Midlands universities partnership will train the next generation of arts and humanities researchers

Eight leading universities in the Midlands are joining together to train the next generation of highly-skilled arts and humanities researchers, thanks to funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

The Midlands4Cities Arts and Humanities Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP), led by the University of Nottingham, will result in 460 new postgraduate studentship opportunities across the region over the next five years.

The consortium brings together academic expertise from - the University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, the University of Warwick, Coventry University, De Montfort University, the University of Leicester, Nottingham Trent University, and the University of Nottingham. All eight of the universities in the DTP have also committed to match the AHRC funding.

It is one of 10 new Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) announced by the AHRC today (15 August). The Midlands4Cities partnership was ranked first out of the 10 DTPs.

The programme offered by the Midlands4Cities partnership builds on the track record of the previous Midands3Cities DTP, which led the way in collaborative postgraduate research, training, joint supervision and partner engagement with organisations in the cultural, creative and heritage sectors.

The Midlands4Cities DTP is expanding on the previous research and training capacity of the Midlands3Cities DTP by adding an additional two partners to its consortium – Coventry University and the University of Warwick. Both institutions build on the group’s existing strength across the span of arts and humanities subjects, and deepen disciplinary and interdisciplinary areas such as Art and Design, Classics, English, Music, Dance, Drama and Performing Arts, and Politics.  

The Midlands4Cities DTP will include at least 40 Collaborative Doctoral Awards (CDAs) co-designed with non-university partners. The partnership will give students access across all eight institutions to a customised programme of research and employability training, which will enable students to gain vital arts and humanities skills.

The new DTP will have a strong emphasis on collaboration and will work with a large number of non-university partner organisations, including the Royal Shakespeare Company, The British Film Institute, Historic England and museums and galleries across the Midlands, to offer exciting placement and training opportunities to students.

Midlands4Cities will provide expert supervision across its mix of university partners, and additional funding to support cohort events that enable students to develop practical skills, deepen research networks, and path-find professional careers.