The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) has announced that The University of Warwick along with six other higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Midlands, will receive Doctoral Landscape Awards.

These prestigious funding awards, which reflect the HEIs’ successes in Arts and Humanities research and research supervision, are for scholarships for arts and humanities doctoral study.

The Universities of Warwick, Leicester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Birmingham City University, DeMontfort University and Coventry University, have all secured Doctoral Landscape Awards, enabling these leading Midlands institutions to continue to build on the thriving relationship and collaborative community of doctoral students producing world-class arts and humanities research.

Professor Rachel Moseley, Vice Provost and Chair of Faculty of Arts, said: "The University of Warwick is delighted to receive AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards, which will help us to keep attracting the best home and international students across the arts and humanities. We look forward to future announcements about Doctoral Focal Awards, and will continue to support AHRC-remit disciplines, not least by building new collaborations with external partners."

Only 50 universities across the UK have received the funding which has been allocated through a formula-based approach. Each institutional award will support 15 full-time PhD students, with studentships starting in October 2026 – three per year, over a five-year period – and will contribute towards the AHRC’s three-fold strategy for post-graduate research funding, alongside Collaborative Doctoral Partnerships and Doctoral Focal Awards.

All institutions receiving Doctoral Landscape Awards will be part of an AHRC-supported regional Hub.

Professor David Lambert, the Director of the Centre for Arts Doctoral Research Excellence, will be leading the new Midlands Hub at Warwick. He said, "I am really pleased that Warwick will remain at the heart of the relationships we have built as part of Midlands4Cities, as we continue to collaborate in supporting our PhD students, share best practice and work with external partners in the region and beyond."

AHRC Executive Chair Professor Christopher Smith, said: “The AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards provide flexible funding to allow universities to build on existing excellence in research and opportunities for innovation across the arts and humanities. They will support the development of talented people and, alongside our other doctoral schemes, contribute to a vibrant, diverse and internationally-attractive research and innovation system.”

Find out more about The University of Warwick’s Centre for Arts Doctoral Research Excellent here: Faculty of Arts DTC (CADRE)

ENDS

For further information contact:
Helen Annetts
Media & Communications Officer (Press Office)
Helen.Annetts@Warwick.ac.uk / 07779 026720

University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is one of the UK’s leading universities, marking its 60th anniversary in 2025. With over twenty-eight thousand students from 147 countries, it's currently ranked 9th in the UK by The Guardian University Guide. It has an acknowledged reputation for excellence in research and teaching, for innovation, and for links with business and industry. The recent Research Excellence Framework classed 92% of its research as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. The University of Warwick was awarded Midlands University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times.

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funds world-class, independent research in subjects from philosophy and the creative industries, to art conservation and product design.

AHRC research addresses some of society’s biggest challenges, such as tackling modern slavery, exploring the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, and understanding what it is to be human. See the full range of AHRC research here: remit, programmes and priorities page.

Meet Tanisha Bhatara (BA, English Literature, 2022; MSc, Management, 2024), a distinguished alumna. Her journey at Warwick, shaped by her A-level experiences, and several leaps of faith, led her from English studies to Business. Guided by mentors, she explored new fields and is now on a graduation scheme with EY UKI (Ernst & Young Global Limited UK and Ireland) Assurance Graduate Programme to become a qualified accountant. Discover how Tanisha embraced Warwick’s opportunities, gaining a comprehensive education that prepared her for life beyond academics.

The University of Warwick has launched a new multi subject work experience programme to inspire the next generation of engineers and artists.

The programme welcomed 80 Year 10 students across multiple disciplines for a week long programme, collaborating to design innovative projects from festivals to factory systems.

The programme was launched by The University of Warwick’s Widening Participation team, alongside Warwick Manufacturing Group Outreach, the Faculty of Arts, and Warwick Arts Centre.

Dear Colleagues,

I want to let you know that Diana Stonefield, Faculty of Arts Director of Administration, will be retiring and leaving the University at the end of September 2024. Her last working day will be September 17th.

I know everyone will want to join me in offering Diana our heartfelt thanks for all of the incredible work she has done since she arrived at Warwick in 2016. Diana worked closely with Professor Penny Roberts, our previous Vice-Provost and Chair of Faculty, to bring the FAB project to successful completion and was instrumental in the mammoth task of bringing us into the building. She was also central to bringing the Arts community through the Covid pandemic and other challenges we have encountered over the last few years.

She has been an amazing support to me as I’ve come into this role and I shall miss her collegiality, pragmatic counsel and good humour very much. Please do join me in wishing her the happiest of retirements and sending her our fondest thoughts for the next phase!

With best wishes,

Rachel

Professor Rachel Moseley

Vice Provost and Chair, Faculty of Arts

Christine works as a gallery tour guide, librarian and researcher at Compton Verney Art Gallery, They draw on inspiration from their enriching experience as a mature student at Warwick.

A previously unknown portrait of a noblewoman known as ‘England’s lost queen’ has been discovered by art historians Elizabeth Goldring, of the University of Warwick’s Centre for the Study of the Renaissance, and Emma Rutherford.

On Tuesday 21 May, we brought together staff and student members of our community for the Inclusive Education in the Arts Conference 2024! Our 20 presenters – both those in the room, and asynchronous video presenters – showcased those areas where the Faculty is leading in inclusive education, highlighting more examples of positive inclusive practice in the Arts and asking where we can go next.

David Curwen (BA History 1985) was inspired during his time at Warwick to pursue a career in Law. He is now devoted to helping people who struggle with legal problems to help make a positive impact on their lives.

The Arts Faculty is holding an undergraduate elective choice module fair on Tuesday, 30^th April 2024 from 13.00 – 16.00 in the FAB on the ground floor and on the mezzanine.

The fair is aimed at first year and second year UG students choosing their elective modules for the following year.

Representatives will be present from across our Arts departments and disciplines: Classics & Ancient History, Cultural Media Policy Studies, Design Studies, English & Comparative Literary Studies, Film & Television Studies, Global Sustainable Development, History, History of Art, Liberal Arts, Modern Languages and the Language Centre, Theatre and Performance Studies, Warwick Writing Programme.

Also present will be representatives from IATL, WIISP, Warwick Business School’s Gateway to Business, School of Law, SELCs – Teaching Education and Education Studies, Warwick Award, Student Opportunity plus the Arts Study Café and the Digital Arts and Humanities Lab.

Anita Chagar (BA English Literature, 2015), Samita Sall (BA History, 2018) and Kerry Flora (BA French with Spanish, 2022) are all cousins and Warwick alumnae. We caught up with them to talk to them about their time on campus, their favourite memories from their time here and what they’re doing now.