TECHNE Open Competition for Autumn 2022 entry

TECHNE comprises nine universities and is one of the ten Doctoral Training Partnerships awarded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). TECHNE's vision is to produce scholars who are highly motivated and prepared for academic, public or professional life. Its students will benefit from a diverse and rich range of training workshops and opportunities to engage with partners in the arts and cultural sector.

TECHNE will offer up to 60 doctoral awards per annum for students in the arts and humanities who are applying to undertake PhD study. This includes those who are applying initially as an MPhil student with the intention to upgrade to PhD study.

Open Competition for Doctoral Awards

We are now inviting applications to the TECHNE Open Competition for doctoral awards through Kingston University for 2022 entry. Note that it is not possible to submit an application directly to TECHNE – you must apply through one of the member universities.

Learn more about the TECHNE research community.

Techne Open Evening

You are invited to an on-line open evening hosted by the University of Westminster on Wednesday 29 September 2021. Please register on Eventbrite.

Kingston School of Art Open Event

Join us on 13 October to discuss our PhD programme and the process of applying for Techne funding. Please email KSAresearch-enterprise@kingston.ac.uk to register your attendance.

TECHNE subject areas at Kingston University

• Architecture, urbanism and landscape – history, theory, reflective practice
• Archival practices – history, theory, practice
• Art history and critical theory
• Contemporary art practice
• Creative arts
• Creative writing
• Critical and Historical Studies: Art, Design, Film, Museums and Archives
• Curating
• Dance
• Design history and material culture
• Design for healthcare
• Design for sustainability
• Designer maker spaces
• Drama
• English language
• English literature
• Film practice
• Film and television studies
• Heritage, museum and galleries
• Illustration practice theory
• Media and culture/cultural studies
• Modern European philosophy
• Music
• Photography practice
• Photography, history, theory and culture
• Sound studies

Funding and eligibility

• UK applicants who have been resident in the UK for at least three years immediately preceding the start of their course are eligible for the full scholarship covering stipend and tuition fees.
• International students are eligible for a full stipend to support living costs and tuition fees at the UK Home rate. UKRI funding will not cover international fees set by universities but they will be given the flexibility to find international tuition fees from other sources. See KU tuition fees for more information about fees and EU/Irish eligibility for Home fees status.

Awards are available for both full-time and part-time students. AHRC eligibility criteria apply and all AHRC awards are subject to the AHRC and UKRI terms and conditions. Please ensure that you are familiar with them: they are set out in three documents which can be accessed via the current award holders page on the AHRC website:

• Research Council Terms and Conditions of Training Grants
• UKRI Training Grant Guide
• AHRC's Training Grant Funding Guide

The full-time doctoral stipend for 2021/22 is £17,609; levels are likely to rise slightly for 2022/23 but have not yet been confirmed. Awards will be for 3.5 years full-time or 7 years part-time.

Application process for doctoral funding

1. Read the TECHNE guidance notes

 (These will be available on this webpage soon).

2. Contact a potential supervisor at Kingston University.

This is to discuss your research proposal, the supervision that may be available, and whether you might be considered a suitable candidate for a TECHNE award.  If you are not sure who to contact please see the 'How to Apply' section on the research webpages for Kingston School of Art.

Alternatively, please email the faculty research student coordinator for Kingston School of Art for advice, including 'TECHNE' in the subject line.

3a. Draft application stage for new applicants

Submit a Kingston University online application for October 2022 entry. 

Email a completed TECHNE application form (word document coming soon) with supporting documentation to the faculty research student coordinator for Kingston School of Art with 'TECHNE' and your research area in the subject line.

• Deadline: 23.59 GMT on Sunday 21 November 2021. 
• Interviews: held from week beginning 29 November 2021 onwards

Successful applicants will be invited to work on their application with a proposed supervisory team.

We work closely with researchers to develop their applications so please leave plenty of time for this stage.

3b. Draft application stage for current Kingston students

Please first check your eligibility and discuss your intention to apply with your supervisors and the PGR Coordinator for your subject area.

Email a TECHNE application form (word document coming soon) with supporting documentation to the faculty research student coordinator for Kingston School of Art with 'TECHNE' and your research area in the subject line.

Note that current Kingston PhD students do not need to complete a new KU online application form. You may, however, wish to obtain an up to date reference from your supervisor discussing your progress so far.

Current students will not be required to attend another interview but you may be invited for an informal meeting to discuss your research project.

• Deadline: 23.59 GMT on Sunday 16 January 2022.

4. Final application stage (by invitation only)

Your draft application will be reviewed and, if successful, you will be given feedback and invited to submit a finalised application via the online Techne application portal. 

• Deadline: 23.59 GMT Sunday 23 January 2022

Assessment process

Your application will be considered by an internal panel of subject experts at Kingston University. You will be informed of the outcome by 11 February 2022. If successful, you may be given further feedback to help improve your application which will need to be completed by 21 February 2022.

If your application does go forward, Techne will contact you with the outcome of your application by early May.

Further details of the assessment process can be found on the TECHNE website.

Enquiries are best addressed to the relevant faculty or potential supervisor, but general questions may be sent to: rachel.graham@kingston.ac.uk.