Cultural Heritage PhD

Level: Postgraduate research

Subject: Architecture and Landscape Architecture

Year of entry: 2026

Study options

Full-time
  • PhD | 3 years | Start date: multiple dates
Part-time
  • PhD | 6 years | Start date: multiple dates

Key facts

School

Edinburgh College of Art

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme website
PhD by Distance

Available

School location

Lauriston campus

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About the degree programme

This programme will offer you the opportunity to conduct in-depth, rigorous research on a specific problem within the appropriate disciplinary environment, under the supervision of experts in the field.

Once understood as a conservative discipline, cultural heritage is emerging as a set of experimental practices, engaging with contemporary developments including:

  • new technologies
  • reconceptualisations of the tangible and intangible
  • shifting global relations
  • changing epistemologies of the past
  • movements towards participatory democratisation

This evolving discourse is too complex to belong to one single subject area or its traditions. The Cultural Heritage PhD offers a way to engage with these multidisciplinary considerations and to benefit from synoptic insights when addressing them.

Interdisciplinary research

The cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral model of this programme offers you the opportunity to:

  • research a singular problem in-depth within the appropriate disciplinary environment
  • set your disciplinary approach within the context of alternate discourses, framing new contributions to the field

We therefore welcome proposals with a wide range of disciplinary approaches, including:

  • anthropology
  • archaeology
  • computing and informatics
  • education
  • history and classics
  • international development
  • law
  • religious studies
  • science and technology studies
  • sociology
  • the practices, histories, and theories of:
    • art
    • architecture
    • music
    • literature
    • language

We also welcome any combination of the above.

We invite you to consider how your approach and contribution might enhance the field and the practice of cultural heritage, helping scholars, citizens, and institutions to address urgent global challenges, both within and beyond the academy.

Study options

You can complete this degree both on-site at Edinburgh College of Art and in the field, full-time or part-time.

PhD by Distance

The PhD by Distance is available to suitably qualified applicants in all the same areas as our on-campus programmes. It allows you to study for a PhD in an ECA subject area from your home country or city if you do not wish to commit to basing yourself in Edinburgh.

If you study for an ECA PhD by Distance, we do not expect you to visit Edinburgh during your period of study. However, short-term visits for particular activities can be considered on a case-by-case basis, visa permissions and resourcing permitting.

It is often possible to transfer between distance and on-campus modes of study during the PhD.

More information on the PhD by Distance

Part-time study

The part time PhD is available to suitably qualified applicants in all the same areas as our on-campus programmes.

This option allows students who have other commitments on their time, professional or personal, to study for a PhD at ECA. 

Part time PhDs are expected to take 6 years rather than the 3 expected for full-time options. You can arrange the timing of meetings with supervisors and attendance at research training courses. Annual reviews will take place every year.

The estimated time commitment for the part-time mode of study is, on average, between 2 to 3 days per week.

It is often possible to transfer between part time and full-time modes of study during the PhD.

How to apply

You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.

If you have any questions about the application and admissions process, please contact the ECA Postgraduate Research Team.

Contact ECA Postgraduate Research

Finding a supervisor

You should search for a potential supervisor for your research topic before you submit an application.

Finding a research supervisor

You can find Edinburgh College of Art staff on the ECA website. Each member of staff has a profile page which gives a summary biography and research information along with their contact details.

We recommend you contact potential supervisors to discuss your research proposal and determine their willingness to supervise you. If you contact a potential supervisor before applying, they may ask to see your draft research proposal and may offer you feedback. If they are willing to look at a further draft, they may want to see how well you have understood and applied their advice.

After this discussion, if they confirm that your proposed research is within their expertise or supervisory remit, and they are interested in working with you, you can list their name on your application as your proposed supervisor.

Your principal supervisor will normally be based in the subject area you are applying to. Assistant supervisors can be based in the same subject area, from ECA, or the wider University of Edinburgh.

The selection panel will consider the proposed supervisor you have named on your application and discuss your application with them, and/or with other supervisors that may be relevant.

Academic staff at ECA

When to apply

Programme start date Application deadline
14 September 2026 30 June 2026

If you are applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible. All applications must be received by the deadlines listed above.

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

and, if applicable:

  • your research topic
  • details of any published work

You will also need to provide some or all of the following supporting information and documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

References

You must submit two references with your application, one of which must be an academic reference and preferably from your most recent studies.

Research proposal

You should submit a research proposal that outlines your project's aims, context, process and product/outcome.

The research proposal is a necessary and important part of your application. It should identify the objectives and scope of your research, and the stages necessary to complete it.

The proposal should indicate the nature of the outcome; for example, whether it will be a full thesis, or a smaller thesis and body of creative work. In the case of practice-based research, we advise you to give an indication of the kind of creative work you intend to undertake, and how it will engage with and further the research aims and process.

