Overview
From the climate crisis and global inequality to digital disruption and cultural change, today’s most pressing challenges cut across traditional academic boundaries. The PhD in Interdisciplinary Humanities at King’s supports researchers working at these intersections, advancing new methods and producing research that speaks both to the academy and the wider world.

You’ll develop a project that integrates multiple humanities disciplines — such as cultural studies, linguistics, history, literature, media, political economy, education and human geography — and, where valuable, draws on approaches from the social sciences, policy, creative practice or STEM. Throughout your degree, you’ll be based in a collaborative research environment: Arts & Humanities at King’s is recognised for research excellence (Top 5 in the UK; 17th globally, QS World University Rankings 2025), with opportunities to connect with research centres, cultural institutions and cross-faculty networks.

The programme emphasises outward-facing, impact-driven research. You’ll engage with diverse communities and stakeholders, develop skills in critical synthesis, creative problem-solving and cross-cultural communication, and position your work to influence public debate, policy, cultural understanding or sectoral practice. You’ll also join interdisciplinary seminars, themed reading groups and events bringing scholars, activists, practitioners and public thinkers into conversation.

Research Environment & Training

Our academic staff are internationally recognised for research that shapes public debate and cultural understanding. They collaborate across disciplines and with partners in cultural, social, health and policy organisations in London and beyond.

As a doctoral researcher, you’ll be part of a lively intellectual ecosystem that supports experimentation and exchange, with access to:

• Research methods and professional development training through King’s Doctoral Training Centre
• Interdisciplinary reading groups, seminars and research workshops
• Opportunities for public engagement, creative knowledge exchange and policy impact
• Faculty research institutes and collaborative networks that expand your interdisciplinary reach

Research Areas

We welcome proposals across a wide range of thematic and methodological approaches. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Culture and political economy; urban and global studies
• AI, automation and society; data cultures; digital creativity
• Critical theory and cultural studies
• Screen, media and audiovisual cultures
• Gender, sexuality and queer studies
• Race, nationalism and post-colonial theory
• Medical humanities; ethics and communication in health
• Migration, multilingualism and multiculturalism
• Conflict and memory; social justice and reconciliation
• Affect, mourning and embodiment
• Pedagogic practice and theory