Department of Archaeology | PhD Heritage and Preservation Studies

PhD Heritage & Preservation Studies at Durham University

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Our top-rated, internationally-acclaimed department supports early-career researchers to pursue innovative research projects and develop their ideas, skill sets, networks and intellectual horizons, toward building professional or academic careers in Archaeology, Heritage, Museums, Conservation, and beyond.

We have a world-class reputation for teaching and research, being regularly ranked one of the top two Archaeology departments in the UK (e.g. Research Excellence Framework [REF] 2014 and 2021) and one of the top-ten globally (World University QS rankings 2023).

This PhD programme is for professionals employed in the fields of Archaeology, Heritage, Museums and Conservation, who wish to develop an applied project in their employment practice into a PhD-qualification under the tutelage of experts at Durham University's Department of Archaeology. The PhD is a five-year-long, part-time distance-learning programme, enabling those in professional employment to maintain their positions, full or part-time, while working toward an advanced research qualification explicitly related to their employment base. Suitable projects might include, but are not limited to collection research and interpretation, conservation methodology and application, small-finds or site-based archaeological research, or heritage theory and presentation. They should be based on materials or issues that the researcher is engaged with through employment, and have the capacity to be developed into substantial, innovative, doctoral-level research projects. Those on this programme would be expected to travel to Durham at least four times during the five years, usually annually, for stays of at least one week, including for initial induction and welcome (early October), two formal work reviews (usually May or June), and otherwise flexibly to use facilities for analysis and attend events relating to their particular research as arising. A standard UK visa only is required for study visits. You will be able to participate in department life while outside Durham through hybrid departmental and research centre seminars, postgraduate student research activities and termly forums, as well as monthly online meetings with your supervisory team.

PhD: three years of full-time or six years of part-time research and writing, plus another year of continuation writing up time where needed, producing a dissertation of up to 100,000 words. The subject of your thesis will be a substantial piece of original research where you demonstrate your ability to undertake independent research. In consultation with the supervisor and department, the candidate may substitute the traditional dissertation with a collection of related publications tied together with introduction and conclusions.

A PhD will be necessary for those who wish to pursue a career in a University setting, in research and/or teaching. Applicants will normally have a masters-level qualification in a related area, evidence of previous research training, and a strong project proposal developed with a supervisor in department prior to application.

Many of our postgraduates move into an academic career, either teaching or by taking up post-doctoral research positions in universities. Others join museums or national and regional heritage organisations. Some work in professional archaeology, in national or local planning departments, while others elect to use their analytical and presentation skills to gain positions in industry, commerce and government.

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