School of Performance and Cultural Industries (PCI) Scholarships 2025

The School of Performance and Cultural Industries is delighted to offer up to three postgraduate research scholarship opportunities commencing October 2025.<br /> <br /> Up to 3 scholarships are open to home students and/or international students. These include full PGR tuition fees (currently GBP 4,786 per year for full-time home students and GBP 23,000 for international students in 2024/2025) for 3 years. They also include a UKRI-matched stipend (currently GBP 19,237 in 2024/2025) for 3.5 years for full-time candidates, or 5 years 10 months for part-time candidates. (Only UK candidates are eligible for part-time studies).<br />

<p><strong>Thematic research areas </strong><br /> PGR proposals will need to be generated from PGR interests and expertise, and could be grounded in any disciplinary background cogent to performance and cultural industries. We welcome proposals in the following areas represented by our research groups and by the Centre for Cultural Value:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/performance-research-innovation/doc/place-research-group">Place Research Group</a></li> <li><a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/performance-research-innovation/doc/participation-research-group-1">Participation Research Group</a></li> <li><a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/performance-research-innovation/doc/digital-research-group">Digital Research Group</a></li> <li><a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/performance-research-innovation/doc/pedagogic-research-group">Pedagogic Research Group</a></li> <li><a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/performance-research-innovation/doc/centre-cultural-policy-leadership">Centre for Cultural Policy & Leadership</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.culturalvalue.org.uk/">Centre for Cultural Value</a></li> </ul> <p>In particular, we hope to receive proposals that currently engage with the following research approaches and areas, which are currently underrepresented in the School:</p> <ul> <li>Studies that aim to decentre Eurocentric approaches to performance and the cultural industries;</li> <li>Place-based approaches that closely engage with a particular national and cultural context;</li> <li>Comparative projects that involve international case studies;</li> <li>Projects that focus on the link between performance and the creative and cultural industries;</li> <li>The music industry;</li> <li>Digital applications to heritage, performance and the cultural industries.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Practice-led and participatory approaches</strong><br /> We welcome project that employ practice-led and participatory approaches from candidates who have experience with these methodologies.</p> <p><strong>Please contact the Director of PGR Studies</strong>, Dr Alice Borchi: a.borchi@leeds.ac.uk, to discuss your plans to apply.</p> <p><strong>About PCI</strong><br /> Joining the School of Performance and Cultural Industries will allow researchers to become part of an external-facing, vibrant research community as well as a member of an international, energetic and supportive cohort of post-graduate researchers. Our boundary-stretching research and impact cuts across the fields of theatre, performance and the cultural industries, representing an arc of enquiry from the individual artist to the general public via creative practitioners, producers, managers, leaders, audiences, markets and policy-makers. (<a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/performance">https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/performance</a> and search under the tab ‘people’ to identify potential supervisors). </p> <p>PhD scholarship holders will be working in an environment that has collaboration and interdisciplinarity at the centre of its ethos, alongside internationally acclaimed researchers and scholar-practitioners, externally funded research programmes and centres, and a rich network of industry partners. Most of our research activity is informed by our research groups: Place, Digital, Practice as Research, Pedagogy, Participation and Cultural Policy. (<a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/performance-research-innovation">https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/performance-research-innovation</a>)</p> <p>We also have close links with the Centre for Cultural Value (CCV <a href="https://www.culturalvalue.org.uk/">https://www.culturalvalue.org.uk/ </a>). </p> <p>We are seeking highly motivated individuals, with academic and professional experience and a willingness to contribute to the research interests of the school, to undertake fully funded doctoral research. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. For more on PCI’s strategy see here: (<a href="https://sway.cloud.microsoft/LRKn6lEUz3DE987H">https://sway.office.com/LRKn6lEUz3DE987H</a>). </p> <p><strong>Information about the Award</strong> </p> <p>Up to 3 scholarships are available to home and or/international students. These include full PGR tuition fees (currently £4,786 per year for home students and £23,000 for international students in 2024/2025) for 3 years. They also include a UKRI-matched maintenance stipend (currently £19,237 in 2024/2025) for 3.5 years for full-time candidates, or 5 years 10 months for part-time candidates. (Only UK candidates are eligible for part-time studies).</p> <p><strong>Duration of the Award</strong></p> <ul> <li>The award will cover tuition fees for 3 years for full-time study, 5 years for part-time study. </li> <li>It will also cover a UKRI-matched maintenance stipend for 3.5 years for full-time study, 5 years 10 months for part-time study. </li> <li>The award will be made for one year in the first instance and will renew each year of your programme, subject to satisfactory academic progress.</li> <li>Please note that applicants must stipulate if they intend to study full-time or part-time when submitting their PhD study application.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Other Conditions</strong></p> <ul> <li>Awards must be taken up by 1 October 2025.</li> <li>The awards are available for new Postgraduate Researchers undertaking full-time or part-time research study leading to the degree of PhD. Applicants must not have already been awarded or be currently studying for a doctoral degree.</li> <li>Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this scholarship.</li> <li>Scholarship holders are expected to contribute actively to the School of Performance and Cultural Industries’ research culture, engaging in activities such as: joining one of our research groups, acting as Postgraduate Research Representative, organising research events, etc.</li> <li>Please be aware that any expenses related to the relocation of international students to the UK (<a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/international-visas-immigration/doc/applying-student-visa">visa, insurance, NHS fees, flights, etc</a>) would be their responsibility and is not covered by this award.</li> </ul>

