Postgraduate research
AHRC CDP - Hoarding through time: Defining the practice of hoarding and assessing the impact of evolving legislation on its recording and interpretation
Qualification: PhD
Department: Archaeology and Ancient History
Application deadline: 17 May 2026
Start date: 1 October 2026
Overview
Supervisors:
- Dr Philippa Walton (Lecturer in Roman Archaeology, University of Leicester) pjw48@le.ac.uk
- Dr Wendy Scott (Curator: Hoards, British Museum) wscott@britishmuseum.org
- Second supervisors will be Dr Eleanor Ghey (Curator: Hoards, British Museum) and Professor Ben Jervis (Professor of Medieval Archaeology)
AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) studentship with the British Museum
Hoarding through time: Defining the practice of hoarding and assessing the impact of evolving legislation on its recording and interpretation.
The School of Heritage and Culture, University of Leicester, in partnership with the British Museum invites applications for a Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) studentship funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to undertake research leading to a PhD. The project will explore the phenomenon of hoarding through time. The increase in reported hoards has created an unparalleled dataset, presenting an opportunity to reflect on the nature and significance of hoarding practices. The researcher will consider hoards have been defined across all periods and object types and how these definitions have evolved in relation to the implementation of the Treasure Act.
Project Overview
The Treasure Act and the accompanying Portable Antiquities Scheme will be thirty years old in 2027. Over that time there has been a marked increase in the number and variety of reported hoards. This milestone provides an opportunity to reflect on the nature and significance of hoarding in the archaeological record for different periods and artefact types. This project will, for the first time, draw together and interrogate hoard data for all periods and types in order to critically re-appraise the definition of hoarding. It will also offer a new understanding of the implications of the legal definition for the practice of identifying and interpreting materials as hoards.
The key research questions for the project are as follows:
1. What is a hoard and how has this definition evolved according to legal and theoretical approaches across different archaeological periods and material types?
2. What biases and assumptions influence our interpretation of hoards?
3. Can previous investigations of hoards enhance understanding of past landscapes and better allow us to differentiate between multiple deposits, such as votive or productive sites, and deliberate hoarding?
4. What lessons can be learnt from the implementation of other countries’ treasure legislation?
Research with the British Museum
This research studentship is one allocated to the British Museum by the AHRC. The student will be expected to spend time both at the University of Leicester and the British Museum. The successful applicant will be expected to spend a significant portion of their time carrying out research and gaining relevant experience at The British Museum as part of their studentship. They will also become part of the wider cohort of CDP-funded students across the UK.
The studentship can be studied either full time (4 years) or part-time (7 years) (part time study only available to UK applicants).
We encourage applications from a diverse range of people, from different backgrounds and career stages, including those with relevant career experience.
See sections below for funding, Eligbility and How to Apply.
Start date: 1st October 2026
Application Deadline: Sunday 17 May 2026
- Applications received after this date cannot be considered. Candidates will be notified whether they have been shortlisted for interview by Friday 5th June 2026.
- Interviews are likely to take place online in the week commencing 8th June 2026.
Funding
Funding
CDP doctoral training grants fund full-time studentships for 4 years or part-time equivalent up to a maximum of 7 years. (Part time only available to UK applicants)
- The award pays tuition fees up to the value of the full-time home UKRI rate for PhD degrees. Research Councils UK Indicative Fee Level for 2026-27 is £5,238.
- The award pays an annual stipend for all students, both home and international students. This stipend is tax free, enabling the student to pay living costs. The Doctoral Stipend is £23,405 including the UKRI award of £21,805, plus an allowance of £1,000 per year for half London weighting and a CDP maintenance payment of £600 per year. (part time stipend is pro rata)
Students with an overseas fee status are welcome to apply but will be required to fund the difference between the UK and International fees rate. They will be required to reside in the UK for the duration of the PhD. The fee difference for 2026/7 is £12,762.
Further details can be found on the UKRI website.