Your research proposal is the key that allows staff to understand your intentions and readiness for a research degree. The best research proposals are developed through several drafts. 

Your proposal may well later evolve and even change radically through your research process, but the initial proposal is required to help identify the particular question(s) or areas of concern prompting your research. It will also help staff identify suitable supervisory expertise if you are invited to interview.

You must upload the research proposal with your online application. We cannot fully consider applications until an adequate research proposal has been submitted.

Assessing your proposal

We will assess your proposal against the following criteria:

  • Aims: Identify a clear gap in existing knowledge. Succinctly and clearly explain your aims and objectives. Provide a title, identify a particular research question or area of concern prompting this research and convey its significance. For Art and Design programmes, please state if you are applying for a Theory Based or Practice Based PhD.
  • Context: Demonstrate excellent knowledge of the field and preparedness to undertake the proposed research project. Convey the intellectual, academic, artistic context of the research question(s) or concerns. Provide a bibliography of relevant scholarly literature and other key research resources.
  • Methods: Your proposal must be original and innovative, substantively and/or methodologically. Explain the research processes and methods that you will apply. Indicate why they are the most appropriate and, if relevant, most innovative methods.
  • Impact: The potential impact of the research must be explicit, with realistic and appropriate plans for maximising the impact identified (e.g. engaging possible non-academic partnerships.) Explain how your research will have academic and artistic impact and/or social and economic impact.
  • Clarity: Writing and presentation must be of the highest standard. Ensure that your proposal is succinct, clearly written and free of jargon (it should be readily understood by a non-expert).
Word count

The word count for your research proposal is 1,000 to 3,000 words.

Do not write more than the word limit.

You may also provide a bibliography of relevant scholarly literature and other key research resources. This is not mandatory, and does not count towards your word limit.

Missing documents

Once we receive your application, it will be processed by the Admissions Team and then sent to the Selection Panel for review.

If any essential documents are missing from your application, the Admissions Team will contact you about this.

Applications without a research proposal will be classed as incomplete and cannot be reviewed by the Selection Panel until this is provided.

Interview

If the Selection Panel feel that your application is of the required quality and there is supervisory expertise available you will be invited to attend a short interview. This is normally with the Programme Director and/or your proposed supervisors, where you will discuss your application and research proposal. 

The interview will normally be online (such as via MS Teams) but can be in person where relevant.

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

Funding

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Full-time
Part-time

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

Costs

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.

Living costs include:

  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel, clothes, books and stationery
  • recreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)

Living costs

Accommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.

University postgraduate accommodation options and costs

These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026.

Qualifications

Normally a UK Masters degree or its international equivalent. If you do not meet the academic entry requirements, we may still consider your application on the basis of relevant professional experience.
 
You must also submit a research proposal; see Applying section for guidance.
 
If you meet all of the entry requirements, you will need to attend an online interview with potential supervisors. The interview should last 20-30 minutes. Please note that an offer to study is subject to a successful interview.

International qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 6 in each component.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 135 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Trinity ISE
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

Research profile

The Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA) is the site of energetic postgraduate research activity. We have complementary PhD programmes in Cultural Studies and Architectural History, and masters programmes in architectural conservation, landscape, and the adaptive practices of interiors.

Along with the wider Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) postgraduate community, ESALA promotes diverse research practices and models, making it the ideal place for interdisciplinary research.

Collaboration with other schools

This programme also connects with other schools and departments within the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS), such as:

  • History, Classics and Archaeology
  • Literatures, Languages, and Cultures
  • Digital Education
  • Science and Technology Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Business

These collaborations allow you to benefit from in-depth supervisory knowledge, and to engage with broader ideas through the cross-disciplinary student community.

Programme structure

Assessment and progression

At the end of each academic year, you will undertake an annual review with your supervisors and another academic whose research interests or methodologies align with your research project. For the annual review, you will be required to:

  • provide a written outline of research undertaken and a sample of research work
  • give a presentation
  • attend a meeting

To progress to the next year of study, you will need to pass each annual review.

After three years, you will prepare your final dissertation. Your dissertation will be assessed through a ‘viva voce’ examination with at least one internal and one external examiner with expertise in your field.

Learning outcomes

Research enquiry

You will develop a spirit of enquiry and lifelong learning through the conception, development and execution of a self-directed research project grounded in discipline(s) relating to cultural heritage.

Aspiration and personal development

You will develop personal and intellectual autonomy through directing your own research and through situating your disciplinary approach(es) in relation to the broader field of cultural heritage.

Outlook and engagement

You will learn how to engage diverse audiences with your research, considering how it can learn from, and contribute to not just the study of the past, but the promotion of its re-production in the present.

Find out the aims and structure for each year of study on this programme.

