Opportunities
Discover the latest funding and other opportunities available to MAH PGRs.
Last updated: 8/10/2025
British Library Doctoral Open Days
The annual programme of British Library Doctoral Open Days offers current and prospective research students and other researchers new to the collections an introduction to the practicalities of using the Library and help in navigating the physical and digital collections.
The series begins with a webinar to introduce attendees to the British Library, shows how to access collections and share details of other researcher development opportunities, including the PhD Placement Scheme and fellowship opportunities. This is complemented by in-person Open Days at the St Pancras site, each focusing on a specific area of the collection.
The programme for this academic year will run as follows:
Getting Started at the British Library (Webinar) - Thursday 16 October 2025
Music, Sound and Vision - Friday 31 October 2025
Europe, Americas and Oceania - Friday 28 November 2025
Antiquity to 1800 - Friday 30 January 2026
Asian and African Collections - Friday 27 February 2026
1800-1950 - Friday 27 March 2026
Contemporary British and Irish Collections - Friday 24 April 2026
Digital Collections and Resources - Friday 29 May 2026
These events are an opportunity to meet collection curators, quiz reference specialists, and chat to other researchers in your field of study. .
Stuart Hall Essay Prize: deadline 5pm Mon 3 Nov 2025
The Stuart Hall Essay Prize invites submissions from UK-based writers aged 18 to 30 inclusive to submit new and unpublished writing that connects with Professor Stuart Hall’s ideas and impacts broad public discourse.
The prize will award £2,000 to a selected writer whose essay connects with and offers originality and value to a field of debate with which Hall engaged throughout his life and contributes a radical critique of contemporary society. The award aims to stimulate a new generation of thinkers who can offer original, lively and topical contributions to the lines of political, cultural and educational inquiry which Hall pursued.
The Stuart Hall Essay Prize is funded in its first two years by a private donation, which was given to the Foundation to support a prize for young writers.
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Deadline: Monday 3 November 2025, 17:00 GMT
How do you connect in daily life? Join the DIAL study!
What’s Involved?
This study takes place over three weeks (Starting on a Monday) and includes short daily online surveys (~5 minutes) about your social interactions, and once-a-week extended online surveys (~10-20 minutes). If eligible, you will be asked to complete an onboarding survey before the official study starts (~30-40 minutes). Some people may be asked to start a new activity.
Who you are:
You must be over the age of 18, fluent in English, and have an iPhone or Android to participate.
What you’ll get:
In addition to contributing to the science of social connection, you can earn up to £65 for full participation (compensation is provided in the form of an electronic gift card). You will also be given an opportunity to complete a brief follow-up survey one month after you have completed the study for an additional £5 gift card.
Sign Up:
To find out if you’re eligible, (1-3 minutes). If you have any questions, contact us at: dialstudy2025@gmail.com, or contact Dr. Taylor West directly at taylor-west@sussex.ac.uk
PGR Allotment Volunteers wanted!
Are you green-fingered or keen to try your hand at growing stuff? We would love to have some PGRs from MAH join the small team of staff who tend the allotment (MAH-lotment!) in the Silverstone Garden on campus. We have six small raised beds and a variety of seeds, compost and gardening tools at our disposal, and in previous years we have grown a variety of fruits, vegetables and wildflowers. It’s a very informal space and no previous horticultural skills are required!
If you would like to find out more, please get in touch with Assistant Research Manager, Laura Vellacott (L.Vellacott@sussex.ac.uk).
Media, Arts and Humanities PGR Fund
The Faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities has a small budget to help postgraduate researchers with funding research costs. The purpose of the fund is to fund key activities in line with the Faculty’s PGR strategy and to support PGRs with funding individual research costs. The maximum amount of funding which a MAH PGR can apply for over the course of the financial year (1st August - 31st July) is £200.
To request funding please complete the and send the completed form to MAH-pgr@sussex.ac.uk. We aim to confirm funding within two weeks of the application being submitted.
Sussex Fund Doctoral Overseas Conference Grants
Sussex Fund Doctoral Overseas Conference Grants support ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ« PGRs who are presenting their work at an overseas conference. You can apply for a maximum of £1,100 during the period of your PhD registration, and can apply more than once up to the funding limit. From November 2022, an additional £100 above the £1,100 maximum will be available to go towards visa costs, where you require a visa to travel.
The scheme is administered by the Researcher Development team within the Sussex Researcher School, who are able to offer this scheme thanks to a generous grant from the . To apply, please complete the . Applications must be submitted at least four weeks before the conference start date.
Ensure you read the guidance notes and conditions of the award before submitting an application, to increase the likelihood of a successful award.
Other sources of funding for research
The Sussex Researcher School coordinate funding opportunities designed to support your professional development as a researcher at Sussex, including prizes, grants and other schemes.
is a database of grants available through charities, trusts, and foundations, to which the University has a subscription.
The Research Professional database allows you to search for funding opportunities by a variety of criteria, and also sign up for email alerts.