Col Needham PhD Scholarship in Film Studies (Leeds Animation Workshop)

Applications are welcomed to the University of Leeds for the Col Needham PhD Scholarship in Film Studies for study commencing October 2023. <br /> <br /> Col Needham, founder of the Internet Movie Database (http://www.imdb.com/) and University of Leeds alumnus, has generously match-funded a PhD scholarship for research pertaining to the Leeds Animation Workshop. The scholarship will comprise fees at the Home rate and maintenance equivalent to the UKRI rate (GBP 17,668 in 2022/23). The successful applicant will be co-supervised by the School of Media and Communication Studies and the University of Leeds Special Collections.

<p>Leeds Animation Workshop (LAW), set up in 1978, is a women&rsquo;s collective producing and distributing short animated documentaries on social, health and educational issues. Subjects include childcare, violence against women, bereavement, child protection, parenting and relationships, gender and equal opportunities, bullying and homelessness. The still active Workshop has an extensive collection of film materials and related documentation dating from the 1970s. In 2021 it was decided to place the materials for safe keeping in the University of Leeds Special Collections, and these have now been catalogued and are open for research.&nbsp;</p> <p>The LAW archive is a unique record of a collective independent filmmaking organisation with national and international reach. It is an essential reference point for exploring intersections between feminist activism, creative practice and public health and social information. The collection contains a wealth of material documenting the process of animation and filmmaking, including research material, planning documents and correspondence, alongside sketches, animation cels and paper cutouts. There are business records of minutes, journals, invoice books and accounts, and LAW&rsquo;s fundraising activities are thoroughly documented. &nbsp;</p> <p>Candidates are advised to consult Sarah Prescott, Literary Archivist for further details concerning the LAW archive (<a href="mailto:S.L.Prescott@leeds.ac.uk">S.L.Prescott@leeds.ac.uk</a>)&nbsp;</p> <p>The range and scope of the LAW archive offers researchers a number of pathways through the collection and candidates are encouraged to set out a proposed topic in their application. We particularly encourage candidates to submit proposals, which address one or more of the following topics: film histories; animation histories; aesthetics; feminism/political and activist filmmaking; independent film-making; community engagement; public health/health education and films; digital humanities.&nbsp;</p> <p>If you are interested, please contact Professor Melanie Bell (<a href="mailto:M.J.Bell@leeds.ac.uk">M.J.Bell@leeds.ac.uk</a>), Professor of Film History in the first instance to discuss your project and for guidance on making an application. You might also like to contact Professor Yvonne Tasker (<a href="mailto:Y.Tasker@leeds.ac.uk">Y.Tasker@leeds.ac.uk</a>), School of Media and Communication and Sarah Prescott, Special Collections (<a href="mailto:S.L.Prescott@leeds.ac.uk">S.L.Prescott@leeds.ac.uk)</a>.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Information about the Award&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>We are offering 1 full-time/ part-time PHD scholarship in the School of Media and Communication for one UK candidate, covering a maintenance grant matching the UKRI maintenance stipend (currently &pound;17,668 in 2022/23) and UK tuition fees for three years, subject to satisfactory progress.</p> <p><strong>Duration of the Award&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>Full-time (3 years or part time (5 years). The award will be made for one year in the first instance and renewable for a further period of up to two years (4 years on a part time basis), subject to satisfactory academic progress.</p> <p><strong>Other Conditions&nbsp;</strong></p> <ul> <li>Applicants must not have already been awarded or be currently studying for a doctoral degree.&nbsp;</li> <li>Awards must be taken up by 1^st October 2023.&nbsp;</li> <li>Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this scholarship.&nbsp;</li> </ul>

<p paraeid="{76678e8a-5753-4627-8281-4820815822ff}{29}" paraid="434518232"><strong><u>Stage 1&nbsp;</u></strong></p> <p paraeid="{76678e8a-5753-4627-8281-4820815822ff}{39}" paraid="1351131918">First, apply for a research place of study, through the&nbsp;<a href="https://studentservices.leeds.ac.uk/pls/banprod/bwskalog_uol.P_DispLoginNon" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">online application form.</a>&nbsp;Please state clearly that the funding you wish to be considered for is &ldquo;Col Needham PhD Scholarship in Film Studies (Leeds Animation Workshop)&rdquo;. You will be expected to meet our&nbsp;<a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/media-research-degrees/doc/apply-13" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">eligibility criteria</a>&nbsp;for PHD candidates and submit all the required supporting documents for your application for PhD study.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p paraeid="{76678e8a-5753-4627-8281-4820815822ff}{79}" paraid="746542248">Once you have received your student ID number (a 9-digit number) move onto stage 2.&nbsp;</p> <p paraeid="{76678e8a-5753-4627-8281-4820815822ff}{89}" paraid="1603518846"><strong><u>Stage 2</u>&nbsp;</strong></p> <p paraeid="{76678e8a-5753-4627-8281-4820815822ff}{99}" paraid="1939158124">Apply for the Col Needham PhD Scholarship in Film Studies (Leeds Animation Workshop) by completing the <a href="https://leeds.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/col-needham-phd-scholarship-in-film-studies-leeds-animati-2">Scholarship Application Form</a>. You must submit your scholarship application by <strong>17:00 p.m. on Friday 5th May 2023.&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University&#39;s minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p><em>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. Across all Faculties 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.</em></p>

Applicants to this scholarship in the School of Media and Communication should normally have a good upper second or First class Undergraduate degree (or international equivalent) and have achieved (or expect to achieve) a good Masters degree (Merit or Distinction) in a relevant subject area. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the Admissions Office prior to making an application.

The minimum English language entry requirement for postgraduate research study in the School of Media and Communication is an IELTS of 6.5 overall with at least 6.5 in the writing component and no less than 6.0 in the other components (reading, 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.

<p>For further information please contact the Graduate School Admissions Office e:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:EMAIL@leeds.ac.uk">A</a><a href="mailto:AHCPGRAdmissions@leeds.ac.uk">HCPGRAdmissions@leeds.ac.uk</a>&nbsp;</p>