Heythrop's research stars of the future backed by Arts and Humanities Research Council

Three students from Heythrop College, the specialist philosophy and theology college of the University of London, have been awarded prestigious studentships from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). The Studentship Competition gives postgraduate students the opportunity to submit individual proposals for an award to fund Masters level or doctoral research studies in the arts and humanities - and Heythrop's trio of successful applications are the only ones awarded through the Studentship Competition in the fields of philosophy and religious studies.

Joanne Lovesey will begin her PhD on religious language at Heythrop College in September after securing an AHRC studentship which means she will have her fees paid throughout her three year studies as well as a maintenance grant. The 27-year-old joins Heythrop from the University of Oxford where she completed her postgraduate degree and is planning a career in lecturing. "Without the AHRC funding I wouldn't have been able to afford to do a PhD - it's as simple as that," Joanne said. "I can't wait to get started at Heythrop. With the new Centre for Philosophy of Religion, Heythrop is the best and probably the only place for me to study. I love teaching - I actually did this to help fund my degree at Oxford - and I am really excited about being an academic. Heythrop has a great reputation for personal tuition, and hopefully I can begin to take on some tutorials myself."

Fellow student Charlotte Naylor-Davis is about to commence the second year of her PhD thesis in an area of biblical studies - critiquing a 21st century translation of first century language - and will have her course fees paid for the next two years and a maintenance grant. The 32-year-old left school at 18 to go into community work but returned to education to study a theology degree at Heythrop before completing a Masters' degree at the college. "I love Heythrop - it's a brilliant place to study," Charlotte said. "Everybody at the college is involved in your chosen discipline in some way and you feel like you can ask anyone for help. The AHRC studentship is fantastic because it gives me security in my studies for the next two years. I would eventually like to go into teaching, and would love to combine teaching in some way with my PhD thesis and eight years community work experience."

Meanwhile, student Sarah Pawlett was successful in her bid for the Research Preparation Masters' Scheme, part of the AHRC Studentship Competition. The 23-year-old, who studied a BA Philosophy at Heythrop, will now have 12 months funding and a maintenance grant to support her postgraduate progression into PhD study and ultimately, Sarah hopes, a career in academia. "It is wonderful to have my research potential recognised in the way, and the money itself means that I can concentrate fully on my studies for the next year," she said.

Heythrop's Director of Research Dr Michael Lacewing said the AHRC studentships marked a "coming of age" for the college's research provision. "The awards are recognition of the progress the college has made around research - both in terms of how we support our postgraduate research students, but also training and developing our staff to improve our research processes and systems," he explained.

"One important initiative has been the introduction of dual supervisors for PhD students which increases the personal attention given to students and gives them access to the professorial staff we have recruited to strengthen our overall research portfolio. Students attend fortnightly departmental research seminars and either weekly or termly research student seminars to present their work, and receive generous funding to present their research papers at postgraduate and professional conferences in the UK and overseas. They also have access to extra sessions on academic writing, project management and other key research study skills."

"We are delighted to be awarded three AHRC studentships - and look forward to further developing our research profile in the future."