PhD project opportunities

Staff in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, Education and Social Sciences have wide-ranging expertise and have come together to identify a range of projects for which they welcome applications from prospective MPhil and PhD students.

Most projects are broad and encourage a variety of nuanced approaches and multidisciplinary work from potential applicants. Some are specific but all invite applications from prospective students.

If you have an idea for a project that does not seem to match the already defined projects, please contact us at [email protected]

A young woman putting on a virtual reality headset

AR/VR/XR and Digital Technologies

Our expertise covers AR/VR/XR and Digital Technologies both in their own right and in collaboration with other disciplines.

Explore PhD project opportunities in AR/VR/XR and Digital Technologies
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Art and Design

Our expertise includes a number of areas ranging from Fine Art through to Illustration, Animation and Design. There are also interdisciplinary projects and a range of approaches are welcomed.

Explore PhD project opportunities in Art and Design
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Children's Book Illustration

We have significant expertise in Children’s Book Illustration with a number of PhD students in the area.

Explore PhD project opportunities in Children's Book Illustration
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Computer Games

Our expertise in Computer Games encompasses both artistic and programming aspects of the discipline.

Explore PhD project opportunities in Computer Games
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Creative Writing

Our Creative Writing team have expertise in a number of areas of the discipline and encourage multidisciplinary projects.

Explore PhD project opportunities in Creative Writing
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Criminology

We offer wide-ranging expertise in Criminology and opportunities to work with the International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute.

Explore PhD project opportunities in Criminology
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Drama and Theatre

Our team in Drama and Theatre have research projects in both performance and textual and critical approaches to the disciplines.

Explore PhD project opportunities in Drama and Theatre
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English

Our expertise encompasses a broad range of interests in English Language, Linguistics and Literature and we encourage multidisciplinary projects.

Explore PhD project opportunities in English
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Film and Media

Our expertise in film and media is wide-ranging and includes both creative practice opportunities and projects taking theoretical perspectives.

Explore PhD project opportunities in Film and Media
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History

Our expertise in History focuses on cultural history and political history in particular and we encourage multidisciplinary projects.

Explore PhD project opportunities in History
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Linguistics and Intercultural Communication

Our expertise in linguistics encompasses formal approaches to language, sociolinguistics and intercultural communication, and much more.

Explore PhD project opportunities in Linguistics and Intercultural Communication
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Multimedia Narrative: StoryLab

Our StoryLab research group has opportunities in a number of different areas of multimedia modes of telling narratives.

Explore PhD project opportunities in Multimedia Narrative: StoryLab
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Music and Audio Music Technology

Our expertise includes composition and musical performance. We also have opportunities in Audio Music Technology.

Explore PhD project opportunities in Music and Audio Music Technology
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Music Therapy: Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy

Our expertise in Music Therapy is wide-ranging with particular interests in both technology and in areas related to health.

Explore PhD project opportunities in Music Therapy: Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy
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Policing

Our International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute has a number of policing and criminology related projects.

Explore PhD project opportunities in Policing
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Sociology

We have opportunities in our Sociology team who have research projects in a number of areas. There are also opportunities to collaborate with other discipline teams such as Criminology.

Explore PhD project opportunities in Sociology
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Visual Communication

We have a wide range of expertise in visual communication including areas of design, print and fashion.

Explore PhD project opportunities in Visual Communication
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Research at ARU

Find out more about our Doctoral School and latest REF submission, and contact the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences research team.

Contact the Arts, Humanities, Education and Social Sciences research team Support and guidance from our Doctoral School Research Excellence Framework (REF)
ARU student April

Our research programmes

Find out more about the research degrees offered by the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Browse research degrees in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Professional Doctorate in Policing Professional Doctorate in Practical Theology