Professional Doctorate in Heritage Bursary
Overview
- Qualification type: Professional Doctorate in Heritage (DHeritage)
- Location: Hatfield, United Kingdom
- Funding amount: Full tuition fee waiver for six years and an annual study allowance of £500
- Duration: Six years, part-time
- Closing application date: 19 May 2025
- Expected start: 1 October 2025.
Professional Doctorate in Heritage (DHeritage)
The University of Hertfordshire’s Professional Doctorate in Heritage (DHeritage) is a broadbased, flexible qualification developed in association with experts from across the heritage sector. The programme is aimed at professionals who work in the heritage field, broadly defined, in planning, museums, archives, community history, archaeology, social and cultural sustainability and any area of work which engages heritage.
The University of Hertfordshire’s School of Creative Arts is committed to widening access to higher education. To encourage heritage professionals to consider studying for a doctorate in heritage, we are inviting applications from UK-based students working in the heritage sector, broadly defined.
The DHeritage Bursary is a 6-year part-time bursary, which will cover University fees and provide a £500 annual study allowance. Part-time fees for the academic year 2024/25 are £2,715, so the fees covered by the award over six years will be worth at least £16,290, not taking annual increases into account. With the annual study allowance, the DHeritage bursary totals £19,290 at 2024/2025 prices (with the actual value of the award changing to match annual fee increases).
The fees-only bursary is divided into two parts. The first three years of the fees-only bursary are subject to successful assessment at the registration assessment point, eight months after enrolment. The second three years of fees-only bursary are subject to successful assessment at Doctoral Review, within 40 months of enrolment.
There are many ways to increase diversity in research careers, and we strongly encourage applications from people for whom the cost of fees would otherwise be a barrier, including those from areas with traditionally low participation in higher education, people who are the first in their family to study at university, and those who identify with additional protected characteristics.
Areas of supervisory expertise
DHeritage draws on supervisory expertise from across the University, and we are in principle open to applications on any topic in heritage.
Further details about DHeritage, the Professional Doctorate in Heritage
Entry requirements
To apply for this studentship, you must:
- Be permanently resident in the UK and have UK Home fee status.
- Hold a good honours degree (2:1 or above), and a Master's degree in a relevant discipline
- Be able to demonstrate at least 5 years professional experience in the heritage sector, broadly defined
- Have a feasible and relevant research proposal.
How to apply
Applicants must submit:
- A completed application form
- A 2000-word research proposal (a guide to assist you is available from the Programme Director, contact details below)
- Two academic references - to be sent direct from the referee to the Doctoral College
- Copies of qualification certificates and transcripts
- Certification of English language competence (minimum IELTS 6.5 or equivalent) for candidates for whom English is not their first language.
Application is via email to the Doctoral College - please indicate that you wish to be considered for the DHeritage Bursary in the subject line of your email and on your application form.
For enquiries regarding research degrees at the University of Hertfordshire and this application process, please email The Doctoral College. For enquiries concerning these studentships please email Professor Dr Grace LeesMaffei, Programme Director for DHeritage.