Funding
Funded
Fighting Words NI, fostering creativity: evaluating the impact of a model of creative writing facilitation for young people
School of Arts, English and Languages | PHD
Reference Number
AEL2026/04
Application Deadline
30 January 2026
Start Date
1 October 2026
Overview
This opportunity is for a fully-funded full-time doctoral project, to be supervised by English (Dr Lugea) and Education (Dr Roberts), as well as the external partner, the charity Fighting Words NI (FWNI). The candidate will be expected to conduct research evaluating FWNI’s method of creative writing facilitation amongst young people in NI schools. The project involves working across academia and the charity/school sector.
Fighting Words NI (FWNI) is a charity dedicated to empowering young people aged 6-18 through the transformative power of creative writing. They use a model for facilitating creative writing sessions, with emphasis on encouraging originality in thought and expression, and helping children find their voice, equipping young people with the tools to address social challenges. Some research has been produced on the effects of the model in the Republic of Ireland, evidencing the personal, academic and social benefits (CREA 2014) and its potential to empower children to learn creatively, with a range of positive impacts on wellbeing including the amplification of the teenage voice, as well as confidence, esteem and resilience (White 2022). However, there is no extant research on the work of FWNI, who operate in a unique educational, cultural and socio-political context.
This project aims to codify the model, with reference to extant similar models and scholarship on their effectiveness. It also examines the different ways that FWNI operates (one-off sessions and longer, more engaged projects with particular stakeholder groups) and compares the impact and effectiveness of these methods, within the NI context. To do so, it gathers evaluative data from all the relevant stakeholder groups, including the young people taking part and their school teachers.
Research Questions:
1. How can Fighting Word NI’s models of creative writing facilitation be defined?
2. What are the effects of the model on young people during and after individual sessions?
3. What are the effects of the model on young people after more long-term engagement with the model?
4. What are the implications of the particular Northern Irish context (educational, cultural and socio-political) for Fighting Words NI’s delivery?
The academic supervisors are drawn from across the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Dr Lugea has conducted AHRC-funded empirical research using reading groups for the past five years, developing the work into an Impact Case Study. During that time, she has gained expertise in gathering data from facilitated group sessions and, further, in evaluating the effectiveness of the activity, and its impact on participants. She therefore has a wealth of methodological expertise to lend to the supervision of this project. Dr Roberts is an experienced English teacher and is Director of the PGCE English programme at QUB. Her research interests are focused on programme and educational effectiveness and recent works have included evaluations of reading instruction in primary schools, literacy and drama programmes.
In Year 1, the student will be trained in FWNI’s facilitation method for first-hand experience and understanding. They will undertake research into extant scholarship on similar methods, as well as the particular NI context in which the charity is working, feeding into a critical Literature Review. Year 1 will also involve preparing the methodology and ethics application.
In Year 2, the student will conduct fieldwork by attending the charity’s workshops, gathering data from one-off individual sessions, and a longer-term school programme. Data will be gathering in accordance with ethical procedures and subject to ethical approval.
In Year 3, the student will transcribe, process and analyse the data collected, writing-up the analysis chapters. Findings will be disseminated through academic, professional and policymaking channels.
Skills and Experience in the Candidate:
Essential:
- Experience of empirical research methods and/or arts evaluation
- Good presentation skills
Desirable:
- An interest in child-led creativity
- Awareness of/interest in educational context
While designed by the co-supervisors as a PhD in English or Education, it is possible that this project could evolve into a PhD in Arts Management, in which case tertiary supervision would be sought from that subject area.
Funding Information
Quote the reference of the project on your application.
DfE eligibility information: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/department-economy-postgraduate-studentship-scheme#toc-2
Project Summary
Supervisor
Dr Jane Lugea
Mode of Study
Full-time: 3 years
Funding Body
DfE
English overview
English offers pathways in Literary Studies, Creative Writing or Language and Linguistics.
