Centre for the Study of North America
We study and engage with the North American region from an interdisciplinary perspective. The United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean make up our geographical, intellectual, and transnational framework, and we engage in, and support, innovative, collaborative, and impactful research practice both within academia and beyond.
We are committed to excellence in research and teaching. Our staff and postgraduate students are at the forefront of interdisciplinary research into literature, culture, history, film and TV, politics and international relations.
The Centre has also developed collaborative partnerships with internationally-prominent institutions in Iran (the University of Tehran), China (Huazhong University for Science and Technology and Shanghai Maritime University), Ireland (University College Dublin), Holland (the Roosevelt Centre), Berlin (the Free University, Berlin and University of Bonn), Canada (Dalhousie University) and Japan (Doshisha University, Kyoto, Sophia University, Tokyo and the University of Tokyo).
Postgraduate study
Postgraduate study
Our staff are at the forefront of research in North American Studies. Our multi-disciplinary approach links history, literature, politics and cultural studies to produce innovative and challenging work, and to provide a vibrant and supportive research environment.
The Centre draws on the research interests and projects of our staff and on contributions from staff in allied Departments at University of Birmingham, including English, History, and Politics. The Centre has recognised research strengths in the fields of urban culture and representation, US foreign policy and intelligence services, literary and cultural studies, film and visual studies, and African American studies.
Our staff are able to supervise on various topics within American and Canadian Studies.
If you are interested in undertaking research in American and Canadian Studies, please contact a member of staff working in your area of interest in the first instance.
Funding opportunities
A number of postgraduate taught and research funding opportunities available to support your studies at the University of Birmingham. For details of what is available, please visit the College of Arts and Law Graduate School website.
JA Hawgood Travel Award
JA Hawgood Travel Award
Thanks to the generosity of the Hawgood family, we have established the annual J A Hawgood Travel Award for American History Postgraduate Research. This annual award of £1200 provides travel assistance for a postgraduate researcher to carry out research into any field of American History.
It has been set up in memory of John Arkas Hawgood (1905-1971), Professor of American History at the University of Birmingham, and was constituted on the occasion of the centenary of his birth -- 20 November 2005. Professor J A Hawgood obtained his BA from the University College London, a D.Phil Heidelberg, a D.Litt from London, and was a Fellow of University College London.
He was Professor of Modern History (1946-1964), and later of American History (1964-1971) at the University of Birmingham.
He was the author of Modern Constitutions Since 1787 (1939; rpt. Littleton: Rothman, 1987), Citizen and Government (1947), First and Last Consul (Paolo Alto: Pacific Books, 1970), The Tragedy of German America (New York: Arno, 1970) and The American West. In the USA this book was entitled America's Western Frontiers (New York: Knopf, 1967) and won a prize from its publisher, Knopf).
He was also Editorial Director of Europa Publications
Applications
The deadline for applications in the 2024/25 academic year is 17:00 on Friday 31 January.
J A Hawgood Travel Award application form
The successful applicant will on their return from the USA need to complete a report on the progress of their research. Please direct any queries to Dr Rona Cran and Dr John Munro.
Contact the Centre for the Study of North America
Contact the Centre for the Study of North America
General enquiries
Centre for the Study of North America
Arts Building
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham, B15 2TT
U.K.
Email english@bham.ac.uk