Triangle

Research overview

PhD Black Studies is a place for the study of the history, literature and culture of black people (variously defined) in North America, as well as through their historical, cultural and political links to Africa, Britain, and other global sites.

It is the only programme of its kind in Europe and is steeped in interdisciplinary methods and critical reflection to investigate the roles, lives, cultures, politics, representations, activism, art, histories and movement of people of African descent.

The course is particularly relevant at this crucial time within the UK, as students, communities and institutions of higher education increasingly assess curriculum offerings in dialogue with the ongoing effort to consider the influence and experience of the black diaspora on both sides of the Atlantic.

The PhD programme is closely aligned with the Centre for Black Studies and the Centre for Research in Race and Rights. The University also hosts the Institute for the Institute for the Study of Slavery (ISOS) and the Rights Lab, enabling students to expand their research networks across the university and beyond.

The PhD is based in the Department of American and Canadian Studies, which has a long history of research in black studies, African diaspora studies and African American studies. However, we also welcome comparative research proposals that address issues across disciplines and national boundaries.

Course content

You will complete a written thesis of up to 100,000 words. The topic will be agreed with your supervisors (usually two co-supervisors). You also take a verbal examination (viva voce) at the end of your thesis, where you explain your project in depth to an examination panel.

As part of this course, you will attend research training sessions and weekly graduate work-in-progress seminars.

The work-in-progress sessions are led by the research student community. They are an opportunity for everyone to present their ongoing research to their peers, supervisors and invited members of academic staff and research students. The idea is that you receive feedback and support from this community.

Research areas

By its very nature, the Black Studies PhD can cover a wide range of North American and transatlantic topics.

These might include questions of racial systems, class formation, identity, creative expression, political futures, gender, sexuality and sexual expression, resistance, and power from the time of slavery to the era of mass incarceration.

Current Black Studies PhD topics

  • Afrofuturism
  • Black communities and environmental justice in relation to national parks and heritage
  • Black identity, photography and wellbeing
  • Black working mothers
  • Digital blackness
  • Legacies of black arts and heritage centres (1980-present)

Study abroad

We are establishing links with universities in the US, such as Columbia University, that we hope will offer international opportunities for exchange and research study.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.

QualificationPhD
Degree

2:1 (or international equivalent) in an arts, humanities or social science subject

For PhD study, we would usually expect you to hold or be working towards a masters degree in a relevant subject

QualificationPhD
Degree

2:1 (or international equivalent) in an arts, humanities or social science subject

For PhD study, we would usually expect you to hold or be working towards a masters degree in a relevant subject

International and EU equivalents

We accept a wide range of qualifications from all over the world.

For information on entry requirements from your country, see our country pages.

IELTS7.0 (no less than 6.5 in each element)
English language requirements

As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications.

This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English.

Meeting our English language requirements

If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a presessional English course. Presessional courses teach you academic skills in addition to English language. Our Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK.

If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.

For on-campus presessional English courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations. For online presessional courses, see our CELE webpages for guidance.

Visa restrictions

International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time courses. The Standard Visitor visa route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.

We recognise that applicants have a variety of experiences and follow different pathways to postgraduate study.

We treat all applicants with alternative qualifications on an individual basis. We may also consider relevant work experience.

If you are unsure whether your qualifications or work experience are relevant, contact us.

Applying

In order to apply, you must submit a research proposal of approximately 1000 words, outlining your key area of investigation and primary research questions, the existing scholarship in the field and your intervention into the debates therein, and the kinds of sources you will be using.

You are encouraged to send a draft proposal to the Director of Black Studies (Hannah Robbins) or to the Departmental Director of Postgraduate Research (currently Dr Christopher Phelps) for feedback prior to submitting your application.

Our step-by-step guide contains everything you need to know about applying for postgraduate research.

How to apply

Fees

QualificationPhD
Home / UK5,100
International21,500

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

You'll be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to buy your own copies of core texts.

Funding

M4C logo

Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training Programme

Midlands4Cities (M4C) PhD students benefit from a high quality package of:

  • funding
  • enhanced support and training
  • expert supervision
  • excellent networking opportunities

You must apply for a place at Nottingham before submitting your M4C application.

Apply to become an M4C student at the University of Nottingham

There are many ways to fund your research degree, from scholarships to government loans.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Postgraduate funding

Support

The department offers:

  • advanced research training
  • frequent reviews and feedback on progress
  • departmental research seminars/work in progress sessions
  • support for research trips and conference attendance
  • inter-library loan

We also offer a programme of visiting speakers and regular symposia organised by staff and students.

You will be encouraged to organise and attend conferences, act as editors for postgraduate journals, and publish book reviews and articles. Many former students have successfully turned their PhDs into books with major presses including Oxford University Press, Manchester University Press, University of California Press, University of Illinois Press, Routledge and Palgrave.