<p><strong>Pre-application:</strong> <br /> Please contact Director of PGR Studies Dr Alice Borchi to enquire (a.borchi@leeds.ac.uk). It is a good idea to contact the school in advance of formal application, both to identify potential supervisors and to establish the best possible proposal with some targeted development and support. We find this enables applicants to be better prepared for their research proposal, enabling better chances of success. </p> <p><strong>Brief tips for the proposal:</strong><br /> Your research proposal must include a clear rationale for the proposed study, drawing on relevant recent literature. A good proposal indicates several research questions and puts forward a robust methodology as well as includes relevant references. It should be no more than 3000 words (excluding references). This is the foundation of your application, so please do start early.   </p> <p>Please do contact the Director of PGR Studies Dr Alice Borchi in the first instance with queries or for more support on research proposals (a.borchi@leeds.ac.uk).</p> <p><strong>Stage 1 (by February 17th 2025)</strong><br /> First, apply for a research place of study, through the <a href="https://prod.banner.leeds.ac.uk/ssb/bwskalog_uol.P_DispLoginNon">online application form</a>. Please state clearly that the funding you wish to be considered for is the “School of PCI Doctoral Scholarship”. You will be expected to meet our <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/performance-research-degrees/doc/doctor-philosophy-phd-6">eligibility criteria</a> for PhD candidates.</p> <p>In order to be considered for the Scholarship you must submit all the required supporting documents for your application for PhD study, including the below. You can find all information on our <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/performance-researchdegrees/doc/apply-14">website</a>.</p> <p>•    Research proposal<br /> •    Copies of all certificates and transcript from previous/current degrees (including certified English translations where relevant)<br /> •    CV<br /> •    Two academic references<br /> •    For applicants intending to undertake practice-based research, a sample of work (on a website or other electronic format) </p> <p>Any study applications that are not accompanied by the documents requested by the deadline will not be considered for the award.</p> <p>Once you have received your student ID number (a 9-digit number) move onto stage 2.</p> <p>Between the application in stage 1 and stage 2 you may be invited for an interview to assess your planned research application with a team of senior academics. </p> <p><strong>Stage 2 (by 3rd March 2025)</strong><br /> Apply for the School of PCI Doctoral Scholarship by completing the online <a href="https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/leeds/school-of-performance-and-cultural-industries-scholarships-2025">Scholarship Application Form</a>.  You must submit your scholarship application by <strong>17h00 (5pm) on March 3rd 2025 (UK time)</strong>.</p> <ul> <li>Please note that an unsuccessful application for this scholarship does not exclude you from applying for other research study opportunities or scholarships offered by the University of Leeds. </li> <li>Please note that, due to the large volume of applications, the University of Leeds will not enter into any correspondence regarding the progress of an application until the outcome is known. </li> <li>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the minimum English language requirements (below). </li> </ul> <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. 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. </em></p>

You should hold a good undergraduate honours degree (upper second class or first class) in a related discipline. A master's degree isn’t a requirement if you have professional experience that is relevant to your PhD project. Your application, however, is seen more favourably if you have one - ideally you will have achieved a distinction or at least a merit, especially in your master's dissertation.

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study 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.

<p>For further information please contact the PGR Admissions Office at ahcpgradmissions@leeds.ac.uk or Dr Alice Borchi on A.Borchi@leeds.ac.uk.</p>