Area Studies are key avenues of research in social sciences that focus on the specialised understanding of specific places (whether regions within a country, a particular country or group of countries, or indeed global regions). Area Studies will often use case studies or undertake comparative analyses. It is not restricted to a particular method; some studies will fit within a particular discipline (such as Political Science, Cultural Studies, History or Sociology), others will draw upon different disciplines. The Area Studies training pathway is offered at Aston University, the University of Nottingham and the University of Birmingham. Aston, Birmingham and Nottingham excel in the study of the following regions: European Studies (Aston); Russian and East European Studies and American and Canadian Studies (Nottingham), and Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies and African Studies (Birmingham).

Area Studies at Aston

Area Studies at Aston has a deep expertise across a range of countries and regions, embedding impact as well as public engagement in research, with regular collaborations with think-tanks, political parties and government departments. Our expertise on Europe covers a wide range of European Union (EU) policy areas and the domestic politics of many European countries (within the Aston Centre for Europe, one of the UK’s leading centres of expertise on European politics and policy-making). Outside of Europe, our emerging area of focus is Asia and Europe-Asia relations. Our disciplinary sub-fields include migration and refugees (work conducted within the Aston Centre for Migration and Forced Displacement), foreign aid and development, federalism and decentralization, critical security studies, religion and politics, gender, political populism, interest groups, social democracy, political parties, international organisations, and foreign policy. Our scholars employ a wide range of methodological tools, including qualitative techniques such as interviewing, ethnography, rhetorical analysis, and text analysis; as well as quantitative methods, especially multi-level, panel and cross-sectional regression analysis. Our combined research income for the REF2021 was £1,057,093, with grants secured from a wider range of funders, including the ESRC/AHRC, the Leverhulme Trust and the European Commission.

Core and advanced research training at Aston

At Aston University, within European Studies (Area Studies), the core and advanced research training includes: a 20 credit module on ‘Europe and the World’ and a 20 credit module on ‘Research Methods in European Studies’. These modules draw on the interdisciplinary strengths and public policy engagement of the Aston Centre for Europe. Students studying the Masters in Social Science Research as part of a 1+3 award will be required to undertake the ESRC core training modules on ‘Philosophy of Social Science’, ‘Foundations in Qualitative Research’, ‘Research Design, Practice and Ethics’, and ‘Fundamentals in Quantitative Research’. Students will also be able to take a 20 credit module in Arabic, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese or Spanish. The modules are year-long and taught on a weekly basis, developing the academic and professional skills of doctoral students on the politics, history, culture and religion in Europe.

Application

For details on ‘How to apply’ to the Aston University Area Studies pathway please visit the School of Social Sciences and Humanities PhD webpage.

Once you have submitted your research degree application, please ensure you read the Guidance Notes for Midlands Graduate School ESRC DTP applicants before applying for DTP funding. These Guidance Notes contain detailed information regarding which structure of provision you should apply for.

Applicants in European Studies interested in applying for MGS funding should contact Dr Patrycja Rozbicka (p.rozbicka@aston.ac.uk) as soon as possible before 1 December for entry in October of the following year (we cannot consider any enquiries or expressions of interest after that date). Please send your CV, a one-page note on your preparation and motivation to conduct research to PhD level on a topic in European Studies, using social science methods, and a one-page outline of your proposed research topic. We can advise on your eligibility and the fit of your proposed research with our interests and expertise.

As this studentship is funded by the ESRC, your proposed research project must principally employ social science methods. For further guidance on disciplinary remit, see this page. If you have concerns about the ‘fit’ of your project with the ESRC remit, you may use the query form on that page.

Aston University Pathway Contact: Dr Patricia Correa Vila, p.correa-vila@aston.ac.uk

Quick Links

Aston University PhD Information SSH page

Aston University MGSDTP Page

Aston Centre for Europe

Aston Centre for Migration and Forced Displacement

Politics, History and International Relations

X/Twitter: @Aston_PIR, @Aston_ACE