phd york uk

Department of English and Related Literature

PhD in English and Related Literature

Work in an intellectually invigorating environment and be supported by supervisors who are experts in their field.

Be inspired to reach your research ambitions in an intellectual and supportive community at the forefront of English research.

Your research

The diversity of our staff’s research interests means that we are well-positioned to supervise research in any field of literature, from the Middle Ages to the present day, including literature in languages other than English, and literary works in translation.

We also have distinctive expertise in practice-led teaching and research, including archival work and printing. The PhD in English and Related Literature is available on a full-time or part-time basis.

Under the guidance of your supervisor, you'll complete a thesis of up to 80,000 words. A typical semester will involve a great deal of independent research, punctuated by meetings with your supervisor who will be able to suggest direction and address concerns throughout the writing process. You'll be encouraged to undertake periods of research at archives and potentially internationally, depending on your research thesis.

Throughout your degree, you'll have the opportunity to attend a wide range of research training sessions in order to learn archival and research skills, and a range of research seminars organised by the research schools, which bring speakers from around the world for research talks and networking. There is also internal funding available if you wish to propose research events and symposia/conferences.

[email protected] +44 (0) 1904 323366

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You also have the option of enrolling in a PhD in English by distance learning, where you will have the flexibility to work from anywhere in the world. You will attend the Research Training Programme online in your first year and have supervision and progression meetings online.

You must attend a five-day induction programme in York at the beginning of your first year. You will also visit York in your second and third years (every other year for part-time students).

Apply for PhD in English and Related Literature (distance learning)

Top ten department

We're a top ten research department according to the Times Higher Education’s ranking of the latest REF results (2021).

35th in the world

for English Language and Literature in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2023.

Athena Swan Bronze

We're proud to hold an Athena Swan Bronze award in recognition of the work we do to support gender equality in English.

Explore funding for postgraduate researchers in the Department of English and Related Literature.

Supervision

Explore the expertise of our staff and identify a potential supervisor.

Research training

You'll receive training in research methods and skills appropriate to the stage you've reached and the nature of your work. In addition to regular supervisory meetings to discuss planning, researching and writing the thesis, we offer sessions on bibliographic and archival resources (digital, print and manuscript). You'll receive guidance in applying to and presenting at professional conferences, preparing and submitting material for publication and applying for jobs. We meet other training needs in handling research data, various modern languages, palaeography and bibliography. Classical and medieval Latin are also available.

We also offer training in teaching skills for students who wish to pursue teaching posts following their degree. This includes sessions on the delivery and content of seminars and workshops to undergraduates, a structured shadowing programme, teaching inductions and comprehensive guidance and resources for our graduate teaching assistants. Our teacher training is directed by a dedicated staff member.

You'll also benefit from the rich array of research and training sessions at the Humanities Research Centre .

Course location

This course is run by the Department of English and Related Literature.

You'll be based on  Campus West , though your research may take you further afield.

We also have a distance learning option available for this course.

Entry requirements

For doctoral research, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve a first-class or high upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualification) and a Masters degree with distinction. 

The undergraduate and Masters degrees should be in literature, or in a related subject that is closely tied to the proposed research project. 

Other relevant experience and expertise may also be considered:

• Evidence of training in research techniques may be an advantage.
• It is expected that postgraduate applicants would be familiar with the recent published work of their proposed supervisor.
• Publications are not required and we don't expect applicants to have been published before they start their research degrees.

Supervisors interview prospective research students to ensure good supervisory match and to help with funding applications.

The core deciding factor for admission is the quality of the research proposal, though your whole academic profile will be taken into account. We are committed to ensuring that no prospective or existing student is treated less favourably. See our admissions policy for more information.

Apply for the PhD in English and Related Literature

Have a look at the supporting documents you may need for your application.

Before applying, we advise you to identify potential supervisors in the department. Preliminary enquiries are welcomed and should be made as early as possible. However, a scattershot approach – emailing all staff members regardless of the relationship between their research interests and yours – is unlikely to produce positive results. 

If it's not clear which member of staff is appropriate, you should email the Graduate Chair .

Students embarking on a PhD programme are initially enrolled provisionally for that qualification. Confirmation of PhD registration is dependent upon the submission of a satisfactory proposal that meets the standards required for the degree, usually in the second year of study.