There are regular opportunities to take part in outreach activities, public talks and departmental events. In addition to serving as Departmental Outreach and Engagement Coordinators and Directors of our LGBT and Black History Month programmes, students are given logistical and financial support in order to run their own conferences and organise a week-long research retreat.

You will also have the opportunity to take on a Postgraduate Director role within the Centre for Research in Race and Rights, as well as the possibility of acting as a research assistant (depending on available hours) within specific research projects connected to the Centre for Research in Race and Rights.

Students may also act as teaching assistants, after appropriate teacher training, within the Department of American and Canadian Studies, or other areas within the university, depending on interest, experience and abilities. Teaching assistants are supported and monitored by module convenors, the Chair of Teaching Committee and the Director of Research within the Department of American and Canadian Studies and the Director of the Black Studies PhD programme.

Expert supervision

We encourage you to get in touch with the Director of Postgraduate Admissions, Dr Christopher Phelps, about your research proposal before submitting an application. They may be able to help you with your proposal and offer support to find funding opportunities in your area.

You will have two supervisors who will provide regular expert supervision and feedback on your progress. At least one supervisor must be a member of staff within the Department of American and Canadian Studies. The second supervisor may be from another department or faculty at the University of Nottingham, or potentially from within the Midlands4Cities consortium.

If you are exploring the option of PhD Black Studies, but have come from another field of study, such as the social sciences, you are still welcome to apply and are advised to contact the director for specifically tailored advice on research opportunities with us. Postgraduates can enter the programme with a range of backgrounds in arts, social science or humanities subject areas. As a research-intensive programme, all applicants are offered the chance to acquire the expected skill sets through coursework, workshops or additional training.

Researcher training and development

The Researcher Academy is the network for researchers, and staff who support them. We work together to promote a healthy research culture, to cultivate researcher excellence, and develop creative partnerships that enable researchers to flourish.

Postgraduate researchers at Nottingham have access to our online Members’ area, which includes a wealth of resources, access to training courses and award-winning postgraduate placements.

Graduate centres

Our graduate centres are dedicated community spaces on campus for postgraduates.

Each space has areas for:

  • studying
  • socialising
  • computer work
  • seminars
  • kitchen facilities

Student support

You will have access to a range of support services, including:

  • academic and disability support
  • childcare services
  • counselling service
  • faith support
  • financial support
  • mental health and wellbeing support
  • visa and immigration advice
  • welfare support

Students' Union

Our Students' Union represents all students. You can join the Postgraduate Students’ Network or contact the dedicated Postgraduate Officer.

There are also a range of support networks, including groups for:

  • international students
  • black and minority ethnic students
  • students who identify as women
  • students with disabilities
  • LGBT+ students

SU Advice provides free, independent and confidential advice on issues such as accommodation, financial and academic difficulties.

Where you will learn

University-wide facilities

Technology: MyNottingham app; full campus wi-fi; personal laptop repair; online, face-to-face and telephone support. 

Libraries: extensive print and online resources; 24/7 opening; study support; laptop loans; assistive technology

Manuscripts and Special Collections: rare and specialised documents, books, photos and posters used for teaching and research. Collections include Soviet War posters, DH Lawrence, rare medical records and much, much more!

Careers

Whether you are considering a career in academia, industry or haven't yet decided, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Expert staff will work with you to explore PhD career options and apply for vacancies, develop your interview skills and meet employers. You can book a one-to-one appointment, take an online course or attend a workshop.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Our postgraduates go onto work in a range of fields, from university lectureships and post-doctoral fellowships to roles in the media, art councils and the creative industries.

Many of our research students publish high-quality books and articles and have secured teaching positions in universities both in the UK and abroad.

100% of postgraduates from the School of American and Canadian Studies secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £31,000.*

*HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on data from graduates who completed a full-time postgraduate degree with home fee status and are working full-time within the UK.

A headshot photo of Maxwell Ayamba, PhD Black Studies student
My research builds on the Government's 25 Year Environment Plan and the Julian Glover Review attempt to promote access to the countryside for everyone, especially Black and Minority Ethnic Communities.”
Maxwell Ayamba, PhD Black Studies student

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Research Excellence Framework

The University of Nottingham is ranked 7th in the UK for research power, according to analysis by Times Higher Education. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a national assessment of the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

  • We are the highest ranked American Studies department in the country for research power and research impact
  • 90%* of our research is classed as 'world-leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*)
  • 100%* of our research is recognised internationally
  • 51% of our research is assessed as 'world-leading' (4*) for its impact**

*According to analysis by Times Higher Education ** According to our own analysis.

This content was last updated on 19 April 2024. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.