AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award PhD Studentship in Historical Studies
AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award PhD Studentship
School of Historical Studies
School of Archaeology and Ancient History
Supervisors
Dr Richard Jones, Ms. Deirdre O’ Sullivan, and Dr Pamela Fisher
Start Date
October 2012
Entry Requirements
UK/EU Applicants Only
Closing Date for Applications
31 August 2012 - APPLY NOW
Connecting Charnwood: A Medieval Woodland Landscape in Leicestershire
The University of Leicester and the Leicestershire Victoria County History Trust are pleased to invite applications from outstanding postgraduates for an AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award PhD studentship, to commence October 2012.
This three year studentship will pay full-time University UK/EU tuition fees and include an annual tax free stipend at standard AHRC rates (currently £13,590 a year). In addition, the AHRC will make a further annual maintenance contribution of £550 and Leicestershire Victoria County History Trust will provide an annual bursary of £1,000.
Research Areas and Supervision
The landscape has been described "the richest historical record" and the study of landscape history is recognised as having central relevance to the management and protection of our national heritage. Research into woodlands, wastes and commons is at the cutting edge of landscape history.
The primary aim of this project is to produce a detailed investigation of the landscape history of Charnwood Forest, a distinctive piece of countryside in north Leicestershire. Charnwood presents us with a characteristic example of a woodland landscape with (until modern times) relatively empty pasture land at its heart which was shared in a complex and shifting fashion by the manors and villages that surrounded it. Over the centuries, the common land was parcelled up and privatised but the process by which this occurred, how the landscape was put to use by local communities and lords, and how changes in land ownership shaped Charnwood’s towns and villages is yet to be discovered.
This study of Charnwood Forest will contribute to answering many important questions about the medieval landscape:
How was it organised in terms of manors, villages, commons and detached parcels of land?
How did that organisation change?
How did various parts communicate with one another and with the outside world?
In short, how did Charnwood work for its inhabitants and users? What does this tell us about commons in general, and particularly their management and their eventual degradation and privatisation? How was industry managed and organised as part of the woodland landscape and economy? Were there conflicts between the miners, farmers, charcoal burners and quarrymen who all wished to exploit the local resources? What can be learnt about the importance of exchange and trade in woodland produce and the connection between woodlands and towns?
This award provides a unique opportunity to study for a PhD at the highly regarded Centre for English Local History and to help shape an exciting new research project that will contribute to the biggest publishing project in English local history, the internationally renowned Victoria County History. The project will be of interest to applicants with backgrounds in a range of disciplines and subject areas, including history, archaeology, historical geography, architectural history, and landscape history. Within the framework of this landscape study, the successful applicant will be able to shape the project to his or her own strengths.
The successful applicant will be supervised by Dr Richard Jones (Centre for English Local History), Ms. Deirdre O’ Sullivan (School of Archaeology and Ancient History), with Dr Pamela Fisher (Leicestershire Victoria County History Trust).
Entry Requirements
Applicants must have a first-class or high upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent qualification) and meet the University's standard English language entry requirements. Applicants should a Masters degree in a relevant discipline or be able to show evidence that they will achieve this before October 2012.
The studentship is only available to applicants who are eligible to pay the UK/EU tuition fee - i.e., those who are permanently resident in the UK or another EU country. Please note that applicants from the EU (excluding the UK) must have been resident in the UK for at least three years prior to commencing the studentship to receive both the stipend and fee components of this award; EU applicants who do not meet this criteria will receive the fee waiver component only.
Applicants from outside the EU are not eligible for the studentship unless they have been granted permanent UK residency/citizenship. For more advice on applicable eligibility criteria, please see the AHRC Guide to Postgraduate Funding.
The studentship is for full-time study only and applicants must be able to commence their studies in October 2012.
Informal Enquiries
Informal enquiries are welcomed - please contact:
Dr Richard Jones
rlcj1@le.ac.uk
+44 (0)116 252 2764
Apply Now
To apply, simply follow our three-point checklist:
1.Applicants are not required to submit a full research proposal - applicants should instead provide a brief personal statement (of no more than two pages) which includes:
i.evidence of how and why you feel you could develop this area of research
ii.details of any relevant research experience (including any research projects that you have undertaken - for example, as part of a previous degree)
iii.details of any academic work you have published or which is currently in press awaiting publication
2.Prepare your supporting documents - including an up to date curriculum vitae
3.Submit your online application or apply by post
The closing date for receipt of applications is 12:00 31 August 2012. It is anticipated that interviews will be held in September at the University of Leicester and applicants should be available for interview at that time.
IMPORTANT - In the Fees and Financial Support section of the application, you must state that you wish to be considered for the "October 2012 AHRC PhD Studentship Ref. Richard Jones"
http://www2.le.ac.uk/study/research/funding/charnwood