Collaborative Doctoral Partnership scheme
Key information
Email: [email protected]
Apply now
Stage 1: Expression of interest closing date is 31 August.
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) awards a number of Collaborative Doctoral Partnership studentships each year for the Museum to allocate to projects to support our work.
Under the Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) scheme, students are jointly supervised by a member of Museum staff and a supervisor from a UK university. Students have the opportunity to base their research at the Museum and learn about how the cultural heritage sector operates.
CDP applications should come from a member of Museum staff and a member of staff from a UK university applying for funding for a specific project. There is a two-stage application process:
- Stage 1: First, applicants submit an initial expression of interest outlining the project. The screening panel will choose the outline proposals that go forward to the second stage. The deadline for expression of interest applications is 31 August 2024.
- Stage 2: The applicants chosen by the screening panel will then submit a second application form describing the project in further detail. The selection panel will convene in early 2025 to choose which projects to support. Successful projects will then be advertised in spring 2025 to find the right student for the studentship. The deadline for the full project proposal is 29 November 2024.
Find out how to apply for CDP studentships below. The deadline for expression of interest applications is 31 August 2024.
For information about working with us on non-CDP doctoral projects, please email [email protected].
Museum and university collaboration
Studentship topics are proposed by a member of Museum staff in collaboration with a colleague from a UK university. Proposals are chosen based on:
- Their academic strengths.
- How well they support the Museum's research priorities.
- How the proposal will provide opportunities to develop the student's future career.
The studentships are administered by the universities, with AHRC funds covering academic fees and student maintenance. The British Museum provides additional financial support for travel and related research costs.
Students can also take advantage of the Joint Cohort Development Programme offered by Collecting and Heritage institutions that support the CDP scheme.
Research priorities
The Museum actively promotes research to:
- Help people learn, understand and be inspired by human history through objects.
- Support the future care, display or other uses of objects in the Museum's collection, and in other collections.
CDP studentship proposals should support the Museum's Research Strategy.
We encourage project proposals that focus on the area of museum practice. These could include, but are not limited to:
- Partnership and co-curation
- Audiences
- Conservation and collection care
- Examining curatorial practice
- Digital collections
Across all these priorities, the selection panel will look for projects that develop new approaches and methodologies for research in these areas.
How to apply
Stage 1: Expression of interest
- Information about the application process can be found within our guidance document.
- Please submit your expression of interest by 31 August 2024.
Stage 2: Full project proposal
- Proposals approved by the selection panel will be invited to make a full application by completing the Museum CDP application form.
- Applications are for the studentship project and should come from a member of Museum staff and a member of staff from a UK university.
- We do not accept applications from students seeking funding for their own project.
- The deadline for submitting the full project proposal form via email to [email protected] is 29 November 2024.
- Applications are assessed by a panel with members drawn from universities, other cultural heritage organisations and the Museum.
- Studentships are then advertised in the spring by the university partner, to recruit the right student for the project.
