gardner">Dr Deborah Gardner</a>, <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/design/staff/329/dr-kevin-laycock">Dr Kevin Laycock</a>, <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/design/staff/483/dr-andrea-thoma">Dr Andrea Thoma</a>, <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/design/staff/495/dr-judith-tucker-">Dr Judith Tucker</a>, <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/design/staff/523/louise-wilson">Dr Louise Wilson</a>, <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/design/staff/522/paul-wilson">Dr Paul Wilson</a>. You can find out more about individual staff expertise <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/design/stafflist">here</a>. Information about the Award <ul> <li>We are offering 1 full-time/ part-time PHD scholarship in the School of Design for one UK candidate, covering matching UKRI maintenance stipend (currently £17,668 in 2022/23) and UK tuition fees for three years, subject to satisfactory progress. </li> </ul> Duration of the Award <ul> <li>Full-time (3 years) or 5 years (part time). The award will be made for one year in the first instance and renewable for a further period of up to two years (full time) or 4 years (part time), subject to satisfactory academic progress.</li> </ul> Other Conditions <ul> <li>Applicants must not have already been awarded or be currently studying for a doctoral degree.</li> <li>Awards must be taken up by 1st October 2023.</li> <li>Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this scholarship.</li> </ul>

<h2 class="heading">How to apply</h2>

Stage 1 First, apply for a research place of study, through the <a href="https://studentservices.leeds.ac.uk/pls/banprod/bwskalog_uol.P_DispLoginNon">online application form.</a> Please state clearly that the funding you wish to be considered for is “School of Design – Art and Design (practice-based) Scholarship 2023”. You will be expected to meet our <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/design-research-degrees/doc/apply-9">eligibility criteria </a>for PHD candidates. In order to be considered for the Studentship you must submit all the required supporting documents for your application for PhD study together with a research proposal, CV and a personal statement including link to website(s) showing samples of your practice. Your research proposal should outline the following in relation to one of the topic areas above: <ul> <li>Research context to include awareness of current knowledge and debates – explain where there is a gap in current understanding and how your original research can push knowledge forward</li> <li>Research questions and aims and objectives</li> <li>Methodology</li> <li>Expected Outcomes </li> <li>Timeline of research</li> <li>Bibliography</li> </ul> Your personal statement should: <ul> <li>Demonstrate expertise gained from previous study, practice, or employment. </li> <li>Include links to websites with your work.</li> </ul> Once you have received your student ID number (a 9-digit number) move onto stage 2. Stage 2 Apply for “The School of Design – Art and Design (practice-based) Scholarship 2023” by completing the <a href="https://leeds.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/school-of-design-scholarship-2023-art-and-design-practi">Scholarship Application Form</a>. You must submit your scholarship application by 12.00 p.m. on Monday 3rd April 2023. If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below). As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Within the we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+; and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.

<h2 class="heading heading--sm">Entry requirements</h2>

Applicants to this scholarship in the School of Design should normally have a First class Undergraduate degree (or international equivalent) AND/ OR a Distinction (or predicted Distinction) in their Masters degree (both in an appropriate discipline). Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.

<h2 class="heading heading--sm">English language requirements</h2>

The minimum English language entry requirement for postgraduate research study in the School of Design is an IELTS of 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid.

<h2 class="heading">Contact details</h2>

For further information please contact the <a href="mailto:ahcpgradmissions@leeds.ac.uk">Graduate School Admissions Office</a>

<h2 class="heading heading--sm">Linked research areas</h2>