We support postgraduate research through our Reading Rooms and online resources, through collaborative projects, and through research training events.
These partnerships explore and open up our collections to enhance our engagement with different research and public audiences.
Collaborative doctoral research
We co-supervise doctoral research in partnership with universities from across the country, covering a range of disciplines and subject areas. This includes projects developed through the AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnerships programme.
Please click here to see a complete list of current doctoral research projects with the Library.
Doctoral training partnerships
We also work closely with university partners to support postgraduate research training initiatives across all disciplines. We are currently a partner in the following UKRI doctoral training consortia:
- CHASE Doctoral Training Partnership
- White Rose College of the Arts and Humanities (WRoCAH)
- Centre for Doctoral Training for Russian, Slavonic and East European languages (CEELBAS)
- The North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP)
- North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NWCDTP)
- South West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership (SWW2)
- UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Safe and Trusted Artificial Intelligence (STAI)
Current PhD opportunities
There are currently no opportunities to apply for collaborative doctoral studentships.
PhD placement scheme
Our annual placement scheme offers doctoral researchers from all disciplines the chance to develop and apply transferrable skills and expertise outside the university sector. Projects cover activities ranging from cataloguing, conservation and interpretation to policy research, resource development and research engagement.
To be added to our PhD placement mailing list and be kept up-to-date about all future placement opportunities at the British Library please email Research.Development@bl.uk.
Doctoral Open Days
For first-year PhD students, our annual programme of Doctoral Open Days offers an introduction to the practicalities of using the Library and help in navigating our physical and online collections.
For 2021, we have decided to move to a free online programme. Instead of on-site events, we will be offering PhD students the opportunity to meet our expert and friendly staff via a series of webinars which will include a general introduction followed by additional modules on specific collection areas and periods.
Visit this page to find out more about our programme
To subscribe to our mailing list and receive updates about Doctoral Open Days and other initiatives, please email Research.Development@bl.uk.
Please note that our events usually fill up quickly, so if you are planning to join us please make sure to register early to avoid disappointment.
EThOS
Our free e-theses service allows you to access over 500,000 PhD thesis records online. An immediate full-text download is available for over 170,000 theses. Visit ethos.bl.uk
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