PhD, MPhil Culture, Heritage & Museum Studies

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Research opportunities

Culture, Heritage, and Museum Studies is an interdisciplinary field within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, drawing on expertise from history, modern languages, translation studies, English, education, and related disciplines.

At Strathclyde, you can undertake:

MPhil (full‑time, 1 year)
PhD (full‑time, typically 3 years)

These postgraduate research degrees provide rigorous training for students interested in advancing critical, theoretical and practice‑based approaches to culture, heritage and museums.

Our expertise

We offer research opportunities in the following areas:

museum studies
material culture
Memory Studies
bio/cultural heritage
oral history
heritage and migration
decolonisation of heritage
digital heritage
intangible heritage
cinematic heritage

The Place of Useful Learning

UK University of the Year

Daily Mail University of the Year Awards 2026

Scottish University of the Year

The Sunday Times' Good University Guide 2026

Research University of the Year

Daily Mail University Guide 2027

View our current research opportunities

Life on Mars: reconstructing the welfare of boys admitted to the TS Mars, 1869 to 1929

This project is based on the records of the TS Mars. It will address questions including: what light can data shed on the welfare of children on the TS Mars? What light do these records shed on child & adolescent growth patterns since the mid-19th century? What light does the Mars shed on the relationship between the statutory & voluntary sectors in the management of welfare institutions? What role did the Mars play in the history of care & reformation in 19th and early 20th century Scotland?

Deadline:

Funding:

unfunded

Scotland’s Heritage in Translation: Mapping Meaning-Making and Cultural Engagement in Inbound Visitor Experiences and Outbound Collaborations

This PhD investigates how translation shapes engagement with Scotland’s (in)tangible heritage. It will generate empirical insights into the mediation of inbound visitor experience and outbound international partnerships, while critically assessing whether GenAI translation can responsibly support best practice.

Deadline:

16 November 2026

Funding:

funded

Research Degrees in Culture, Heritage & Museum Studies

MPhil and PhD students in Culture, Heritage and Museum Studies are expected to undertake research that results in a thesis which contributes to the wider literature in the field, thereby making an original contribution to current knowledge. All projects are different, and exact word counts will be tailored to particular projects, usually dependent on the form of the work.

Throughout your studies, you will develop a strong portfolio of transferable and professional research skills, including:

advanced research design and methods
academic writing and communication
presentation and engagement
project organisation
subject specific and interdisciplinary expertise

A PhD in Culture, Heritage and Museum Studies at Strathclyde may incorporate more than one of the following areas:

undertaking the critical study of current practice and policy in museums and heritage institutions
using methods including archival research, oral history, or digital methodologies to develop new approaches to heritage and/or museums
studying intersecting in/equalities in current heritage and museum practice
advancing understanding of audience and access to heritage and museum spaces
assessing and evaluating approaches developed in and across different disciplinary traditions

PhD

To be awarded a PhD you would undertake a piece of independent and original research that results in a significant contribution to a field of knowledge in a specific area. You must write a thesis of 100,000 words in length and defend your findings in an oral examination (viva).

During the 3 years of research and writing the thesis, you will gain a range of professional skills in research methods, communications, presentation, organisation and other academic specialisms.

A deep passion and an enquiring mind are critical to successfully navigating a PhD.

MPhil

MPhil degrees are suitable for recent graduates and also for those with demonstrably good writing and research skills as this programme involves a substantial project undertaken over one year.

You may also be required to undertake research skills training in Research Methods.

To be awarded an MPhil, as with the PhD, you will undertake a piece of independent and original research cumulating in a dissertation of 30,000 words in length, to be submitted at the end of the duration of study, which may or may not require an oral examination.

In certain circumstances, successful completion of the first year of an MPhil allows direct transfer to second year PhD.

Fees & funding

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Fees & funding

Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.

All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.

Annual revision of fees

Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that the majority of fees will increase annually. The University will take a range of factors into account, including, but not limited to, UK inflation, changes in delivery costs and changes in Scottish and/or UK Government funding. Changes in fees will be published on the University website in October each year for the following year of study. Any annual increase will not exceed 10%, and in practice this may be lower (for example,. a 6% increase was applied in 2027/28 academic year).

