Humanities Research Centre

Source: https://www.york.ac.uk/hrc/ Parent: https://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/

The hub for interdisciplinary research and postgraduate life in the arts and humanities.

The Humanities Research Centre is a place of belonging, and of collective research life, for staff and postgraduates from the University's eight Arts and Humanities departments. We are based in the beautiful Grade II listed Heslington Hall, a hub for research, teaching and engagement in the Faculty.

We provide a stimulating and diverse environment in which interdisciplinary and external partnerships can flourish, and a welcoming, dedicated space for events and study.

We have a four-fold mission:

to support, develop and advocate for innovative research projects with reach and impact;
to nurture productive, creative and transformative partnerships with academic and non-academic collaborators;
to inspire, train and empower new cohorts of graduate and postgraduate researchers in the arts and humanities to become the next generation of global cultural leaders;
to promote and celebrate the work of arts and humanities researchers at the University of York among communities and audiences worldwide.

We believe that challenging circumscribed boundaries of knowledge through interdisciplinary, participatory and partnership working enriches our research, transforms its outcomes, and opens it up to a greater range of collaborators and beneficiaries.

We are a member of the international Consortium of Humanities Centres and Institutes and the UK Consortium of Institutes of Advanced Studies, contributing to the development and promotion of arts and humanities research nationally and globally.

Arts and humanities at the University of York are currently placed 75th in the QS World University Rankings, 2025, and 54th in the Times Higher Education World University rankings, 2025.

Contact us

Humanities Research Centre

Heslington Hall University of York York YO10 5DD UK
@HRCYork

In a world where our very notions of truth are in jeopardy, we need the arts and humanities more than ever. Join us here at the HRC as we turn a critical lens to human cultures past, present and future, and rethink the boundaries of knowledge from fresh and inclusive perspectives. We look forward to welcoming you to our community.

Professor Rachel Cowgill, Director of the Humanities Research Centre and Associate Dean for Research in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities.

Research grant support

We’re here to help you with your research grant applications and awards. We can help to develop ideas, submit proposals and manage awards.

Impact support for staff

Get discipline-specific information about research impact for staff in arts and humanities.

How we support our postgraduate students

We offer vibrant training programmes, fellowships and grants, as well as a great working environment to our community of postgraduate researchers. It has dedicated study space and social space for postgraduate researchers and offers fellowships, project grants, public engagement opportunities, professionalising training and social events.

How we work in partnerships

We work closely and co-creatively with a wide variety of partners from the arts, heritage, media, creative industries, charity and community organisations, education and business, and our interdisciplinary research activity has impact across our wider communities.

Working in Heslington Hall

We are based in Heslington Hall at the heart of the University. Heslington Hall is home to the HRC, and several of our interdisciplinary research centres. It is the ideal setting for close collaboration, project development and intellectual and creative exchange.

Conducting ethical research

Get guidance and more information on conducting ethical research from the Arts and Humanities Ethics Committee (AHEC).

Our research spotlights

We are supporting some of the UK’s most cutting-edge arts and humanities research and delivering fascinating insights into human cultures and the human condition. Our research is having a profound effect on societies today.

Some of our projects:

Place and Community

Place and Community connects University of York arts and humanities research with partner organisations to contribute to cultural wellbeing in our city, region and beyond, through place making and community building.

Visit the Place and Community website

Discover more

Faculty of Arts and Humanities

Discover more about the faculty that we're a part of.

Learn more

Social media

Get all the latest updates from our X (formerly Twitter) feed.

Our people

Learn more about key members of the HRC leadership team.

Meet the team

Contact us

Humanities Research Centre

Heslington Hall University of York York YO10 5DD UK
@HRCYork