The Department of Drama, Theatre and Dance at Royal Holloway is accepting applications for the AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards (DLA) for a starting date in September 2026. Key information, including about the application process, is here.
The University and Department
As a research-intensive university, Royal Holloway is one of the UK’s top 30 universities for research quality according to The Complete University Guide. We encourage innovation and rising talent, enabling established and emerging research leaders to achieve excellence and respond to new opportunities. Royal Holloway leads and is a member of several Doctoral Training Partnerships and Doctoral Landscape Awards (AHRC DLA, AHRC Techne, ESRC SEDarc, BBSRC LIDo, NERC Aries, NERC TREES) as well as Centres for Doctoral Training (UKRI AI and Digital Inclusion, EPSRC Cybersecurity for the Everyday). We have an excellent Researcher Development programme, and wider institutional postgraduate (PGR) training. We are committed to supporting a strong and growing PGR community, including PGR-led activities (including The Other Kind of Doctor podcast and blog), annual conference, and opportunities to connect and engage with PGRs outside your main discipline.
The Department of Drama, Theatre and Dance has an international reputation for research excellence. Our research is global in scope and features a broad chronology (from early modern theatre to contemporary performance) and an interaction of critical and creative work. We encompass a wide range of methodologies including applied performance, critical studies of drama and dance, performance histories, performance technologies, philosophies of the arts, and theatre history. We explore how the past informs understandings of the present and engage with contemporary digital, global and social challenges. You can read more about the research interests of staff and their projects in Drama, Theatre and Dance here.
The DLA Studentships
The DLA studentships will fund full-time UK-rate tuition fees and UKRI-rate stipend (for 2025/26 academic year this is £22,780, including London Allowance) for 3.5 years including a 3-month placement for career enhancing research activity. All successful candidates will join the Doctoral Landscape Awards regional hub, led by Royal Holloway, to allow them to benefit from training, networking, and professional development opportunities.
A limited number of awards (30%) are available for international students.
Please note that we specifically welcome applications from typically under-represented groups.
Key dates
Applicants must be available to start 21 September 2026.
The application deadline is 12 January 2026 and candidates will be notified of the outcome on 2 March 2026.
An online information and Q&A session about the Royal Holloway DLA Awards will be held on Wednesday 12 November from 5-6pm. Please register at the link here.
If you have any queries, please contact Dr Chris Megson, DLA Institutional Lead for Royal Holloway, on chris.megson@rhul.ac.uk.