2026/27

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Scotland	£5,238
England, Wales & Northern Ireland	£5,238
Republic of Ireland	If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status. For more information and advice on tuition fee status, you can visit the UKCISA - International student advice and guidance - Scotland: fee status webpage. Find out more about the University of Strathclyde's fee assessments process.
International	£20,950
Funding	Take a look at our funding your postgraduate research web page for funding information. You can also view our scholarships search for further funding opportunities.
Postgraduate research opportunities	Search for all funded and non-funded postgraduate research opportunities
Additional costs	International students may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information.

Please note: the fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year.

Supervisors

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Supervisors

Supervisors for this programme have worked with:

Museums Galleries Scotland
David Livingstone Birthplace Museum
HMS Unicorn
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Ulster American Folk Park
Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of Glasgow
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
National Museum of Scotland
Historic Environment Scotland
international institutions such as:
- National Science Centre in Poland
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum
- Smithsonian

All MPhil/PhD students have two supervisors, and the supervisory team may be comprised of colleagues from different subject areas or departments within the faculty. Interdisciplinary applications, with a supervisor from another faculty within Strathclyde, are strongly encouraged.

Culture, Heritage and Museum studies is a growing research area at Strathclyde, spanning traditional disciplinary areas. The staff listed below are interested in supervising postgraduate research in this field within the specialist areas listed.

Name	Areas of expertise
Richard Anderson	history of Sub-Saharan Africa comparative slavery and abolition; Atlantic and Indian Ocean history Scotland and empire Colonial artifacts and restitution
Eleanor Bell	Eleanor is an affiliated member of the Scottish Oral History Centre, and her current research projects explore Scottish literary magazines from 1950 to 2000 as well as the literary archives and cultural networks of Archie Hind (AHRC-funded). postwar Scottish literary and cultural heritage Scottish literary archives little magazines and literary archives
Sharon Deane-Cox	Sharon works at the intersection of Translation Studies, Holocaust Studies, Memory Studies and Museum Studies and is interested in questions about the transmission of memory via translation. She has a keen interest in supervising doctoral projects that explore translation in museum and heritage contexts, including: museums and heritage sites as translations that mediate the past, present and future through representational choices interlingual understandings of these sites through written, audiovisual and guided interpretation

Name

Areas of expertise

Richard Anderson

history of Sub-Saharan Africa
comparative slavery and abolition;
Atlantic and Indian Ocean history
Scotland and empire
Colonial artifacts and restitution

Eleanor Bell

Eleanor is an affiliated member of the Scottish Oral History Centre, and her current research projects explore Scottish literary magazines from 1950 to 2000 as well as the literary archives and cultural networks of Archie Hind (AHRC-funded).

postwar Scottish literary and cultural heritage
Scottish literary archives
little magazines and literary archives

Sharon Deane-Cox

Sharon works at the intersection of Translation Studies, Holocaust Studies, Memory Studies and Museum Studies and is interested in questions about the transmission of memory via translation. She has a keen interest in supervising doctoral projects that explore translation in museum and heritage contexts, including:

museums and heritage sites as translations that mediate the past, present and future through representational choices
interlingual understandings of these sites through written, audiovisual and guided interpretation

Co-supervisors

Name	Areas of expertise
Derek Bryce	Derek has research interests in the commercialisation of cultural heritage resources and related ethical issues. Potential topics include: personal heritage and ancestral tourism among Scottish diaspora visitors production and consumption of ancestral identities among diaspora communities the integration of cultural heritage within a European context representations of indigenous peoples in museums and media

Name

Areas of expertise

Derek Bryce

Derek has research interests in the commercialisation of cultural heritage resources and related ethical issues. Potential topics include:

personal heritage and ancestral tourism among Scottish diaspora visitors
production and consumption of ancestral identities among diaspora communities
the integration of cultural heritage within a European context
representations of indigenous peoples in museums and media

PGR Enhancement & Development

The PGR Enhancement and Development programme at the University of Strathclyde provides a comprehensive, student-centred research and training environment designed to support the growth and development of current and future research talent.

The PGR Enhancement and Development Team works closely with all four Faculties to enhance the postgraduate research experience, providing opportunities for researcher development and collaboration, and ensuring that training and support provision is of the highest quality.

Throughout your research degree, you’ll have access to a wide range of training, development opportunities, events, and support designed to help you make the most of your postgraduate research experience.

