Doctoral research
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 collection and enhance our engagement with different research and public audiences.
Collaborative doctoral research
We co-supervise doctoral research in partnership with universities, covering a range of disciplines and subject areas.
This includes projects developed through the AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnerships programme as well as co-supervision of PhDs funded through Doctoral Training Partnerships (Collaborative Doctoral Awards).
If you are an academic interested in working with a member of Library staff as a PhD co-supervisor, please complete our Research Proposal form.
Collaborative Doctoral Partnerships (CDP)
PhD studentships are available each year, through the AHRC’s Collaborative Doctoral Partnerships programme, to support collaborative research projects drawing on our collection, resources and expertise.
We select a limited number of strategic CDP research themes each year through internal staff consultation.
Following selection of our research themes, we issue an open call for proposals from academics at UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) interested in co-supervising doctoral research around one of these themes. Academics are invited to develop the theme according to their own research interests and expertise. The call window is usually open in the autumn, for projects starting in October of the following year.
We provide the student with staff-level access to our collections, expertise and facilities, as well as financial support for research-related costs of up to £1,000 a year.
Once recruited, the successful PhD candidate will contribute to the development of the final agreed research project.
PhD placement scheme
Our annual placement scheme offers doctoral researchers from all disciplines the chance to develop and apply transferable skills and expertise outside the university sector.
Projects cover activities ranging from cataloguing, conservation and interpretation to policy research, resource development and research or community engagement. The duration for each placement is 3 months (or part-time equivalent). Most placements are also suitable for part-time students, and there may be opportunities to undertake placements remotely which will be indicated on the individual project profiles. Applications for the 2025-26 scheme have now closed.
Please note that we do not accept applications for PhD placements outside this scheme. If you would like to be added to our mailing list for future PhD placement opportunities, please opt in to the Research mailing list via our My Interests form.