The successful candidate is eligible to receive an additional travel and related expenses grant during the course of the project courtesy of The British Museum worth up to £1,500 per year for 4 years (pro-rata for part-time students).
The successful applicant will be encouraged to participate in professional development events and activities organised for all Collaborative Doctoral Partnership students who are registered with different universities and studying with cultural and heritage organisations across the UK. These activities are organised by a coordination team based at the V&A and are designed to provide CDP researchers with the knowledge, networks and skills to thrive in their future careers.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
Applicants should hold a UK undergraduate degree with at least 2.1 or an equivalent qualification from a recognised overseas institution. The applicant should also possess a Master’s degree in a relevant subject or demonstrate relevant equivalent experience (e.g. experience working with artefacts and data analysis).
We are looking for applicants with passion, dedication and enthusiasm for the topic of the studentship, and potential and enthusiasm for developing skills in the areas of museums, heritage sector, and/or academia.
University of Leicester English language requirements apply.
Informal enquiries
Informal enquiries
If you would like to ask any questions about the project or your proposal, please email the supervisory team: Dr Philippa Walton pjw48@le.ac.uk and Dr Wendy Scott wscott@britishmuseum.org
Application advice to pgrapply@le.ac.uk
How to apply
How to apply
To apply please use the Apply Link at the bottom of the page and select September 2026.
Please label all your application documents as ‘AHRC CDP BM WALTON’
With the online application please include:
- A research proposal: a 2-page proposal (A4 at 11 point) outlining your approach to the project. Avoid repeating the formal project description but rather identify aspects and themes that you find particularly interesting. Your proposal should include a summary of your proposed research focus, a review of relevant literature, an outline of your proposed methodology and a short bibliography.
- A personal statement: write up to 750 words explaining how your academic and/or professional experience has prepared you for this CDA along with your motivation for applying for this studentship.
- A current CV outlining your skills and experience.
- Two references, who are familiar with your recent academic/professional work. Please ensure you submit your references with your application. (project supervisors cannot act as referees)
- Your degree certificate and university transcripts.
- Evidence of English proficiency if applicable
- In the funding section please specify AHRC CDP BM WALTON
- Include the project supervisor's name and project title under the proposal section and upload your proposal.
We ask all applicants to complete a voluntary EDI monitoring form here. All responses are anonymous.
Applications received after the deadline cannot be considered.
Eligibility
Eligibility
This studentship is open to both home and international applicants.
To be classed as a home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Be a UK or Irish National (meeting residency requirements), or
- Have settled status, or
- Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
- Have indefinite leave to remain or enter
Further guidance can be found in the latest revision of the AHRC Training Grant Funding Guide here.
International students* are eligible to receive the full award for maintenance as are home students.
*A successful international student will be required to pay the difference between what the AHRC provide to the university for tuition and the charge made by the university for tuition fees for international students studying for a doctoral degree in Archaeology. The full annual international tuition fee for 2026-27 at University of Leicester is £18,000 for full time international students. For 2026/7 the fee difference will be £12,762 pa.
We encourage the widest range of potential students to study for this CDP studentship and are committed to welcoming students from different backgrounds to apply. We are keen to hear from individuals with varied expertise who can bring unique perspectives to the studentship. Experiences beyond academia, including other experience in a professional setting are also highly valued; this includes diverse lived experiences and those with an understanding of diverse research practices, outputs, impacts and engagement practice. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply, even if you are not certain that you meet every criterion. We particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse backgrounds as they are currently underrepresented at this level in this area.
We are looking for applicants with passion, dedication and enthusiasm for the topic of the studentship, and potential and enthusiasm for developing skills in the areas of museums, heritage sector, and/or academia.
As a collaborative award, students will be expected to spend time at both the University and the British Museum.
NB. All applicants must meet UKRI terms and conditions for funding. See:
https://www.ukri.org/funding/information-for-award-holders/grant-terms-and-conditions/