Find out more about how to apply .

English language requirements

You'll need to provide evidence of your proficiency in English if it's not your first language.

Check your English language requirements

Research proposals

In order to apply for a PhD, we ask that you submit a research proposal as part of your application.

When making your application, you're advised to make your research proposals as specific and clear as possible. Please indicate the member(s) of staff that you'd wish to work with.

Your research proposal should:

• Identify the precise topic of your topic and communicate the main aim of your research.
• Provide a rigorous and thorough description of your proposed research, including the contributions you will make to current scholarly conversations and debates.
• Describe any previous work you have done in this area, with reference to relevant literature you have read so far.
• Communicate the central sources that the project will address and engage.
• Offer an outline of the argument’s main claims and contributions. Give a clear indication of the authors and texts that your project will address.
• Include the academic factors, such as university facilities, libraries resources, centres, other resources, and / or staff, which have specifically led you to apply to York.

What we look for:

• How you place your topic in conversation with the scholarly landscape: what has been accomplished and what you plan to achieve. This is your chance to show that you have a good understanding of the relevant work on your topic and that you have identified a new way or research question to approach the topic.
• Your voice as a scholar and critical thinker. In clean, clear prose, show those who will assess your application how your proposal demonstrates your original thinking and the potential of your research.
• Your fit with York, including the reasons for working with your supervisor and relevant research schools and centres.
• Above all, remember that there isn’t one uniform way to structure and arrange your research proposal, and that your approach will necessarily reflect your chosen topic.

Careers and skills

• You'll receive support in applying to and presenting at professional conferences, preparing and submitting material for publication and applying for jobs.
• You'll benefit from training in handling research data, various modern languages, palaeography and bibliography. Classical and medieval Latin are also available. The   Humanities Research Centre   also offers a rich array of valuable training sessions.
• We also offer training in teaching skills if you wish to pursue a teaching post following your degree. This includes sessions on the delivery and content of seminars and workshops to undergraduates, a structured shadowing programme, teaching inductions and comprehensive guidance and resources for our graduate teaching assistants.
• You'll have the opportunity to further your training by taking courses accredited by Advance HE:   York Learning and Teaching Award (YLTA)   and the   York Professional and Academic Development scheme (YPAD) .

Find out more about careers

Discover York

We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to deluxe.

Discover more about our researchers, facilities and why York is the perfect choice for your research degree.

Graduate Research School

Connect with researchers across all disciplines to get the most out of your research project.

Find a supervisor

Explore our staff expertise

Find out all you need to know about applying to York

Find funding to support your studies

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I do have to admit that my trips to York have become less frequent since I became a mum. It takes a lot more planning, of almost military precision, to be able to pop out for a day trip to York with a little one! When we do travel up, I try to combine it with a trip into the charming city centre of York. This is especially nice during the Christmas period. The Christmas market is a must-visit attraction in York at this time of year.

So, you might be wondering why I didn’t just choose to study at a university that was closer to home? Well, I chose York after meeting several members of the Department of Education at a conference. Everyone was so friendly and encouraging about my research ideas that I thought it was worth the potential travelling difficulties to join such a welcoming group of colleagues and mentors.

I was delighted when I found out that I’d been accepted to study for my PhD with the Psychology in Education Research Centre in the Department of Education at York. My supervisor, Dr Poppy Nash, has been fantastically supportive and understanding from the very start of my PhD journey.

A rich postgraduate experience

I can say with confidence that I made the right choice to choose York for my PhD study. Living a fair distance away does mean that sometimes things are not as straight forward as they could be. However, I certainly don’t feel that it has detracted from the richness of my postgraduate university experience. I sometimes have to make an extra effort, such as setting off from home super early to make a 9 o’clock training session, or having to arrange telephone interviews when I could not attend in person. But I have made sure that I have not missed out on the many and varied opportunities that being a postgraduate student at York offers.

For example, I have been involved in an internship with the Careers Service and participated in the Three Minute Thesis competition. I’ve achieved the York Learning and Teaching Award for aspiring academics, and have taken on valuable teaching opportunities that will help my CV stand out in the job market.

And nowhere else would you look up to find geese watching your supervision meeting through the window! Visiting the beautiful campus for the first time and meeting the quirky wildlife helped to cement my decision to study at York.

