Collections & Communities in the East of England Collaborative Doctoral Landscape Award 2027: PhD Studentship Proposals Across Cambridge, Norfolk, Colchester, Ipswich and Peterborough

The Collections & Communities in the East of England Collaborative Doctoral Landscape Award (CC-EE) is inviting proposals for PhD studentship projects that use collections held by participating cultural and collecting institutions across the East of England.

The programme offers an opportunity for UK university-based academics and staff working within participating collections to develop collaborative doctoral research projects that connect collections with important contemporary and historical questions through arts and humanities methodologies.

For the 2027/28 academic year, the programme plans to allocate five studentships. Each successful PhD project will involve a partnership between at least two CC-EE collections and a UK university, creating a collaborative research environment in which doctoral students can work across institutional boundaries while gaining access to specialist training, research support and dedicated research funding.

The initiative is particularly interested in projects connected to the themes of belonging, resilience and ecologies, while allowing research to address a broad range of collections-related activities, including curatorial work, interpretation, learning and conservation.

Opportunity Overview

• Opportunity: Collections & Communities in the East of England Collaborative Doctoral Landscape Award
• Programme: Collections & Communities in the East of England (CC-EE)
• Opportunity type: PhD studentship proposal / doctoral research opportunity
• Studentships available: 5 for 2027/28
• Expected PhD start: October 2027
• Geographical focus: East of England
• Participating collection locations: Cambridge, Norfolk, Colchester, Ipswich and Peterborough
• Required methodology: Arts and humanities methods
• Key themes: Belonging, resilience and ecologies
• Expression of Interest deadline: 26 October 2026 at 12:00 noon
• Full Application deadline: 16 December 2026 at 12:00 noon
• Application process: Two-stage selection process

About the Collections & Communities in the East of England Programme

The Collections & Communities in the East of England initiative brings together collections and communities across the region with the aim of using collections-based research to engage with significant questions and challenges.

The programme is based around the idea that collections held by museums, archives, galleries and other cultural institutions can provide valuable material for doctoral research. These collections can support research into history, culture, society, heritage, communities, environments and numerous other areas within the arts and humanities.

The Collaborative Doctoral Landscape Award provides a structure through which universities and collection-holding institutions can work together to develop doctoral research projects.

Rather than limiting a PhD project to a single university or collection, each studentship is designed around a collaborative partnership involving two or more CC-EE collections and a UK university.

This structure allows doctoral researchers to engage directly with collections and the professionals who care for them while also benefiting from the academic environment and research expertise of a university.

Five PhD Studentships Available for 2027/28

The CC-EE programme plans to allocate five studentships for the 2027/28 academic year.

The resulting doctoral projects are expected to begin in October 2027.

An important feature of the programme is that the studentships themselves will be externally advertised. The current call is therefore focused on identifying and developing suitable doctoral research projects and supervisory partnerships rather than directly inviting individual prospective PhD students to apply for admission at this stage.

Successful proposals will subsequently form the basis for externally advertised PhD opportunities.

This makes the current call particularly relevant to academics and collection professionals who have a strong research idea and are interested in developing it into a collaborative doctoral project.

Where Can Proposed PhD Projects Be Based?

The programme is specifically interested in PhD projects that make use of collections located across the East of England.

The opportunity identifies collections in:

• Cambridge
• Norfolk
• Colchester
• Ipswich
• Peterborough

The project must involve collaboration between at least two of the participating CC-EE collecting institutions, with the partnership also including a UK university.

Projects involving more than two collections are particularly welcomed.

This multi-institutional structure means that applicants should consider how collections held by different organisations can complement one another and contribute to a coherent doctoral research question.

What Types of Research Projects Are Eligible?

Proposed doctoral research should be based on collections held by participating CC-EE institutions and should employ arts and humanities methodologies.

The programme does not restrict research to a single discipline or one particular type of collections work. Instead, the call provides considerable scope for applicants to develop projects around different aspects of collection-based research.

Potential areas of research may include:

1. Curatorial Research

Projects can investigate how collections are understood, organised, interpreted and presented to the public.

A doctoral project could explore curatorial practices, the development of collections, changing interpretations of objects or materials, or how institutions make decisions about what and how collections are presented.

2. Interpretation

Research may focus on how collections are interpreted for different audiences.

This could include examining exhibitions, displays, interpretive materials, digital interpretation or other ways institutions communicate the significance of collections.

3. Learning and Education

Projects can also explore the relationship between collections and learning.

Research could investigate how museums, archives and other collecting institutions use their collections to support education, public learning, community engagement or knowledge exchange.

4. Conservation

The programme also identifies conservation as a possible area of collections-related research.

Applicants may therefore develop research that examines the cultural, historical or interpretive dimensions of conservation and the ways in which preservation decisions affect how collections are understood and used.

5. Other Collections-Related Research

The examples provided by the programme are not intended to limit the scope of potential projects.

Research may cover other aspects of collections work provided that the project has a strong connection to participating collections and is grounded in appropriate arts and humanities approaches.

Core Research Themes

The CC-EE programme highlights three broad themes that proposed projects may address:

Belonging

Projects may explore questions around identity, community, place, heritage and people’s relationships with collections and cultural institutions.

Research under this theme could examine how collections represent communities, how people relate to cultural heritage, or how institutions contribute to people’s sense of belonging.

Resilience

Research may also consider resilience at individual, community, institutional, cultural or environmental levels.

Projects could investigate how collections document experiences of change, disruption or adaptation, or how collections institutions themselves contribute to resilient communities and cultural practices.

