Learn about doing a PhD in humanities and social science at the University of Manchester - what it entails, support available and development opportunities. Faculty of Humanities, University of Manchester postgraduate research open day 2017

1. Postgraduate Research
in the Faculty of
Humanities
Professor Stuart Jones
Associate Dean for Postgraduate Research
Dr Ian Fairweather
(Researcher Development Manager)
Ms Nichola Ellis
(Senior Postgraduate Research Administrator)

2. What we will cover
• What it is to be a Doctoral student in the Faculty
of Humanities.
• The key aspects involved in getting a PhD.
• The importance of the supervisors in the PhD
process.
• Researcher development.
• Funding a PhD.
• How to apply.

3. Doing a PhD
• Most people think of the PhD as the thesis (or series of articles etc.) that
you will produce.
• This makes them think of the PhD as a lonely enterprise.
• However, in Humanities we aim for PGRs to have a sense of community.
• PhD colleagues, supervisors, students (if you teach), research contacts etc.
all have an impact on how your PhD develops.
• Important to think of this aspect of the PhD: the PhD as process, and not
just the end product

4. Aspects of the Process
Subject &
Discipline
Knowledge
Supervision &
Dialogue
Research
Integrity
Methodology &
Approaches
Fieldwork &
Data
Collection
Reflective
Practice
Interdisciplinary
working
Publications
Academic
Practice
Academic
Conferences
Researcher-
led activities
Teaching
Research
Seminars
Research
Communities

5. Working with your supervisor(s)
• This is (still) at the heart of the
PhD.
• Finding the right supervisor(s)
is therefore incredibly
important.
• Not just about expertise, but
also about how they will work
with you.
• Try to speak with your
prospective supervisors during
the application process.

6. The Doctoral Journey
• Whatever your ‘thesis’ product, you
are aiming to become a highly
skilled, professional researcher
Wider training
opportunities are
important
Methods training, researcher training,
integrating into the research environment
are all important aspects of a doctoral
researcher’s development

7. Connections for training...
• Manchester is part of the ESRC Northwest Social Science
DTP (www.nwssdtp.ac.uk) and leads the AHRC Northwest
Consortium DTP (www.nwcdtp.ac.uk)
• This means students at Manchester have access to resources
and training at institutions across the Northwest (and vice
versa) and of course wider opportunities to interact with with
academics and doctoral researchers at these institutions
• The AHRC NWCDTP is also working with partners outside of
the HE sector, such as the BBC, TATE Liverpool, HOME, who
can provide specialist training and support doctoral
researchers in developing knowledge exchange skills

8. Methods and all that
methods@
manchester
Researcher
Development
Programme
artsmethods@
manchester
In Humanities,(and in
the DTPs we are a part
of) we provide
methods training
through
methods@manchester
and artsmethods (and
their ‘Northwest’
counterparts)
Researcher Development
Programme provides
opportunities to develop
important
transferrable skills
Also: Events, workshops, online resources,
student-led activities. See
ProGRess@Humanities research training hub

9. Online resources for researcher
development
• http://www.vitae.ac.uk a national organisation supporting
the professional development of researchers
• http://thesiswhisperer.com/ a blog newspaper dedicated
to the topic of doing a thesis and is edited by Dr Inger
Mewburn, Director of research training at the Australian
National University.
• http://www.beyondthephd.co.uk A website dedicated to
discussing what happens after a PhD in arts/humanities
• PGR Doc Blog: https://pgrdocblog.wordpress.com
• Humanities Researchers Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/349538218544619/
• Follow us on twitter @HumsResearchers

10. How do universities support this?
• Seek to integrate you with your cohort and with
academic researchers in your area.
• The relevant Research Councils – the AHRC and ESRC
– fund DTPs and CDTs: all these bring together doctoral
researchers to train and develop together.
• These arrangements foster interdisciplinary work, impact
and knowledge exchange.
• Many of the RC-funded training structures are now inter-
institutional.

11. It pays to do your research!
Studentships Awards
Bursaries Scholarships

12. Major Funding Bodies
•UK Research Councils
• Charities
• Employers
• Industry
• Universities
• Overseas Funding Councils
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/

13. Main funders in the Faculty of Humanities
• ESRC via the North West Social Science Doctoral Training
Partnership (NWSSDTP)
https://nwssdtp.ac.uk/
• AHRC via the North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership
(NWCDTP)
http://www.nwcdtp.ac.uk/
• EPSRC studentships
• President’s Doctoral Scholar Award
• Research Impact Scholarships
• School specific awards

14. Funding -Typical Award Values
Fully-funded PhD studentships should provide support for:
•Tuition Fees (£4,195 FT UK/EU 2017/18)
• Stipend (maintenance award): £14,553p.a. (2017/18 minimum RCUK rate).
Rates vary between the various funding bodies.
• Some studentships also provide an allowance towards research training costs
(equipment, participant expenses, travel, conference attendance etc.) – this is
often referred to as the RTSG allowance.
• Supplementary support may be available for overseas fieldwork expenses,
disability, maternity/illness cover etc.
• Always ask to check the terms and conditions of your funding so you
are clear on your entitlements

15. Searching for funding
• Online funding database: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-
research/funding/opportunities/
• Faculty funding webpage:
http://www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-
research/funding/
• School websites – PGR funding webpages
SEED: http://www.seed.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-
research/opportunities/
SOSS: http://www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-
research/opportunities/
SALC: http://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/fees/postgraduate-research-funding/
AMBS: http://www.mbs.ac.uk/phd/programme-overview/funding.aspx
LAW: http://www.law.manchester.ac.uk/fees/postgraduate-research/

16. Typical criteria
3 Year PhD
• Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree
• Masters qualification at merit with 60% minimum in dissertation
• Previous research experience

17. How to apply
• Know what subject area you would like to research
• Identify a preferred supervisor
• Write a research proposal – liaise with your potential supervisor to
develop your proposal. Guidance is available within your school e.g.
http://www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/study-with-us/how-to-
apply/postgraduate-research/writing-your-proposal/
- Make sure that your research idea, question or problem
is very clearly stated and well-grounded in academic
research.
- Make sure that your proposal is well focused and
conforms exactly to the submission requirements described
here.
- Poorly specified, jargon-filled or rambling proposals will not
convince us that you have a clear idea of what you want to
do.
• Submit online with supporting documents
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/how-to-apply/

18. Standing out from the crowd
•Read between the lines – which qualities are you being asked to demonstrate
at each stage?
• Take ownership from the start – don’t be afraid to ask searching questions
• Show preparedness – knowledge of relevant publications, background to the
research group, wider developments in the research area, potential ‘impact’….
• Assess the ‘fit’ of the research training to your own requirements (career
progression, depth/breadth of training, potential outputs etc.)

19. Key contacts
• AHRC NWCDTP: carole.arrowsmith@manchester.ac.uk
• ESRC NWSSDTP nichola.ellis@manchester.ac.uk
• EPSRC: anusarin.lowe@manchester.ac.uk
• President’s Doctoral Scholar Awards: anusarin.lowe@manchester.ac.uk
• Research Impact Awards (Alumni): anusarin.lowe@manchester.ac.uk
School contacts
• SoSS: vicky.barnes@manchester.ac.uk
• SALC: joanne.marsh@manchester.ac.uk
• SEED: pgr-seedfunding@manchester.ac.uk
• Law: helen.davenport@manchester.ac.uk
• MBS: lynne.barlow-cheetham@mbs.ac.uk