NWCDTP funded studentships

The Dance, Drama and Performing Arts Pathway of the Northwest Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NWCDTP) is pleased to invite applications from prospective PhD candidates for AHRC-funded studentships for September 2025 entry. More information here.

NWCDTP PARTNERS

Lancaster University
Manchester Metropolitan University
University of Manchester
University of Salford

Staff at these partner universities employ a wide range of methodologies to support an enviable range of PhD topics at the cutting edge of drama, dance, theatre and performance research.

To apply for an award, candidates must have applied for a place on a programme at ONE of the seven NWCDTP institutions by Monday 13 January 2025 – Please note some institutions may have earlier deadlines, please check with your local administrator before applying’

Applications for a NWCDTP studentship must be submitted to the chosen institution Monday by 3 February 2025.

Using the guidance below and appropriate web research, first identify the NWCDTP partner institution(s) most appropriate for your proposed project, and then contact the relevant pathway representative as soon as possible. They will help you develop your proposal prior to formal application.

Lancaster University
Pathway representative: Nigel Stewart – n.stewart@lancaster.ac.uk<mailto:n.stewart@lancaster.ac.uk>.
Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts (LICA) has excellent practical resources and technical support. We have expertise in supervising written and practice-based PhD research into applied and socially engaged theatre, contemporary dance and physical theatre, site-specific and environmental performance, intermedial theatre and new scenographies, political theatre, popular performance, postdramatic theatre, and cross-disciplinary projects.

Manchester Metropolitan University
Pathway representative: Dr. Josh Edelman – j.edelman@mmu.ac.uk<mailto:j.edelman@mmu.ac.uk>.
MMU’s performance work is practical and interdisciplinary. We have excellent studio facilities of our own and shared with our visual and digital art colleagues. Specialties include the politics of spectating, the public sphere, scoring and devising, Third Theatre, performance archives, performance and religion, curation, and more.

University of Manchester
Pathway representative: Prof. Stephen Scott-Bottoms – stephen.bottoms@manchester.ac.uk<mailto:stephen.bottoms@manchester.ac.uk>.
The Drama Department at Manchester is recognised for leading research in areas including applied and social-engaged theatre, theatre histories, contemporary playwriting and dramaturgy, performance studies, performance curation/archiving, refugee theatres and community arts, street theatres, site-specific and environmental performance, care aesthetics.

University of Salford
Pathway representative: Dr. Kelli Zezulka – K.L.Zezulka@salford.ac.uk<mailto:K.L.Zezulka@salford.ac.uk>.
We welcome research proposals in the following areas: scenography, motion capture, offstage and backstage labour, applied and socially engaged theatre practices, crime, horror and the Gothic in performance, contemporary performance and postdramatic theatre, theatre directing, interdisciplinary dramaturgy, eco-performance. We particularly welcome practice-based and practice-led research projects.

RING FENCED STUDENTSHIPS

The NWCDTP is committed to equality of opportunity and working to ensure our cohort of postgraduate researchers reflects the diverse community we serve. We have introduced a range of positive measures to assist in achieving these commitments, recognising in particular that postgraduate researchers from Global Majority, Disabled, and Socioeconomically Unequal communities are currently underrepresented on our programmes and across the UK university sector. The introduction of these measures follows a review of our recruitment processes and forms part of a three-year plan we have developed to achieve greater diversity and better equality outcomes.

In 2025/26, we will recruit directly to the following Named Studentships:

Global Majority or Global Majority heritage studentship – recognising that our PGR cohort does not reflect the diversity of the UK population, this studentship is open to a Global Majority or Global Majority heritage candidate. This studentship is available for Home candidates.

Broken Pipeline studentship – recognising the clear inequality within the HE sector this studentship is for Home candidate from an underrepresented group or background. This studentship is for candidates who feel that they are from groups or backgrounds that are underrepresented within UK Higher Education and experience barriers to access and participation. Many of these groups or backgrounds intersect and overlap and can pose barriers to equality of opportunity.