125th Anniversary PhD Scholarship in Linguistics and Communication - PhD Project: Black British Sign Language

About the project

Research has demonstrated that the African-American deaf community uses an identifiable variety of American Sign Language (ASL) different from mainstream ASL (McCaskill et al., 2020). There has been no research thus far on documenting and describing British Sign Language (BSL) used by Black British and Afro-Caribbean/African immigrant communities in the UK. Previous sociolinguistic research on BSL has, for example, focused on factors such as a signer’s region of origin and age, and demonstrated that BSL has both variation due to regional/national differences (with signs used in Birmingham, for example, different from those used in London, Manchester, and Belfast) and age (with traditional signs used by older people being replaced by newer signs used by the younger generation) (Stamp et al., 2014). These studies have, however, failed to attract the participation of a representative number of deaf ethnic minorities because the research has been led by deaf and hearing researchers from the White majority. In this project, we would like to address this shortcoming by working with a Black British researcher and closely consulting with Black Deaf UK, the organisation which represents Black British deaf communities. We would work closely with Black Deaf UK to design the best approach to this research project. However, we would envisage filming sessions with at least 20-30 Black deaf people, documenting their lived experience as Black deaf people through interviews and conversations, and also discussing their use of BSL in order to identify how BSL is used to express specifically Black deaf identities. We may have participants retell specific controlled narratives and elicit specific lexical signs for comparison with non-Black BSL signers. This research would be the first to explicitly focus on documenting and describing variation in BSL as used by Black deaf signers, partly replicating work on Black ASL. 

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Entry Requirements

Applicants will be expected to have a good Honours degree (First Class or Upper Second Class Honours degree) awarded by a recognised University in a relevant subject, or an alternative qualification, or experience of equal quality. In certain cases, a Masters degree or equivalent may be expected in a relevant subject.

Knowledge of and skills in British Sign Language are essential. For shortlisted candidates, this knowledge and proficiency will form part of the interview discussion.

We particularly welcome applicants who are themselves from the Black deaf community.

Who can apply?

These scholarships are designed to create opportunities and address the underrepresentation of talented Black or Black mixed heritage students in academia. Applicants who meet all of the following criteria are eligible to apply:

1. Students classified as 'Home' for tuition fee payments
2. Members of one of the following ethnic groups:

• Black African
• Black Caribbean
• Black Other
• Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
• Mixed – White and Black African
• Other mixed background (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or Black Other)

      3. Not already enrolled on a PhD programme at the University of Birmingham

What does the scholarship provide?

1. Financial Support: Recipients of these scholarships will receive substantial financial support, including a stipend at UKRI rates, which is set at £20,780 per year for the 2025/26 academic year, and will be paid to you in regular instalments. Successful awardees will also have their tuition fees covered at a minimum of £5,006 per year. This support is designed to alleviate the financial burden often associated with pursuing a doctoral degree, such as covering tuition fees, living expenses, and research-related costs.
2. Mentorship and Guidance: Scholarship recipients will benefit from mentorship opportunities and guidance from accomplished faculty members who are dedicated to helping them succeed in their academic and research endeavours.
3. Research Opportunities: We are committed to providing an exceptional research environment. Students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge resources, and a vibrant scholarly community.
4. Community Building: A key component of the scholarship programme is the creation of a supportive community of Black British researchers pursuing PhDs. This network will foster collaboration and peer support among scholars.
5. Research Training Support Grant: In addition to financial support, scholarship recipients will receive a research training support grant at £2,250 across the duration of the PhD. This grant is intended to support conference attendance, fieldwork, and other essential activities that enhance their research and academic growth.
6. Commitment to Inclusivity: We are dedicated to building an inclusive academic environment that values diversity and ensures equitable access to education.