TECHNE Open Competition for Autumn 2023 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.

Techne Open Event

This event is on 28 September 2022. If you missed signing up for it, and would like to discuss the application process or ask any questions, please email: ksaresearch-applications@kingston.ac.uk.

Kingston School of Art Events

Online Open Event: 12 October 5-7pm

In person at the Knight's Park campus: 19 October 4-6pm

Please email to book: ksaresearch-applications@kingston.ac.uk.

Techne Application workshop (online): 27 October 1-2pm

Please email to book: ksaresearch-applications@kingston.ac.uk.

Open competition for doctoral awards

We are now inviting applications to the TECHNE Open Competition for doctoral awards through Kingston University for 2023 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 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 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 2022/23 is £19,668; levels are likely to rise slightly for 2023/24 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

 Application guidance for students applying to TECHNE 2023 (PDF)

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

Complete a Kingston TECHNE Draft Application Form (word document) and attach it to your Kingston online application. Note that you do not need to complete sections 5 and 6 as this information is already covered by your online application.

Submit a Kingston University online application for October 2023 entry. 

Email the faculty research student coordinator for Kingston School of Art with 'TECHNE' and your research area in the subject line and confirm that you have applied online. Please include your application reference number.

Complete our short Equal Opportunities Form (note: this will not be linked to your application form).

• Deadline: 12.00 (midday) GMT on Thursday 17 November 2022. 
• Interviews: held from week beginning 28 November 2022 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.

We actively support diversity in Higher Education and we are able to offer additional mentoring support to those from underrepresented groups including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic applicants, those with disabilities, carers, and first-generation university students. Please contact the faculty research student coordinator for further information.

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.

Complete a Kingston TECHNE Draft Application Form (word document) and add it to a Box folder named "Techne application" and your name. Please share the Box folder with your supervisors, plus Emily Bowles and Rupes Bains, inviting them all as Editors.

Once you have done this please email the faculty research student coordinator for Kingston School of Art with 'TECHNE' and your research area in the subject line and include the link to your Box folder.

Complete our short Equal Opportunities Form (note: this will not be linked to your application form).

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: 12.00 (midday) GMT on Thursday 17 November 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. 

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 13 February 2023. If successful, you may be given further feedback to help improve your application which will need to be completed by 21 February 2023.

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.