About Laura

I'm Laura and I'm a final year part-time PhD student with the Psychology in Education Research Centre in the Department of Education at York. I'm a member of Derwent College and have really enjoyed my time at York so far.

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About this blog

These blogs represent students’ views and reflections, at the time of publish. For course details and the official information please always refer to the University of York website .

To get in contact with us about anything on this blog you can email us .

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Postgraduate course

Practice-led Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Combine your research with your creative practice. Immerse yourself in your chosen specialism and produce research of the highest academic quality.

A practice-led PhD offers artists, writers, and performers the opportunity to work within and interrogate their chosen field to generate new knowledge. Practice-led PhDs have two components: a creative body of work ( such as artefacts, compositions, images, installations, performances, or written manuscript) and a 25,000 to 50,000 word critical reflective document that articulates the submission’s research questions and originality. We offer Practice-led PhDs in the School of the Arts and School of Humanities.

Course location York campus

• Duration – 3 years full time, 6 years part time
• Start date – February 2025, June 2024, October 2024, October 2025

Minimum entry requirements

2:1 degree in a related subject

Master's qualification

Tuition fees

UK 2023-24 £4,400 per year full time

International 2023-24 £12,750 per year full time

Course overview

A Practice-led PhD enables you as an artist, writer, or performer to interrogate your work’s contribution to culture and society. It offers the opportunity to rearticulate your practice as research, and to gain the highest educational qualification a university can offer. In dialogue with your supervisors, a practice-led PhD will support you to generate new ways of thinking that can challenge outmoded cultural norms and social injustice.

Throughout your PhD you will collaborate with a carefully selected supervisory team and be part of an exceptional research community of postgraduate researchers.

When you choose to study with us, you will get plenty of opportunities to enhance your professional personal skills. These could include:

• Gaining teaching experience
• Presenting your research at conferences and events
• Participating in exhibitions and performances
• Engaging with further training
• Working with the community

Professional Development and training

During your Practice-led PhD, you will discuss additional training with your supervisory team. Your supervisors will help you identify your strengths and highlight areas for development. The University delivers a blended training programme that will help you to develop your research and professional skills, enhance your CV and your employability.

Course structure

How you will study.

Your Practice-led PhD will consist of 3 stages, in which you will:

• Produce a review of the literature and practice that characterises the current research in your field
• Pose a set of innovative questions that advance knowledge in your area
• Develop, explore and resolve a sustained body of research practice or creative research output(s)
• Write a 25,000 to 50,000 word critical reflective document
• Attend a viva voce or oral examination

In the initial stage of your studies, you will establish a working relationship with your supervisory team and audit a Level 7 research methodologies module to support your introduction to practice-led research. You will discuss your research proposal to identify the research content of your practice and formulate a suitable plan for your studies, before undertaking an in-depth review of the literature and practice in your field to critique, analyse, and evaluate existing research. This will ensure the originality of your project. During this time, you will undergo the first formal Review with your supervisory team and a Transfer assessment. The Transfer will take place before an academic panel who will independently assess whether your research project has the potential to lead to the award of a PhD by practice.

During the second stage of your studies, you will continue to develop your practice, explore its capacity as research, and plan how it will be supplemented by the 25,000 to 50,000 word critical reflective document. We encourage you to present work in progress from your practice and critical reflection throughout, as well as presenting your work at conferences, events, and for exhibition, performance and publication as is appropriate to the form of your research and its discipline. You will meet regularly with your supervisors and have a formal Annual Review to ensure your project is progressing.

In the final stage of your studies, you will resolve your practice and its research questions. You will complete the critical reflective document that situates your research in your chosen field and articulates its originality. At this stage you will have a final formal annual review alongside your regular supervisor meetings. Your supervisors will consult you on the selection of your internal and external examiners. At the end of your final phase, you will submit your practice-led research and critical reflective document which will be examined in a viva voce. In this examination you will be asked to discuss and critically defend your research in a meeting held with an independent chair, and your internal and external examiners.

Entry Requirements

Qualifications.

2:1 degree in a related subject See full entry requirements including GCSEs

International Students

If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.

Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.

If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 7.0 (with no skill below 6.0) or equivalent.

International entry requirements

Fees and funding

Uk 2023 to 2024.

The tuition fee for 2024 entry to this PhD course is £4,400 for full time UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.

For UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man candidates studying part time, the tuition fee for 2022 entry to this PhD course is £2,200 per year.

Doctoral loans are available to help you pay for your course. Find out more about UK Government Doctoral loans .

More information about funding your PhD is available on our Funding your research degree page.

International 2023 to 2024

The tuition fee for 2024 entry to this PhD course is £12,750 per annum for full time international candidates.

For international candidates on a part time course the annual cost is £6,375.

More information about funding your PhD is available on our International Fees and Funding page.

International Visa and Immigration

UK 2023-24 £4,400 per year full time

Additional costs

Depending upon the nature of your research project, a bench fee might be applied as a separate cost to your tuition fee. Bench fees are normally incurred for laboratory consumables and other significant project costs and any goods will remain under the property of the University.

If you have any queries regarding bench fees, please speak to your potential supervisor during the application process.

Any bench fees will be included in your offer letter and if you accept, the charge will be in addition to your tuition fees.

Contact us to discuss your research proposal

If you know what subject you want to research or you just want to find out more, contacting a School Postgraduate Research Leads is a great first step.

York St John University offer Practice-led PhDs in the School of the Arts and School of Humanities. Our School Postgraduate Research Leads are the right people to talk to if you want to study a research degree. They can help you turn your practice interests into a research proposal. They can also put you in contact with an academic who is researching a similar subject, and who could be your research supervisor during your studies.

School of the Arts Postgraduate Research Lead: Claire Hind - [email protected]

Contact Claire if you are interested in subjects relating to:

• Drama and theatre
• Music, performance and production
• Fine art, illustration and photography
• Media production
• Visual communication

School of Humanities Postgraduate Research Lead: Rob Edgar - [email protected]

Contact Rob if you are interested in subjects relating to:

• Creative writing
• Screen writing

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PHD SPOTLIGHT

Wednesday 10 january 2024, 11am - 4pm, piazza box, piazza building.

Free entry, drop-in anytime, no booking required

About phd spotlight

The competition.

The PhD Spotlight competition challenges postgraduate researchers to engage the public with their original and cutting edge research, through the medium of an interactive display/experience. 

Created by the York Graduate Research School (YGRS) in 2015, PhD Spotlight originally began as a poster competition, and has since evolved to allow for greater creativity and range of mediums.

Today, finalists are provided with limited resources (a table, a screen, a display board, and a poster), and are tasked with transforming these resources into interactive and engaging experiences.

A celebration of research

The PhD Spotlight competition forms part of the University's annual YorkTalks event: a fascinating exploration of research happening at York. The PhD Spotlight competition specifically focuses on researchers who are at the beginning of their research journeys, highlighting the exciting future of research.

Image captions

2024 FINALISTS

Cancelled andrew sage.

1970s Britain was a political and economic turbulent time. The first half of the decade saw three General Elections with swings from Labour to the Conservatives and back again. Inflation was a constant problem, reaching nearly 24% in 1975. The 1970s also saw the cancellation of multiple transport infrastructure projects including: a third London airport to be built on reclaimed land on the Essex coast; a Channel Tunnel over a decade before work for today’s tunnel began; and motorways through London. Large scale projects like these involve multiple organisations and secondary projects which all affect the overall outcome. Using these 1970s British cancelled projects as case studies, I am researching the impact of changing political and economic policymakers on the management and goals of long running, large scale infrastructure projects. My initial research is focused on the case study of the third London airport at Maplin Sands on the Essex coast .

About Andrew

Andrew Sage is a first-year PhD researcher in the field of Business Management History at the School of Business and Society, University of York, where he also obtained his MA in Railway Studies. His PhD research, using archival material, investigates the impact of changing political and economic policymakers on the management and goals of long running, large scale infrastructure projects.

"1970s Britain was a political and economic turbulent time ."

"Since the 1950s, singers approaching earlier music have drawn upon historical evidence to inform their performances."

Historical pronunciation for early modern Song benjamin maloney

Since the 1950s, singers approaching earlier music have drawn upon historical evidence to inform their performances. Historical pronunciation, however, represents a crucial aspect that is not currently a part of this process. The sound of English has changed substantially in 500 years; nonetheless, early songs are usually performed with modern received pronunciation. The result is that the stresses of the text no longer align correctly with the music, and the rhymes are compromised. Scholars interested in reforming spelling during the Renaissance provided us with detailed evidence about the sounds of their speech. Unfortunately, this information is seldom applied to the music of their time. My objective is to document the connection between music and language in England 1540-1690, and to create a method for incorporating historical pronunciation into modern performances of early music. I hope to recover a lost element of the sound of England's rich song heritage.

