[Commlist] PhD opportunities at Contemporary Visual Arts Asia (CVAA), Birmingham City University Applications Open for Fully Funded PhD Studentships for 2027

AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards
PhD opportunities at Contemporary Visual Arts Asia (CVAA), Birmingham 
City University

Applications Open for Fully Funded PhD Studentships for 2027

About CVAA and Our PhD Programme

Established in 2007, the Centre for Chinese Visual Arts (CCVA) at 
Birmingham City University has built a strong foundation in contemporary 
Chinese art research and cross-cultural exchange. In recent years, its 
research remit has expanded across Asia, with particular attention to 
Japan and Korea, leading to its development into Contemporary Visual 
Arts Asia (CVAA).

Through interdisciplinary research and practice, CVAA explores new 
perspectives on contemporary Asian art, design and visual culture. Its 
extensive regional and international networks bring together artists, 
designers, curators and researchers to support professional exchange and 
knowledge production.

Our PhD programme emphasises the relationship between theoretical 
enquiry and artistic and curatorial practice, encouraging 
interdisciplinary approaches and cross-cultural dialogue. Through 
academic supervision, annual international conferences, doctoral forums 
and partnerships with museums, research institutions and artists’ 
studios, the Centre provides a supportive environment for doctoral 
research and development. It also hosts the Journal of Contemporary 
Chinese Art, published by Intellect.

Research Areas

We welcome applications in the following areas, among others:

Chinese contemporary art and visual culture;

Cross-cultural and interdisciplinary curatorial research and practice;

Contemporary Japanese and Korean art;

Art and everyday life;

Art and contemporary Chinese society and urban transformations.

Applicants are encouraged to develop original research proposals in 
these areas and to contact prospective supervisors at an early stage.

Fully Funded PhD Studentships for 2027

Birmingham City University has opened applications for its AHRC Doctoral 
Landscape Awards (DLA), offering six fully funded PhD studentships for 
entry in September 2027. Three are funded by the Arts and Humanities 
Research Council (AHRC), with three additional studentships funded by 
the University. These awards are allocated competitively across eligible 
arts and humanities disciplines within the University.

Funding is available for 3.5 years of full-time study and includes:

Full tuition fees;

A tax-free maintenance stipend at the UKRI rate (£21,805 per year for 
2026/27, with the 2027/28 rate to be confirmed);

Access to regional doctoral training, professional development and 
additional funding opportunities.

The studentships are open to UK and international applicants, with one 
studentship available to an international applicant each year. The 
successful international applicant will receive full tuition fee 
coverage and a maintenance stipend, with no requirement to pay the 
difference between home and international tuition fees.

Submitting an expression of interest is optional but strongly 
recommended by the University. Before submitting a full application, 
applicants must have an agreed supervisory team in place and obtain the 
supervisors’ consent. Applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree 
or be currently enrolled on a doctoral programme. Research proposals 
must fall within the AHRC’s subject remit, and applicants must meet the 
University’s entry requirements.

We welcome applicants interested in research into contemporary Chinese 
and Asian art and curatorial practice to explore opportunities for 
doctoral study. Please send a 500-word research proposal and a 300-word 
personal statement incorporating a brief biography to Professor Jiang 
Jiehong at (joshua.jiang /at/ bcu.ac.uk) by 12 noon (UK time) on 6 November 2026.
Application Timeline

CVAA internal deadline for expressions of interest: 6 November 2026, 12 
noon;

Full application deadline: 20 January 2027, 12 noon;

Interviews: February–March 2027;

Results announced: May 2027;

Programme starts: September 2027.

We welcome enquiries from prospective applicants interested in 
contemporary Asian art research and curatorial practice.

For full eligibility criteria, application requirements, forms and 
assessment criteria, please visit the University’s website:

https://www.bcu.ac.uk/research/doctoral-landscape-awards

---------------
The COMMLIST
---------------
This mailing list is a free service offered by Nico Carpentier. Please use it responsibly and wisely. The commlist has no responsibility for any damage caused by its postings. Subscription to the list automatically implies agreement with this rule.
--
To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit http://commlist.org/
--
Before sending a posting request, please always read the guidelines at http://commlist.org/
--
To contact the mailing list manager:
Email: (nico.carpentier /at/ commlist.org)
URL: http://nicocarpentier.net
---------------