PhD Studentships in Transformative Humanities at Durham University

Applications for PhD Studentships in Transformative Humanities at Durham University Scheme are now open.
Q&A: 10 November 2025 (15.00 GMT)
Closing deadline: 16 January 2026 (23.59 GMT)

Durham University has announced the competition for eight PhD Studentships in Transformative Humanities, supported by our AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award and the Faculties of Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences. This scheme will support outstanding candidates beginning a PhD programme in October 2026 on projects related to the themes of Transformative Humanities.

In total, the scheme will support 7 home students and 1 overseas student applying with PhD projects related to the Transformative Humanities. Co-supervision teams will be set across departments and disciplines.

The IMH warmly welcomes proposals that align with the medical humanities via this scheme.

What can the IMH offer PhD students?

The Institute for Medical Humanities at Durham University provides a vibrant, welcoming and supportive environment for prospective PhD students.

The IMH is renowned as the global lead in the field of interdisciplinary critical medical humanities and is able to offer unparalleled support for researchers in the medical and health humanities. With an overarching focus on understanding ‘hidden’ experiences of health and illness, the Institute currently hosts six key Research Themes which are led by interdisciplinary teams of researchers from across the humanities, social sciences and sciences at Durham. These themes address issues connected to health injustice, mental health, trauma, ethics and law, religion and spirituality, AI, environmental and climate, and lived experiences. We also support a number of national and international research networks, and key strategic partnerships with leading Universities, Health sector organisations and voluntary sector partners.

PhD students are welcome to become an IMH Fellow, and attend the regular seminars and events hosted by IMH through these themes as well as our weekly informal 'Fika' gatherings and termly interdisciplinary research development Fellows gatherings which provide space to discuss and develop ideas, share best practice and build connections across departments and faculties at Durham.

PhDs students can also join our thriving and supportive postgraduate community with over 50 members which organises social events and development opportunities such as reading and writing groups and work in progress sessions.

As the home of the Discovery Research Platform for Medical Humanities, the IMH also supports an exciting programme of methodological innovation and a series of International PhD Summer schools and training opportunities focused on approaches to interdisciplinary and collaborative research; Queer Methods; Creative Facilitation and Narrative and Creative Methods.

IMH also offers specialist support, training, and advice for engaged research, public engagement, external partnerships, interdisciplinary collaboration, and project management.

Applicants to the Transformative Humanities PhD Studentships are encouraged to contact potential supervisor(s) to discuss their project before applying.

If your PhD proposal aligns with the Medical Humanities and you are looking for a supervisor or co-supervisor for your PhD, you can find out about the research interests of our IMH staff and Fellows via the following web pages: IMH People - Durham University.

Find out more

Read more about The Transformative Humanities PhD Studentships, key dates and how to apply.

Explore the Transformative Humanities at Durham University