Full-time
Part-time

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Taught courses

Interdisciplinary Research Methods for Cultural Heritage

This course brings together students from diverse disciplines to explore how their own research connects with broader issues and methodologies in cultural heritage. This course is compulsory in your first year. You will have the opportunity to attend the final research seminar for the course in your second and third years.

You will be encouraged to engage with research training in your own disciplinary area. Your self-directed research and your training needs will be reviewed annually.

Work placements and internships

Some research proposals may include internships or placements. You will be offered support in establishing and implementing these opportunities.

Support

The programme is largely delivered through individual supervision by at least two academics with experience and expertise in your chosen field of research. The supervisors come from across the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS), and may come from different schools.

Supervision meetings will typically take place monthly.

Facilities

You will have access to study space (some of which are 24-hour access), studios and workshops at Edinburgh College of Art’s campus, as well as University wide resources. There are several bookable spaces for the development of exhibitions, workshops or seminars. And you will have access to well-equipped multimedia laboratories, photography and exhibition facilities, shared recording space, access to recording equipment available through Bookit, the equipment loan booking system.

You will have access to high quality library facilities. Within the University of Edinburgh, there are three libraries:

  • the Main Library
  • the ECA library
  • the Art and Architecture Library

The Centre for Research Collections which holds the University of Edinburgh’s historic collections is also located in the Main Library.

The Talbot Rice Gallery is a public art gallery of the University of Edinburgh and part of Edinburgh College of Art, which is committed to exploring what the University of Edinburgh can contribute to contemporary art practice today and into the future. You will also have access to the extraordinary range and quality of exhibitions and events associated with a leading college of art situated within a world-class research-intensive university.

St Cecilia’s Hall, which is Scotland’s oldest purpose-built concert hall, also houses the Music Museum which holds one of the most important historic musical instrument collections anywhere in the world.

In addition to the University’s facilities you will also be able to access wider resources within the City of Edinburgh. These include:

  • National Library of Scotland
  • Scottish Studies Library and Digital Archives
  • City of Edinburgh Libraries
  • Historic Environment Scotland
  • the National Trust for Scotland

You will also benefit from the University of Edinburgh’s extensive range of student support facilities provided, including:

  • student societies
  • accommodation
  • wellbeing and support services

Lauriston campus redevelopment

ECA are excited to be undertaking a capital redevelopment of ECA’s Lauriston Campus over the next 3 years, from April 2024 to April 2027.

The project aims to maximise the use of existing space, improve accessibility, and create a vibrant campus that fosters collaboration and innovation.

The project involves refurbishing and repurposing various spaces across the Lauriston campus, including technical facilities, student and teaching spaces, and the relocation of the Reid School of Music from Alison House to the Lauriston Campus. New social spaces, seminar rooms, and studios are being created to accommodate our growing community.

Find out more about ECA’s Lauriston Campus redevelopment

Career opportunities

Cultural heritage is growing internationally as a distinct academic field, leading to a growing number of openings for graduates who wish to pursue an academic career in the field.

Beyond academia, GLAM institutions (Galleries, Libraries and Museums) have traditionally employed PhD graduates as historians, historians of art, and curators.

However, this programme will provide you with more than just historical knowledge and expertise. You will also develop innovative approaches to exploring how your interests can connect with the ways the past is reproduced in the present, in areas such as:

  • tourism
  • cultural management
  • conservation
  • curation

Additionally, these innovative approaches will enable you to engage with heritage activism beyond formal institutions, working with community groups, and informal or third-sector organisations that often drive cultural heritage movements and practices on the ground.

This programme is particularly beneficial if you are interested in pursuing a career in the rapidly growing field of cultural heritage management in the Global South.

You will also develop the skills required to contribute to the implementation and development of cultural policy, preparing you to work with organisations such as:

  • Historic Environment Scotland or equivalent bodies
  • international organisations such as ICCROM or UNESCO
  • memory institutions, including sites and museums, libraries, and archaeological units

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website 

What our students say

What is it really like to study here? Our students share their experiences on our social media. 

You can find out what a day in the life is like for an Edinburgh College of Art student, from late nights in the library to their favourite walks around the city.

Instagram: Edinburgh College of Art

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:

  • apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programme
  • accept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 July
  • study at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in September

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

We also offer accommodation options for couples and families.

Accommodation for couples and families

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.

Societies

Sport Clubs

The city of Edinburgh

Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. 

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include: 

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustments

Health and wellbeing support services 

Disability and Learning Support

General enquiries

Contact our enquiry team about your eligibility or how to apply.

ecaresearchdegrees@ed.ac.uk
Phone:+44 (0)131 651 5741

Academic contact

For academic questions, please contact the Programme Director.

Edward Hollis

Programme Director

Contact details

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