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Institute of Humanities

Welcome to the Institute of Humanities 

The Institute of Humanities, based in the Department of Humanities, provides an intellectual home for all the Humanities research conducted across the University. Colleagues in History, English Literature, English Language and Linguistics, Creative Writing, American Studies and Music form the core membership of the Institute, but our research activities are deliberately interdisciplinary, with colleagues working together through our research groups, holding regular reading groups and writing workshops, and coming together for a weekly Institute Research Seminar.

Institute members are committed to promoting the importance of the Humanities, working across faculties and sectors to address the pressing issues of the modern world. We aim to catalyse new research projects in strategically important areas, especially those that combine scholarly Humanities research with the Sciences, Arts, and Business and Law. To this end, the Institute facilitates engagement between its members and other faculties and institutions, but also supports meaningful public engagement with local and national partner organisations. With research funded by UKRI, AHRC, the Leverhulme Trust, the British Council, the British Academy and the Wellcome Trust, and research partners including Historic England, The National Railway Museum, The Bowes Museum, Arts Council England, New Writing North, Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums, Shandy Hall, and the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle, the Institute of Humanities is a dynamic and outward looking community. 

All Humanities scholars, both postgraduate students and faculty, in the University are members of the Institute and are invited to join one or more of our research groups. Membership of the Institute provides access to seminars, workshops, writing retreats, bid-writing advice, and book launches, as well as access to seed-funding streams. We regularly welcome visiting international scholars and support promising postdoctoral candidates in applications to leading funding bodies including the Leverhulme Trust and the British Academy, and we are always keen to hear from anyone wishing to partner with us, or to propose new projects.

To find out more, please contact Dr Laura O’Brien, Director of the Institute of Humanities.

Reports

Humanities colleagues recognise the deep structural inequalities in higher education, and seek to address this as part of their research. The projects below offer examples of some of the work we are undertaking to reflect our position as an inclusive institution of learning and scholarship, and to ensure all voices are heard.


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Courses within Humanities

The Department of Humanities offers a number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. By studying at Northumbria you will become part of a passionate and creative community.

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Northumbria Research Link

Northumbria Research Link (NRL) is an open access repository of Northumbria University's research output.

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Undergraduate Open Day Events

Looking to study in with us in September? Our Undergraduate Open Day Events are the perfect opportunity for you to find out as much as you can about our wide range of courses and world-class facilities.

Latest News and Features

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Front row, L-R: Professor Matthew Johnson from Northumbria University and Piotr Mahey from ACCESS: Policy are pictured with members of the ACCESS: Policy team (left) and Northumbria University students (right) selected to be part of the first ACCESS: Climate and Environment programme.
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Assistant Professor and playwright is recognised at national theatre awards
Field of Poppies. Generic Image from Unsplash. Image credit: Henry Be (@henry_be) via Unsplash.
Pictured are Dr Katherine Butler of Northumbria University and James Smith of the Lit & Phil standing holding a book each with rows of books in the background
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More events

Upcoming events

Professor Anne Peirson-Smith Inaugural
ESREA Life History and Biography Network
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