The Ulster Museum: Northern Ireland’s Culture Lab

Funding

CDP doctoral training grants fund full-time studentships for 4 years or part-time equivalent up to a maximum of 7 years.

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.

Please note that international applicants will be required to fund the difference between the UK and International fee. For 2026/7 the fee difference will be £12,762 pa.

The award pays full maintenance for all students both home and international students.

The UKRI National Minimum Doctoral Stipend for 2026-27 is £21,805, plus a CDP maintenance payment of £600/year.

The student is eligible to receive an additional travel and related expenses grant during the course of the project courtesy of National Museums NI worth up to £2,000 per year for 4 years (pro-rated for part-time students).

Entry requirements

Applicants must hold a UK undergraduate (Bachelors) degree with at least first class or upper second-class honours or an equivalent qualification from a recognised overseas institution and a first class or 2:1 equivalent for a Master's degree.

You should have a good knowledge of the field of Museum Studies; however, we recognise that knowledge acquired in other fields – from palaeontology to Modern Languages – can serve as a strong foundation for PhD study of museums, galleries and heritage. 

University of Leicester English language requirements apply

Informal enquiries

Project enquiries to:

• Professor Suzanne MacLeod – sm100@le.ac.uk
•  Hannah Crowdy – hannah.crowdy@nationalmuseumsni.org

If you have questions about the project funding and practicalities, please contact cdp@nationalmuseumsni.org

Online application advice to pgrapply@le.ac.uk 

How to apply

To apply please use the Apply Link at the bottom of the page and select September 2026. 

Please make sure you read the Studentship and application information before applying

With your application, please include:  

• CV
• Prepare a Research Proposal:  write up to 2000 words outlining from an academic perspective the independent research that you anticipate undertaking in relation to this project – avoid repeating the formal project description but rather identify and extrapolate those aspects that you find particularly interesting. Please include:
  
  • a summary of your proposed research focus
  • a review of relevant literature
  • your proposed methodology
  • an outline of any anticipated ethical issues
  • short bibliography

• Personal statement - write up to 750 words explaining how your academic and/or professional experience has prepared you to fulfil the terms of this project (250 words) and your personal and/or academic motivation for pursuing this Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (500 words)

• Degree Certificates and Transcripts of study already completed and if possible transcript to date of study currently being undertaken

• Evidence of English language proficiency if applicable

• In the reference section please enter the contact details of your two academic referees in the boxes provided or upload letters of reference if already available. Project supervisors are not able to act as referees

• In the funding section please specify AHRC CDP NMNI (MacLeod)

• Include the project supervisor's name and project title under the proposal section.

Eligibility

UK and  International applicants may apply

International applicants please refer to the funding information.