Study for a PhD or MPhil in Heritage at the University of Stirling and you’ll be part of a vibrant research culture, supervised by academic staff who are international leaders in their fields. You will join a dynamic cohort of early career researchers who benefit from a cutting-edge interdisciplinary research environment. Students benefit from the University’s Centre for Environment, Heritage and Policy and the Interdisciplinary Research Programme in Cultural Heritage, as well as our institutional partnerships with the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage and the National Trust for Scotland.
Our research makes a tangible impact on heritage policy and practice and improves the quality of life of the communities that we engage with. We examine how ideas of a shared past are created and contested through diverse forms of tangible and intangible heritage, which we see as fundamentally interrelated. We also explore the ways in which heritage intersects with some of the most significant challenges of our time, including issues of nationalism, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, decolonisation, climate change, and disasters. Collaborating with heritage professionals, communities and civil society we explore fundamental issues underpinning the field, including authenticity, memory, identity, and place, alongside practice-led lines of inquiry in areas such as conservation, significance assessment, social value, museology, replication, reconstruction and community participatory practices.
Students have access to dedicated research facilities, as well as the opportunity to participate in a range of research seminars and workshops. The University of Stirling’s Institute for Advanced Studies delivers an excellent research training and career development programme, and students also participate in the training offered by the Scottish Graduate School in Arts and Humanities (SGSAH). We have a strong track record of supporting our students to gain funding and value cross-disciplinary supervision, working with colleagues in the Faculties of Social Sciences, Natural Sciences and Stirling Management School, as well as other disciplines in Arts and Humanities.
When you click the apply link below, you will be directed to an application form titled "PhD History”. Please be assured that this is the correct form to use for Heritage, because PhD History and PhD Heritage share an admissions code.