About Benjamin

Benjamin, a second-year PhD student in Music and Linguistics, specialises in historical musicology. His research centres on the music and musical culture of early modern England and colonial North America during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Benjamin earned his undergraduate degree in music from the University of York, and a master's degree from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, focusing on historically informed performance. His doctoral work on philology focuses on reconstructing the sound of Early Modern English, examining evidence on how earlier musicians may have approached singing in their language during and after the Reformation.

You are what you eat: food culture and identity in northern roman britain lucy makinson

What and how we cook, eat and drink is associated with culture and identity today, and shines a light on the past too.  Roman trade and conquest was accompanied by the spread of Mediterranean and other food cultures, seen in ingredients (olive oil, wine, fish sauce), in cooking and eating vessels, and in the social practices of dining.

However, like today, in consuming their meals, people in the past adapted food culture to suit their lives. Archaeological pottery, food residues, plants and animal remains indicate several Roman food cultures in Britain, as well as native traditions.  It seems there was no typical Roman food culture, and that consumption patterns followed local economic and social contexts. My analysis of pottery and food residues on vessels explores what and how people cooked in the relatively under-studied civilian northern Britain, how they adopted and adapted cooking and dining practices, and what this tells us about identity and mobility.

Lucy is a second-year PhD researcher in the Archaeology Department. Her research investigates Roman food cultures in northern Britain through the study of pottery and food residues from archaeological sites.

"Archaeological pottery, food residues, plants and animal remains indicate several Roman food cultures in Britain , as well as native traditions..."

"We created a series of short musicals to be performed live in browser-based VR... "

making musicals in the metaverse: virtual production for live performance mary stewart-david

One of the very few benefits of the pandemic was to drive musical theatre creatives online. Once we realised that the Zoom musical was a poor substitute for physical productions, we started to look at using Virtual Reality (VR) for staging live performances across networks. 

With a team of virtual theatre-makers from the School of Arts and Creative Technologies, and support from HRC, XR Stories and Story Futures, we created a series of short musicals to be performed live in browser-based VR (ie VR that can be experienced on a PC as well as in a VR headset).

With our external collaborators (notably Professor Rob Morgan from Washington University, St Louis) we have made a range of prototypical small scale musicals for VR, and Virtual Production for film, which demonstrate that the narrative function of the virtual musical can work in much the same way as in any physical stage production.

Mary Stewart-David is a writer and lyricist in musical theatre and film currently completing a PhD by Practice at the School of Arts and Creative Technologies, University of York. Her research is centred on the narrative function of the traditional book musical in immersive and interactive environments, both physical and virtual. With a team of creative technologists from the University of York, she is currently using games engine technology to stage live and recorded musical theatre performance in Virtual Reality and Virtual Production for film. 

the immune system gone rogue: why do sometimes our biological defenders stop protecting us and favour disease? muhammad asad Kamran

The immune system is our network of cellular warriors that defends us against attacks by invading pathogens. As long as our immune system is running smoothly, we remain healthy. But if it stops working properly, we get ill. On rare occasions, the immune system finds it hard to distinguish between invading pathogens and our own cells, and ends up attacking our own tissues. This defence “error” is called “autoimmunity”. My PhD project aims to uncover how infections can lead to autoimmunity, by studying Trypanosoma cruzi / Chagas disease as an infection model. Chagas is a neglected tropical disease, and triggers autoimmunity against the heart. It is the leading cause of infectious heart disease worldwide, and therefore has the highest impact of a parasitic disease of the western hemisphere.

I will try to outline how this disease develops, and how we can address the problem of autoimmunity to favour development of novel improved treatments.

About Muhammad

Muhammad is a first-year Biomedical sciences DiMeN DTP PhD candidate in Immunology and Parasitology from Hull York Medical School based at the Biology Department. His project aims at discovering the main molecular and genetic markers of parasite-specific and autoreactive heart-specific B cells in T. cruzi infection and understanding the function of B cells which have infiltrated the heart of parasite infected mice. He is trying to explore the functional mechanisms by which parasite-specific and heart-specific B cells contribute to host protection and cardiac pathology in Chagas disease. Besides science, Muhammad has experience in trade and building start-ups.