PGR Enhancement & Development

Support & development

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Support & development

The Graduate School

The Graduate School is a friendly and supportive study environment for research students studying subjects within Humanities & Social Sciences.

Our staff will support you through your studies and you'll become part of a community of students who get involved with our workshops, seminars and competitions.

Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Professional Development (PgCert RPD)

Our PgCert RPD programme aims to ensure you get the most out of your current research activities at Strathclyde and helps you prepare for your future career as a researcher.

We'll help you recognise and develop your transferrable skills that'll have a positive impact on your research, now and in the future.

PgCert Researcher Professional Development

Careers

The University Careers Service can help you with everything from writing your CV to interview preparation. Take a look at our careers service pages to get more information.

Student support

From financial advice to our IT facilities, we have a wide range of support for all students here at Strathclyde. Get all the information you need at Strathlife.

International students

We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.

Visit our international students' section

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Entry requirements

For a PhD a first-class or upper second-class UK Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in a related subject is required. We also require a Masters degree with a minimum of merit, or overseas equivalent, in a related subject. For a MPhil we require a first-class or upper second-class UK Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in a related subject.

The application process

Stage 1

In the first instance, prior to making a formal application, you should explore the supervisors’ areas of expertise to identify a potential supervisor whose research interests align with your proposed research study.

Stage 2

Thereafter, you should email a draft research proposal, academic CV and your suggested supervisor’s name to hass-hum-pgr@strath.ac.uk to introduce yourself. Further information on writing a research proposal.

The University is aware of the temptation to use Generative AI (including ChatGPT), however, these tools do not always generate accurate and up-to-date information. Our academics, who are experts in their field, are very good at identifying when text has been generated in this way and expect your research proposal to be written in your own words. We need to know that you have the academic skills required to write a thesis and can only support you on your journey when we see your own work.

Stage 3

If the Postgraduate Research panel are able to identify a potential supervisory team (minimum of 2 supervisors required), you will be advised to make a formal online application.

During your application you will be asked for the following:

your full contact details
CV
transcripts and degree certificates
proof of English language proficiency if English is not your first language.
English language requirements which is IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall (no individual band less than 5.5) – taken within 2 years prior to start date
two references (of which one must be academic)
information on how you intend to fund your study
research proposal of 1500 words for PhD or 1000 words for MPhil

MPhil

part-time

Start date: Oct 2028 - Sep 2029

Apply now

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Contact us

Programme enquiries

Email: hass-hum-pgr@strath.ac.uk

Chat with us

Application enquiries

Email: hass-pgr-applications@strath.ac.uk

Research opportunities

Our expertise

The Place of Useful Learning

UK University of the Year

Scottish University of the Year

Research University of the Year

View our current research opportunities

Life on Mars: reconstructing the welfare of boys admitted to the TS Mars, 1869 to 1929

Deadline:

Funding:

Scotland’s Heritage in Translation: Mapping Meaning-Making and Cultural Engagement in Inbound Visitor Experiences and Outbound Collaborations

Deadline:

Funding:

Research Degrees in Culture, Heritage & Museum Studies

PhD

MPhil

Fees & funding

Annual revision of fees

Supervisors

Co-supervisors

PGR Enhancement & Development

Support & development

The Graduate School

Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Professional Development (PgCert RPD)

Careers

Student support

International students

Apply

Entry requirements

The application process

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Culture, Heritage & Museum Studies

Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Culture, Heritage & Museum Studies

Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Culture, Heritage & Museum Studies

Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Culture, Heritage & Museum Studies

Start date: Oct 2027 - Sep 2028

Culture, Heritage & Museum Studies

Start date: Oct 2027 - Sep 2028

Culture, Heritage & Museum Studies

Start date: Oct 2027 - Sep 2028

Culture, Heritage & Museum Studies

Start date: Oct 2027 - Sep 2028

Culture, Heritage & Museum Studies

Start date: Oct 2028 - Sep 2029

Culture, Heritage & Museum Studies

Start date: Oct 2028 - Sep 2029

Culture, Heritage & Museum Studies

Start date: Oct 2028 - Sep 2029

Culture, Heritage & Museum Studies

Start date: Oct 2028 - Sep 2029

Culture, Heritage & Museum Studies

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