Candidates for the degree of PhD in Cultural Policy Studies will need to demonstrate a record of strong academic achievement and an aptitude for research. The minimum requirement is a high 2.i (or the equivalent) in a relevant subject at undergraduate level and/or a strong performance in a relevant subject at MA level (or the equivalent). In addition, candidates will need to produce a clearly articulated research proposal.

If you think you can meet these requirements, then first of all you must submit your application informally to the Centre, by sending following the application procedure set out below. If you have any queries about the application process, please contact Dr Eleonora Belfiore at e.belfiore@warwick.ac.uk for clarifications.

Application procedure:

STEP ONE: In the first instance, you must identify a member of staff whose research interests and expertise are within the general area your proposed project intends to explore, and who you think would be in a good position to act as your supervisor. Please familiarise yourself with the work of the member of staff who you think would be the most suitable supervisor for you.

STEP TWO: Please make contact with your desired supervisor to introduce yourself and to send a short summary of your intended project. If the prospective supervisor is interested in pursuing your application further, you will be asked to submit a fully developed research proposal, a CV and a cover letter. More information on the information these documents need to contain can be found below.

STEP THREE: If your prospective supervisor thinks your project shows real potential and that you are a strong candidate, you will be invited to Warwick to discuss the details of your project with your prospectigve supervisor and another member of staff. Depending on your performance, you might be informally offered a place and invited to submit a formal, online application to the University. Please do not fill in the online application form before this stage.

Please note that a PhD is a significant commitment of time and resources, both for you and your prospective supervisor. A face-to-face meeting is therefore an important step in ensuring a good match between candidate and supervisor, and we will therefore normally expect you to be available to come to Warwick for an interview as part of the application process.

The research proposal and cover letter:

IF YOU ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT A FULL INFORMAL PROPOSAL, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR DOCUMENTATION MEETS THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:

The research proposal should articulate your research questions and proposed methodology; it should contain a brief literature review and position your project within your chosen area of the broader cultural policy field. Your proposal should be no longer than 1500 words.

Your cover letter should contain a statement as to why you think the Centre is the ideal place for you to conduct your research, and how your project will contribute to developing the research areas already cultivated by Centre staff.

Scholarships available:

The Centre will offer one 3-year doctoral scholarship in 2011/12, commencing in October 2011. Please click here for further details. If you would like to be considered for the scholarship, please include in your cover letter a statement of how your project meets the thematic criteria for the award.

You can access the formal online application form here, but please make sure you have read the note below before completing the formal online application process.

Important note: Applicants should contact the department BEFORE completing the formal online application form. Please note that your online application will be made available for the University scholarship competition. For this reason we recommend you discuss your proposal and application with a member of staff before submitting it by following the informal application procedure outlined above.

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE FOR AN INFORMAL APPLICATION SET OUT ABOVE MIGHT SERIOUSLY UNDERMINE YOUR CHANCES OF SUCCESS IN APPLYING FOR ONE OF THE CHANCELLOR'S SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK (you can find out more about them here).

If you have any queries about the application process, please contact Dr Belfiore via email.