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italian-studies: Scholarly discussions in any field of Italian studies FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DOCTORAL STUDY IN ITALIAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER Three types of doctoral award are available at the University of Manchester for candidates intending to work on topics relating to Italian Studies: • University-funded President’s Doctoral Scholar Awards (comprising a fee bursary and a maintenance grant) • AHRC Doctoral Award (comprising a fee bursary and a maintenance grant) • School Graduate Scholarships and Fee Bursaries Italian Studies at Manchester is part of one of the largest concentrations of expertise in Modern Languages in the UK. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, over half of our research activity was judged to be in the top two categories of 'world-leading' and 'internationally excellent'. In national rankings produced by Times Higher Education and based on RAE 2008 quality profiles, we were positioned in the upper tier of a small group of elite institutions. Staff research interests, ranging from the Medieval period to the present day, span modern Italian history, film, literature and cultural studies. Completed PhD projects supervised by colleagues in Italian Studies in recent years include the following: • Cultural Politics and Artistic Practice in the Fascist Period • History of the book • 20th-century publishing history • Film Studies • Italian-Canadian writing and translation • Poetry translation • Gender studies and translation • Ariosto • Renaissance studies • Italian linguistics and sociolinguistics • Italian philology The research culture in Italian Studies includes fora for doctoral students and academic conferences, often in collaboration with other disciplines. Recent examples are: ‘Mapping, Framing and “Visualising” Cultural Spaces Under Dictatorships’ (2010) with German Studies and History; (2011); ‘Locating Boccaccio 2013’ (with the John Rylands Library) and, ‘Manchester Digital Dante Project’ (2011). Leading Italian writers have recently given papers and readings in Manchester, most notably Dacia Maraini (2009) and Laura Pariani (2010). Francesca Billiani acts as Society for Italian Studies representative for PGR studies in Italian in the UK. At Manchester, since 2010, Italian Studies has been part of a consortium (with the universities of Leeds and Durham), which has been organising a yearly post-graduate day attended by PGT/R students and staff from these universities. The Cultural Studies Pathway In Manchester, the Cultural Studies pathway incorporates, draws on, and in turn adds to many other disciplines, such as Italian Studies, English Studies, Modern Languages (French, Italian, German, and Spanish and Portuguese), Middle Eastern Studies, East Asian Studies, Translation Studies, History, Art History, Classics, Linguistics, Drama, Music, Religions and Theology. The main strength of this programme lies in the wide-ranging sets of expertise and specialisms it draws on as well as on the interdisciplinary collaborations it utilises to conduct original research its own right. We understand Cultural Studies as a discipline, which focuses on the study of culture and cultural production. While relying on subject-specific primary material, Cultural Studies is distinctively informed by theoretically and methodologically eclectic approaches, which span across disciplinary boundaries. In addition to discipline specific training and events, the programme also incorporates ‘student-run hubs’. The University of Manchester supports a wide-range of student-led events funded by arts@manchester, where students meet to discuss their work, methodologies and theoretical perspectives with invited speakers from other institutions. Manchester University has substantial partnerships with Manchester City Council, the People’s History Museum, Scottish parliament, Cornerhouse, Whitworth Art Gallery, and much more beyond. If you think your research project fits within the Cultural Studies description as well as with the discipline specific one, please mention it in your application for further consideration. President’s Doctoral Scholar Awards Italian Studies is keen to receive applications for this funding scheme. The President’s Doctoral Award covers tuition fees (home/EU or international, as appropriate) and the equivalent of the AHRC stipend (£13,726 in 2013-14). The following application deadlines should be observed in relation to this award: • an application for a place to study for a doctorate in Italian Studies should be submitted to the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures by Friday 31 January 2014 at the latest; • a completed PDS application form should be submitted by Friday 21 February 2014 at the latest. See below for relevant links to guidance documents, application forms and contact people. AHRC Doctoral Awards Italian Studies is pleased to invite applications for PhD studentships through its involvement in three pathways in the North West Consortium (NWC) funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC): Cultural Studies; Modern Languages; and Translation and Interpreting Studies. UK and EU students intending to take a research degree (PhD) in Italian Studies may be eligible to apply for support. AHRC awards are competitive and provide payment of tuition fees and a maintenance stipend for UK students, and tuition fees (and a maintenance stipend, subject to eligibility criteria) for EU students. NWC PhDs will be active partners in shaping their own training and development as researchers and future leaders. They will enjoy access to outstanding resources and training provision within a collegial environment supporting them to produce excellent research, contribute to a world class research environment and engage in mutually beneficial knowledge exchange (KE) relationships. The following application deadlines should be observed in relation to this award: • an application for a place to study on the Italian Studies doctoral programmes should be submitted to the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures by Friday 31 January 2014 at the latest; this will ensure that you are in receipt of an offer of a place on your chosen PhD programme in advance of the AHRC deadline; • a completed AHRC funding application form for this scheme should be submitted by Friday 21 February 2014 at the latest. See below for relevant links; • applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by 14th April 2014. See below for relevant links to guidance documents, application forms and contact people. School Graduate Scholarships and Fee Bursaries In addition to PDS and AHRC awards, the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures offers a number of Graduate scholarships and fee bursaries. These School awards often come with the opportunity to teach or assist in research-related activities. These awards are open to both Home/EU and Overseas students. The awards are usually for three years full time or six years part time (subject to satisfactory progress) for new starters. Full details of the 2014-15 awards and guidance notes on how to apply will be published on the School of Arts, Languages, and Cultures funding page in January 2014. RELEVANT LINKS Find out more about postgraduate research programmes in Italian Studies at Manchester: http://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/subjects/italian/postgraduateresearch/ How to apply to study for a PhD in Italian Studies: http://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/apply/postgraduateresearch/ Details of the President’s Doctoral Scholar Awards, AHRC Awards and the School’s Graduate Scholarships and Fee Bursaries (N.B. full details of the latter not available until January 2013) including application form and guidance notes: http://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/fees/postgraduate-research-funding/ CONTACT PEOPLE • For queries on admissions to our PhD programmes, contact [log in to unmask] • For administrative queries on applications to these funding schemes, contact [log in to unmask] • For academic queries, contact: Professor [log in to unmask] (NWC Modern Languages pathway); Dr [log in to unmask] (NWC Translation Studies pathway); Dr [log in to unmask] (Italian Studies and NWC Cultural Studies pathway) Dr Francesca Billiani Senior Lecturer in Italian Residence Abroad Officer for Italian Programme Director for Joint-hons English and a Modern Language and Art History and a Modern Language External Relations Officer for the Division of Languages and Intercultural Studies School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures, University of Manchester Oxford Road M13 9PL, Manchester 0044 0161 2758120 ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: subscribe italian-studies YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe italian-studies to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/italian-studies