Proposals are welcomed in all areas from Medieval to Modern. Areas of expertise in a School that brings together award-winning writers, linguists and critics working across British, Irish and American Literature include Poetry; Irish Literature; American Literature; Shakespeare and Renaissance Studies; Literature and Place; Culture, Geography and Identity, from the local to the global, from earliest writing to the contemporary; Literature, Crime and Conflict; and, Science, Medicine and Culture.
The School's specialisms are represented in the Centre for the Americas, the Centre for Eighteenth-Century Studies, Institute of Irish Studies, Centre for Research in Linguistics and the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry - an internationally-recognised centre of excellence for the study and production of literature. This active research environment means that your project in literary studies, creative writing or linguistics will be supported by dynamic research groups and experts in the field.
Details of current staff expertise can be found on the School of Arts, English and Languages website. https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/ael/Study/English/
Mode of study/duration
Registration is on a full-time or part-time basis, under the direction of a supervisory team appointed by the University. You will be expected to submit your thesis at the end of three years of full-time registration for PhD (or part-time equivalent).
English Highlights
Internationally Renowned Experts
- Supervision by internationally renowned experts.
Become part of the lively research culture of the School, including the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry, an internationally recognised centre of excellence for the study and production of literature.
A thriving postgraduate culture which includes an annual postgraduate conference and a peer mentoring scheme.
English Language and Literature is one of the Queen’s subjects in the top 101-150 in the world according to QS World Rankings by subject 2025. Creative Writing ranked 2nd in the UK in the Times Good University Guide 2022.
Key Facts
Research students are encouraged to play a full and active role in the professional and research activities of the School. These include:
- Regular research seminars for academics in English, as well as access to other subjects' research seminar programmes and the vibrant Seamus Heaney Centre events programme.
- Access to The Graduate School's programme of postgraduate development activities and training.
- Opportunities to engage with the AEL Student Research Network and organise and present at the annual postgraduate conference.
Course content
Research Information
Associated Research
A number of major research projects (including Doctoral and Postdoctoral posts in Language and Linguistics, Medieval Studies, Modern Literary Studies and Renaissance Literature) have been funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). Poetry and Irish writing remain at the core of the School's research expertise. The School is home to the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry and the Centre for the Americas. A number of staff participate in the Centre for Eighteenth-Century Studies and the Institute of Irish Studies, and are fellows of the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute For Global Peace, Security And Justice.
Career Prospects
Introduction
For further information on career opportunities at PhD level please contact the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Career Development Team on ahssdevoffice@qub.ac.uk / +44 28 9097 5175
People teaching you
Dr Justin Livingstone
Senior Lecturer in English Literature
SAEL
Email: j.livingstone@qub.ac.uk
List of Potential Supervisors for English PhD
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/ael/Connect/KEYSCHOOLCONTACTS/#english-a-k-1177768-4
Learning Outcomes
A research degree in English offers students an opportunity to foster their capacity for independent research, creative writing and critical thought. It allows students to explore an area of interest and to make an original contribution to the field. Undertaking a research degree can enhance a student’s written and oral communication skills and a PhD is almost always a formal requirement for an academic post.Course structure
There is no specific course content as such. You will be able to take training courses in research skills and professional development organized by the School and the Graduate School. You will also have the opportunity to hear global subject experts at the English research seminar and to present your own work at this seminar series.You will normally register, in the first instance, as an ‘undifferentiated PhD student’ which means that you have satisfied staff that you are capable of undertaking a research degree.
Differentiation takes place about 9-12 months after registration for full time students and about 18-30 months for part time students: You are normally asked to submit work to a panel of up two academics and this is followed up with a formal meeting with the ‘Differentiation Panel’. The Panel then make a judgement about your capacity to continue with your study.
To complete with a doctoral qualification you will be required to submit a thesis of approx 80,000 words and you will be required to attend a viva voce [oral examination] with an external and internal examiner to defend your thesis.
A PhD programme runs for 3-years full-time or 6 years part-time. Students can apply for a writing up year should it be required.
