The University of Sussex will receive a Doctoral Landscape Award from the Arts and Humanities Research Council to support postgraduate researchers in arts and humanities subjects. 

The award, which starts in October 2026, will fund five cohorts of three studentships, plus research costs and training activities via a regional hub. The University has committed matched funding to support further awards for candidates from underrepresented backgrounds, in collaboration with the Stuart Hall Foundation. 

The award follows Sussex’s co-ordinating role in the CHASE Doctoral Training Partnership, through which more than £20m has to date been awarded to support postgraduate research in arts and humanities across a consortium of eight university institutions. 

The University is one of 50 UK HEIs to receive an AHRC Landscape Award. 

AHRC Executive Chair Professor Christopher Smith said:  

“The AHRC doctoral landscape awards provide flexible funding to allow universities to build on existing excellence in research and opportunities for innovation across the arts and humanities. 

“They will support the development of talented people and, alongside our other doctoral schemes, contribute to a vibrant, diverse and internationally-attractive research and innovation system.” 

Dean of the Sussex Researcher School Professor Jeremy Niven said: 

“We are delighted that AHRC has recognised the excellence of doctoral research at Sussex, and that our PGRs will continue to benefit from AHRC funding. SRS will work closely with faculty colleagues to ensure that this award helps to make our research environment more innovative and inclusive.” 

Professor Matthew Dimmock, Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange in Media, Arts and Humanities, said:  

'Doctoral research has long been a key component of the wider research culture of Media, Arts, and Humanities at Sussex. This new AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award is a really welcome recognition of our strengths in this area and will facilitate collaboration, innovation, and our continuing ability to attract excellent students to the university.'