NWCDTP to benefit from significant Arts and Humanities Research Council funding

The North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NWCDTP), led by The University of Manchester and including the RNCM, is one of 10 consortia to share more than £170 million in funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) over eight years.

This equates to funding and training for at least 225 new researchers in the arts and humanities through the NWCDTP.

DTPs provide innovative training environments for doctoral researchers. They include opportunities for PhD students to undertake broader training or development, such as language learning, overseas research visits, or placements with non-academic partners.

The consortium includes a wide variety of bodies beyond the university sector that students can engage with to further their experience, from multinational organisations to local museums and galleries.

Dr Erica Baffelli, NWCDTP Director, said: ‘On behalf of the North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership I am delighted by this new award from the AHRC, which will allow us to fund and train at least 225 new researchers in the arts and humanities. Since its formation in 2014 the NWCDTP has established a successful partnership that provides high-quality doctoral training across the whole range of the arts and humanities. In the new phase of the DTP we will build on our effective partnership to continue to innovate to produce impactful research.’

Professor Barbara Kelly, Director of Research at the RNCM added: ‘The RNCM is thrilled that the NWCDTP has been successful in this round of studentships. The College’s doctoral programme has benefitted greatly from this collaboration and our students enjoy the benefits of being part of a larger community of postgraduate researchers in the Arts and Humanities. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the NWCDTP and developing the exciting new initiatives around collaborative PhDs and early-career researchers.’

Professor Edward Harcourt, the AHRC’s Director of Research, Strategy and Innovation, said: ‘The AHRC is delighted to announce its renewed commitment to the Doctoral Training Partnerships model. Our support for the next generation of arts and humanities researchers is critical to securing the future of the UK arts and humanities sector, which accounts for nearly a third of all UK academic staff, is renowned the world over for its outstanding quality, and which plays a vital part in our higher education ecosystem as a whole.’

The DTPs will start recruiting the first cohort of students imminently ahead of starting their studies in October 2019.

16 August 2018