"...how can we address the problem of autoimmunity to favour development of novel improved treatments?"

"DNA can store dense amounts of data , lasting up to 1000 years"

DNA: A new strand of data storage Francisca d'rozario

In today’s world, there is a never-ending need to store digital photos, documents, videos and more in devices such as smartphones, laptops, CDs, hard drives and the “cloud”. Data centres around the world consume a vast amount of electricity and their growth will be unsustainable beyond the next decade. Therefore, it is vital to switch to stable and environmentally-sustainable data storage methods. DNA, prepared in a laboratory, can solve these issues. DNA can store dense amounts of data, lasting up to 1000 years and reduce energy consumption by 1000 times compared to present data centres. My research focuses on DNA structures called DNA triplex switches, which can switch between two different structural forms when subjected to acids and bases, making one form data-readable and the other not. DNA switches, integrated into electronics, have the potential to serve as dense and durable data storage devices, saving energy and sparing the planet’s health!

About Francisca

Francisca D’Rozario is a third-year PhD student in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology studying DNA nanotechnology, funded by EPSRC. She has a Masters in Nanoscience and Technology Degree from India, and her present research focuses on DNA structures called DNA triplex switches, which have the potential for integration into electronics as a digital data storage system. Francisca is interested in studying the kinetics and thermodynamics of such DNA structures to fully uncover their potential as beneficial tools for modern biotechnology and bioelectronics.

it is cheaper to be fat, but what does it cost you? Sarah veale

Dive into "It is Cheaper to be Fat, But What Does it Cost You?"—an eye-opening exhibit that explores the influence of poverty on the dietary choices, encompassing both preference and accessibility, of pregnant individuals in the UK.

Through vivid visuals and interactive activities, explore the stark differences between highly and minimally processed diets in the UK. Engage in activities to grasp the real-world challenges families face in making nutritious yet affordable choices. This exhibit seeks to dispel pregnancy nutrition myths whilst highlighting commonly held misconceptions about nutritional content in foods, to iterate the profound effects of our daily meal choices.

This immersive experience propels conversation on the realities of the Cost of Living Crisis, emphasising the expanding social inequalities in the UK, disproportionately felt by vulnerable communities. Engage with this display to strengthen your own understanding of dietary: choices, constraints and ideas experienced by pregnant people in the UK.

About Sarah

Guided by an intersectional feminist approach, Sarah recognizes the importance of comprehending and emphasising the individualised and multifaceted influences pregnant people experience, particularly considering factors such as: gender, socioeconomic status, and cultural contexts.

Eager to engage the public, Sarah's accessible research sparks informed discussions, raising awareness of the intricate links between pregnancy, poverty, and dietary choices. Emphasising that government policies significantly shape these decisions, Sarah contends that responsibility for social inequalities extends beyond individuals. By spotlighting the magnitude of these disparities, she aims to advocate for extensive policy changes and secure sustainable support for historically vulnerable communities. #MadeByDyslexia

"...the expanding social inequalities in the UK [are] disproportionately felt by vulnerable communities."

2024 WINNERS

Sarah Veale, Department of Health Sciences

It is Cheaper to Be Fat, But What Does It Cost You?

Andrew Sage, School of Business and Society

3rd place People's Choice

Francisca D'Rozario, School of Physics, Engineering and Technology

DNA: A New Strand of Data Storage

JUDGING PANEL AND PRESENTERS

Our 2024 judging panel.

In addition to our People's Choice Award, the work of our finalists was also reviewed by our panel, for first, second and third place prizes. In 2024, we were delighted to welcome members of our panel from a wide range of disciplines to help us choose our winner.

Read on below for a bit of background on each of our panelists.

Professor Kate Arnold

Dean of the York Graduate Research School and Professor of Ecology in the Environment and Geography Department, University of York

Having been Dean of the York Graduate Research School since September 2020, Kate has strategic oversight of over 2,400 postgraduate researchers.

An ecologist by background, for over 20 years she has carried out research at the interface of science, policy and regulation. Her current projects, based in York's Department of Environment and Geography, are investigating the effects of environmental change, including chemical contaminants and habitat management, on wildlife.

