School of Society and Culture

PhD Heritage

Programme code 7932
Duration

Full time: 2-4 years
Part time: 4-8 years
Course type

Full-time, Part-time route available
Study location Plymouth
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Take the opportunity to pursue an individual research project of your choosing full-time or part-time, with expert guidance and personal supervision from a member of our history team.

Course details

  • Overview

  • This doctoral programme is suitable for people who have a particular research question or topic in mind, and wish to explore this through independent study in order to produce an original contribution to the subject. If you aspire to a research career this is the most appropriate research degree to undertake.
    If you do not already have a masters degree, you may be interested in one of our masters level research degrees. Further details about the University’s research degree awards .
    You will be guided by a small supervisory team of academic experts under the direction of a Director of Studies. You will be expected to fully engage with skills development and training and to present your research in a range of scholarly contexts.
    Your PhD will be assessed via submission of either a written thesis (approximately 80,000 words), or one that combines critical writing with artistic, creative and/or professional practice, and a viva voce (an oral examination).
    For full details of what doing a PhD entails at the University of Plymouth, please visit our postgraduate research degrees pages .

    Core modules

    DRTS800
    Research Skills in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

    This module provides research students the opportunity to explore the creation and interpretation of new knowledge within their field; develop the students’ ability to conceptualise, design and present their theses to merit publication; advance the students’ academic enquiry skills and techniques; and to generate and share the new knowledge within their academic discipline and professional practice.

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.

Entry requirements
Masters degree or equivalent from a UK higher education institution in a relevant subject. Students who are making exceptional progress in a ResM programme, may progress directly into our PhD programme without having to complete the masters.
Applicants normally have to supply a research proposal, personal statement, and occasionally evidence that they are prepared to undertake the proposed project. This may include a portfolio, or a sample of critical writing, depending on their area of study.
Other UK or overseas qualifications may also be accepted – with academic reference
For more general guidelines and application requirements, please visit the research degrees applicants page.

Fees, costs and funding
Please visit tuition fees for postgraduate research for information about fees. This course is in Band 2 for fees purposes.
If you are a full time student, you will pay full time fees for three years. If you have not submitted your thesis by the end of this period, then you may pay for an optional one year writing up period.
If you are a part time student, you will pay part time fees for four years. If you have not submitted your thesis by the end of this period, then you may pay for an optional 'writing up' period of up to two years.
You are responsible for meeting all of the costs related to your own research project, beyond the resources available in the department.
Please look at our funding for postgraduate research students page for information on fees, funding, loans and paying for your programme of study.

How to apply

Apply online

In addition to completing the online application form (which includes space for a personal statement), you must also upload a research project proposal of no more than 1000 words in total. Your research proposal should outline your general topic, your key aims and the research question/problem you are addressing, your proposed methodology, key definitions/thinkers/discourses/practitioners you are drawing upon and an explanation of why this topic is significant or important.
Your personal statement should briefly explain why you have chosen to apply to our programme and what you feel you can offer our research community.
You will also need to submit a sample of your critical writing (3000 words maximum) and, if relevant, evidence of your ability to undertake the practice-led research you are proposing (e.g. a DVD, portfolio, links to website, reviews, catalogue, etc.). It should take no longer than 30 minutes to view all the visual material that you provide.
Submitting your application
Complete your application and upload supporting documents to the Doctoral College by completing our online application form.
Questions on the application process?
We're here to help. Please contact the Doctoral College team and we'll be happy to assist you.
You can view or download our postgraduate research admissions policy .
If you have a disability and would like further information on the support available, please visit our Disability Services website .
Support is also available to overseas students applying to the University from our International Office .
Find more information about how to apply for a research degree .
Our academics have an established tradition of internationally recognised research excellence in the fields of social and cultural history, political and diplomatic history, and military, maritime and naval history. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, 97.6% of the History team’s research outputs (primarily books and journal articles) were considered to be internationally recognised in terms of significance, originality and rigour.

Collaborative research

PhD Heritage at the University of Plymouth benefits from a range of staff with professional expertise in architecture, archives and museums, and community-based and collaborative research. Students are supported to undertake internships and volunteer roles and may be able to frame their doctoral research around partner collections and sites. We have developed strong working relationships with heritage partners including:

  • 8English Heritage

  • 8The National Trust

  • 8Dartmoor National Park

  • 8Powderham Castle

  • 8 The Museum of Cornish Life

  • 8The Box

Your learning

At Plymouth, we have strong theoretical understanding of how heritage affects and is shaped by contemporary concerns, and guide students to do engaged research that addresses real-world issues e.g. equality, diversity and inclusion; climate change; mass migration; and health and wellbeing. Equally, we value praxis and the practical side of conserving and preserving our shared heritage. The programme is taught by research and teaching staff, with input from a wide range of heritage professionals, offering expertise, guidance, networking and work-experience opportunities across the full range of institutions which produce and care for cultural and natural heritage in the U.K. We also teach skills in digital heritage production e.g. developing walking trails, graphic design, locative apps, virtual and augmented reality immersive experiences, to equip our students for a range of professions, post-PhD.
Arts, culture and heritage theme within Campaign

People

Coastal Processes Research Group Perranporth beach