Application Process
Please review the eligibility criteria on the webpages. If you believe that you meet these criteria then follow the steps below:
Select one potential supervisor from our list of Academic Staff (https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/ael/Connect/Staff/#as-english) and send an email containing
A brief CV (1-2 pages maximum)
A concise statement that you are interested in studying for a PhD, stating when you would start, and how you would plan to fund the research
A brief statement of the research question or interest, and how you think the question could be investigated
Our academic staff welcome approaches from prospective students; staff can liaise with applicants to develop a research proposal of mutual interest. The potential supervisor should get back to you within a couple of weeks. They may invite you to meet with them or they may invite you to apply formally.
The closing date for applications is 31st August each year, for part-time and self-funded full-time study. For full-time candidates who wish to compete for a studentship, the deadlines are much earlier in the year. Available scholarships and closing dates are detailed at http://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/PostgraduateStudy/FundingandScholarships/PHDStudentshipAwards/
Assessment
Assessment processes for the Research Degree differ from taught degrees. Students will be expected to present drafts of their work at regular intervals to their supervisor who will provide written and oral feedback.
A formal assessment process takes place annually. This Annual Progress Review requires students to present their work in writing and orally to a panel of academics from within the School. Successful completion of this process will allow students to register for the next academic year.
The final assessment of the doctoral degree is both oral and written. Students will submit their thesis of approx. 80,000 words to an internal and external examining team who will review the written thesis before inviting the student to orally defend their work at a Viva Voce.
Feedback
Supervisors will offer feedback on draft work at regular intervals throughout the period of registration on the degree.
Entrance requirements
Graduate
A 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. While a Master’s degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) is not essential, it is desirable and applicants without this qualification will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
International Students
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.
English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University, is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.
International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.
For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
Tuition Fees
| Northern Ireland (NI) 1 | TBC |
| Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 | TBC |
| England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 | TBC |
| EU Other 3 | £22,500 |
| International | £22,500 |
1 EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled or pre-settled status, are expected to be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly Student Fees Regulations. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB are expected to be charged the GB fee, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations.
2 It is expected that EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI will be eligible for NI tuition fees. The tuition fee set out above is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations.
3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.
All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. All fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
More information on postgraduate tuition fees.
English costs
There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.
Additional course costs
All Students
Depending on the programme of study, there may also be other extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies . Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £100 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges. Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen. There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, and library fines. In undertaking a research project students may incur costs associated with transport and/or materials, and there will also be additional costs for printing and binding the thesis. There may also be individually tailored research project expenses and students should consult directly with the School for further information.
Bench fees
Some research programmes incur an additional annual charge on top of the tuition fees, often referred to as a bench fee. Bench fees are charged when a programme (or a specific project) incurs extra costs such as those involved with specialist laboratory or field work. If you are required to pay bench fees they will be detailed on your offer letter. If you have any questions about Bench Fees these should be raised with your School at the application stage. Please note that, if you are being funded you will need to ensure your sponsor is aware of and has agreed to fund these additional costs before accepting your place.
How do I fund my study?
1.PhD OpportunitiesFind PhD opportunities and funded studentships by subject area.
2.Funded Doctoral Training ProgrammesWe offer numerous opportunities for funded doctoral study in a world-class research environment. Our centres and partnerships, aim to seek out and nurture outstanding postgraduate research students, and provide targeted training and skills development.
3.PhD loansThe Government offers doctoral loans of up to £26,445 for PhDs and equivalent postgraduate research programmes for English- or Welsh-resident UK and EU students.
4.International ScholarshipsInformation on Postgraduate Research scholarships for international students.
Funding and Scholarships
The Funding & Scholarship Finder helps prospective and current students find funding to help cover costs towards a whole range of study related expenses.
How to Apply
Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.
Find a supervisor
If you're interested in a particular project, we suggest you contact the relevant academic before you apply, to introduce yourself and ask questions.
To find a potential supervisor aligned with your area of interest, or if you are unsure of who to contact, look through the staff profiles linked here.
You might be asked to provide a short outline of your proposal to help us identify potential supervisors.