From 2018-2020, she worked for Defra heading up an EU exit strategy team focusing on circular economy and single-use plastic policies.

Charlotte Kingston

Head of Design, Exhibitions and Communications at the National Railway Museum

Charlotte Kingston has been the Head of Design, Exhibitions and Communications at the National Railway Museum (NRM) since 2018. She leads on the public programme of exhibitions and displays for NRM and oversees internal and external communications at both NRM in York and its sister museum Locomotion in Shildon, County Durham.  

She has also led key pieces of strategic change at the museum, and plays an active role in the development and delivery of NRM’s transformative c.£95m masterplan. Charlotte previously worked as a freelance consultant and curator, with clients including the IKEA Museum in Sweden, the National Library of Ireland, the V&A and the Horniman Museum in London, as well as a broadcaster and researcher.

Dr Stuart Higgins

UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology

Stuart is a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and Lecturer in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology. His research focuses on the interface between cells, biomolecules and engineered materials and bioelectronics. He has a particular interest in the role electricity plays in regulating life.

Stuart has been involved in public engagement for over 15 years. He was the Daphne Oram Award Lecturer at the 2019 British Science Festival, a winner of I’m a Scientist Get Me Out of Here , and has previously participated in poetry-based and comedy-based science engagement projects.

His personal projects include Science in the Supermarket , which promoted STEM to young families to help raise the aspirations of 8-12 year olds. The project used the ideas of science capital and neutral third spaces (such as supermarkets), to introduce young people to science outside of traditional school, university or museum settings.

Stuart has also produced a radio mini-series for The Naked Scientists called Down to Earth , broadcast on BBC Radio, and is the producer of Scientists not the Science , an award-winning podcast on research culture.

Find out more about Stuart below:

Professor Rachel Cowgill

Professor of Music in the School of Arts and Creative Technologies, University of York

Rachel is a professor of Music in the School of Arts and Creative Technologies. Her background is in cultural-historical musicology, with a focus on British music and musical cultures; opera studies; music, conflict and commemoration; and music, gender and identity. 

Rachel is passionate about creativity, interdisciplinary collaboration, academic outreach and bringing research to the public, and she appears regularly on TV and Radio (including episodes of the BBC’s Who do you think you are? ). She has just finished a term as University Research Theme Champion for Creativity.

Rachel is also project lead for StreetLife , an immersive pop-up creative and cultural hub in Coney Street, which has brought together music, print, and heritage teams to explore and celebrate the past, present and future communities of York’s city centre. 

Megan Wright

PhD Researcher in the Education Department (University of York), and joint first-place winner and recipient of the People’s Choice award at the 2023 PhD Spotlight competition

Megan’s specialism centres around the attitudes toward adulthood. This includes how adulthood is defined, whether people see themselves as adults, and whether adulthood is perceived as a positive or negative time in somebody’s life.

Megan took part in the 2023 PhD Spotlight competition with her display Are you an adult? She was crowned joint winner (judge’s choice) and also the people’s choice award winner. 

Megan submitted her thesis entitled ‘What makes an adult? An investigation into the psychology of modern adulthood’ in September 2023, and is currently undertaking an internship with the Hogan Research Institute, a branch of the personality research company Hogan Assessments.  

Find out more about Megan’s research by visiting the project website and by reading her blog on psyche .

Professor Kate Arnold, Dean of the York Graduate Research School (University of York)

Charlotte Kingston, Head of Design, Exhibitions and Communications at the National Railway Museum (NRM)

Dr. Stuart Higgins, UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology

Professor Rachel Cowgill, Professor of Music in the School of Arts and Creative Technologies (University of York)

Megan Wright, PhD Researcher in the Education Department (University of York) and joint first place winner and People’s Choice Award recipient of the PhD Spotlight 2023 competition

Judging Criteria and Prizes

2024 prizes.

1st place - £100 voucher 2nd place - £75 voucher 3rd place - £50 voucher People's choice - £25 voucher

Judging Criteria

Finalists will be judged according to the following:

• Creativity: Produce a display or experience with visual appeal and coherence
• Impact: Relevance of your display outside a single field/academia 
• Communication: Inform the public and non-specialist audiences about your research in exciting ways
• Originality: The display should be based on your original research and contribution to knowledge