PhD Programme Studentship Migrant histories: local, national and international perspectives

A PhD research studentship to be supervised by the world class migration and ethnicity history team at De Montfort University, is available to suitably qualified UK or EU students only, due to the funding restrictions.

The proposed studentship focuses upon migration to Britain over the past century. Being based upon the city of Leicester, one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the UK, this studentship offers a particular opportunity for locally urban focussed research, examining the experiences of migrants in Leicester, while tying them in with national and international perspectives, situating any research within established social science and historical paradigms. Although Leicester now contains a significant population of South Asian origin, which stands at around 40 per cent, international migration to the city encompassed the entire 20th century so that the city witnessed important streams of Irish, East European and Southern European settlement by the 1970s, which has taken off again in recent decades from the European Union.

We would welcome applications working on the following timely and relevant areas of investigation, all of which offer significant scope for further historical and contemporary research:

Migrants' workplace experiences Caste and class and its importance in the functioning of ethnic communities Inter-ethnic friendships and relationships Transnational links and remittances Migrants' mobilities and migration journeys Migrant communities, material culture and consumption The evolution of ethnic economies

The supervisory team have particular expertise in South Asian and East European migration, but the studentship could research any migrant group and could be comparative in nature. Thus we would welcome applications which focus upon, for instance, the evolution of a South Asian ethnic economy in Leicester since the 1960s or a project which dealt with the importance of all migrants in the evolution of the restaurant trade in Leicester from Greek Cypriots and Italians to Bangladeshis and Gujuratis.

For a more detailed description of the studentship project please visit our web page or contact Anne McLoughlin at amcloughlin@dmu.ac.uk or +44 (0)116 250 6179.

This is one of 28 scholarships funded by DMU in 2011/12 to build on our excellent achievements in the RAE2008 and looking forward to REF2014. It will develop the university's research capacity into new and evolving areas of study, enhancing DMU's national and international research partnerships.

Applications are invited from UK or EU students only, due to the funding restrictions, with a good first degree (First, 2:1 or equivalent) in a relevant subject. Doctoral scholarships are available for up to three years full-time study starting October 2011 and provide a bursary of £13,770pa in addition to University tuition fees.

Applicants should contact Anne McLoughlin at amcloughlin@dmu.ac.uk or +44 (0)116 250 6179 to receive an application pack.

Please quote ref: DMU studentships 2011

Closing Date: Monday 11 April 2011