MPhil/PhD studentship in Linguistics and Popular Culture

Investing in excellence: studentship opportunities

The University of Derby has an opportunity for a full-time postgraduate research studentship in Creative and Cultural Industries area of research in the College of Arts, Humanities and Education.

The successful applicant will receive a maintenance stipend (based on the minimum stipend defined by UKRI, currently £18,622 for the academic year 2023/24) and home MPhil/PhD tuition fees (£4,712 - subject to amendment) only up to the target submission date.

The intended intake period is March 2024.

Please note: this opportunity is only open to home/UK students due to CAS and visa processing restrictions related to the start date.

The successful applicant will be expected to complete their MPhil/PhD within 3 years on the MPhil/PhD route, contribute to the College REF submission and get involved in the wider research activities of the College.

Applicants will become part of a friendly and welcoming team and will be supported and managed by their supervisors.

The vacancy details are as follows:

Project objectives

PhD Studentship in Linguistics and Popular Culture.

Project description

The University of Derby is offering a fully funded PhD studentship (to start in March 2024) in linguistics which links popular culture to folklinguistics or language attitudes. The study can focus on any variety of English. The successful applicant will be based in the School of Humanities and Journalism and be supervised by Dr Cara Penry Williams and Dr Simon Philo.

Interested applicants will have a strong background in English language, linguistics or applied linguistics. Applications need to include a 1,000 word research proposal detailing the proposed project.

Potential project impact

The research undertaken via the scholarship will contribute to the broader research agenda of the Creative and Cultural Industries Academic Theme at the University of Derby, and offers an exciting opportunity to engage with a diverse and active interdisciplinary research team within the Creative and Cultural Industries.

Principal accountabilities and responsibilities

The studentship will result in papers co-authored with supervisors, combining elements of the successful candidate’s work and their own (mentoring the student’s early publishing experiences).

The applicant awarded the studentship will be encouraged to present at first national and then international conferences as part of her/his/their learning and gaining (further) research experience. This will be funded by (competitive application to) the University’s PGR Development Fund.

To apply 

Please review our entry requirements before submitting your application and check out the 'Getting Started' section below.

Completed applications should be submitted via our online application system quoting funding reference: AHE_PGRS_LINGUISTICS_MAR23

Closing dates for applications: 5pm, Wednesday 3 January 2024.*

*(Please note, we encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close before 3 January 2024 if a high volume of applications is received.)  

Interviews: 23 to 25 January 2024. 

If you have not been invited for an interview by the interview date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.  

For other enquiries which are subject-specific please contact:

• Dr Cara Penry Williams (c.penrywilliams@derby.ac.uk)
• Dr Simon Philo (s.philo@derby.ac.uk)

Find out more about our Creative and Cultural Industries.

Apply for this SE studentship post

Getting started

Before you begin your application, make sure you have:

Studentship funding reference code

This is provided on the individual studentship advert and must be specified in your application.

Personal statement

A 500-word personal statement outlining your suitability for the studentship project. This is a mandatory requirement and you must upload it into your application. You should include your reasons for applying for the studentship, your experience in the field, how you feel you would benefit from studying and relevant information about your previous studies.

Your CV

A CV outlining your academic and professional experience.

Qualifications

Your qualification details including grades and dates taken. You will have the opportunity to upload scanned copies of your qualification certificates and transcripts in the application. If you have no formal qualifications, you can also state this in your application.

Passport/birth certificate

A scanned copy of your passport or full birth certificate. This will help us verify your application to study with us.

Academic references

Two signed academic references. This is optional at application stage but highly encouraged. If successful in your application, two academic references will be a mandatory requirement of admission. The references should be in written format, signed and dated from either a supervisor or tutor from your most recent studies.