About

The Wheeler History of Travel Writing Programme has been made possible through the generous donation of Warwick alumnus and co-founder of Lonely Planet, Tony Wheeler.

Starting out as a journalist at the Warwick student newspaper, Tony Wheeler graduated from the University with a BSc in Engineering Science, 1969 and later received an Honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) from the University of Warwick and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. His transformative adventure along the 'hippie trail' in early 1970s Asia inspired him to pen the inaugural Lonely Planet guide and led him to be distinguished as ‘the patron saint of backpackers and adventure enthusiasts’ by The New York Times. Following the sale of Lonely Planet, he has been actively involved with the Planet Wheeler Foundation's initiatives in Southeast Asia and East Africa. He has also played a pivotal role in establishing the Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing & Ideas, contributing to Melbourne's UNESCO City of Literature status.

Over five years (2024-29), the Wheeler programme will offer four fully-funded PhD studentships. In addition, support will be available for undergraduate field-trips, conferences, research travel, and internships to help students at all levels explore their interests in the history of travel. The programme will be based in Warwick’s Global History and Culture Centre (GHCC).

PhD Programme

The PhD programme seeks to attract talented researchers whose projects may focus on any period or region of the world. Applicants are expected to show that their project is primarily historical in nature, engaging with travel and travel writing as a historical practice and/or source for historical research. Candidates who adopt a global historical perspective and have the ability to work with sources in more than one language are particularly encouraged to apply.

We welcome projects that engage with the history of travel and travel writing from a variety of perspectives and disciplinary approaches, including global history, the history of science and technology, environmental history, histories of race and empire, gender history, the history of material culture, and postcolonial studies.

For more information and how to apply, see the department's PGR pages.