Ecologies

The programme also welcomes projects connected to ecologies.

This theme can provide opportunities for research into relationships between people, collections, landscapes, environments and wider ecological systems, using suitable arts and humanities approaches.

A proposal may fit within one or more of these themes.

Who Is the Call Looking For?

The current opportunity is primarily aimed at potential PhD supervisors and collaborative project partners, rather than individual students applying directly for a PhD.

There are two principal categories of people who can become involved.

Staff at Participating CC-EE Collections

Staff working at one of the participating CC-EE collections can propose to supervise a doctoral student from the collections-based side of the partnership.

Importantly, the programme states that a proposed collections-based supervisor does not need to hold a PhD in order to supervise a PhD student.

This provides an opportunity for experienced professionals working within collections institutions to contribute their practical, curatorial, conservation, learning or other specialist expertise to doctoral research.

Staff at UK Higher Education Institutions

Academics and other relevant staff based at a UK Higher Education Institution can also participate.

University-based applicants are expected to propose a collaboration involving at least two, or preferably more, participating collecting institutions.

The university and collection partners can therefore jointly develop a doctoral project that combines academic research expertise with direct access to collections and professional knowledge.

Collaboration Is Central to the Studentship

One of the defining features of this opportunity is its collaborative nature.

A successful PhD project will not simply be a conventional university-based doctorate. Instead, it will bring together:

1. A UK university;
2. At least two CC-EE collecting institutions;
3. Academic supervisors;
4. Collections-based supervisors; and
5. A doctoral researcher.

This model creates opportunities for research to move between academic and professional environments.

Applicants should therefore consider not only whether they have an interesting research idea, but also whether the proposed project can benefit from collaboration between multiple collections.

The programme particularly encourages projects involving more than the minimum two collecting institutions where this strengthens the research.

Support for Supervisors

The CC-EE team recognises that some prospective supervisors may have limited experience with collaborative doctoral supervision.

As a result, training and support are available for people who are new to supervising PhD students.

This is significant for collections professionals who may have extensive expertise in their specialist field but limited previous experience of doctoral supervision.

The programme provides an opportunity to develop supervisory experience while contributing to a substantial research project.

Support Available to Successful PhD Students

Students selected through the resulting doctoral opportunities will receive access to several forms of support.

Consortium Training

Students will have access to training delivered by the Consortium.

This is intended to complement their doctoral research and provide additional skills and knowledge beyond their individual institutional programme.

UK-Wide Collaborative Doctoral Programme Training

Students will also have access to training provided through the UK-wide Collaborative Doctoral Programme scheme.

This gives successful doctoral researchers an opportunity to participate in broader collaborative doctoral training and engage with researchers and institutions beyond their immediate project.

Dedicated Research Funds

The studentships will also provide students with dedicated research funds.

These resources can support the practical requirements of undertaking doctoral research and enable students to develop their projects using the collections and institutional partnerships on which their research is based.

Two-Stage Selection Process

The CC-EE studentship proposal process consists of two stages.

This means prospective supervisors should not wait until the final full application deadline before engaging with the programme.

Stage One: Expression of Interest

The first stage requires applicants to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).

The deadline is:

26 October 2026 at 12:00 noon

Applicants who are interested in proposing a doctoral project are strongly encouraged to contact the CC-EE team before submitting the EOI.

The team can discuss the proposed research, provide guidance on developing the project and, where necessary, help connect applicants with relevant collection institutions.

Stage Two: Full Application

Applicants whose Expressions of Interest are successful will be invited to submit a full application.

The deadline for the full application is:

16 December 2026 at 12:00 noon

The full application stage provides an opportunity to develop the proposed project in greater depth following the initial assessment.

Applicants Are Strongly Encouraged to Contact the CC-EE Team

The programme strongly recommends that interested prospective supervisors communicate with the CC-EE team before submitting an Expression of Interest.

This preliminary discussion can be particularly useful when an applicant has a research idea but has not yet established all of the necessary institutional partnerships.

The CC-EE team can:

• Discuss the proposed doctoral research idea.
• Provide support in developing the proposal.
• Help applicants understand the requirements of the programme.
• Introduce applicants to relevant colleagues within participating collections.
• Support the development of collaborative relationships.
• Provide training and support for people who are new to PhD supervision.

Applicants should also discuss their proposed project with relevant staff at the collection institution or institutions on which the PhD would be focused.

The programme’s collaborative structure makes early communication particularly important.

How to Develop a Strong Proposal

Prospective applicants should consider several factors when developing an Expression of Interest.

Establish a Clear Research Question

The project should have a clear and meaningful research question that can be investigated through the collections involved.

The proposed research should go beyond simply describing a collection. It should demonstrate why the collections provide valuable evidence or material for answering the proposed research question.

Demonstrate the Value of the Collections

Applicants should clearly explain how the participating collections contribute to the research.

Where multiple collections are involved, the proposal should demonstrate why bringing them together adds value to the project.

Build Genuine Institutional Collaboration

Because collaboration is a central requirement, applicants should identify suitable collection partners and discuss the project with them early.

A successful project should establish a meaningful relationship between the university and participating collection institutions.

Connect With the Programme Themes

Applicants should consider whether their research can contribute to one or more of the programme’s themes:

• Belonging
• Resilience
• Ecologies

Where relevant, the proposal should explain how the research contributes to these broader areas.

Use Arts and Humanities Methodologies

The programme specifically requires the research to use arts and humanities methods.

Applicants should therefore ensure that the methodology is appropriate to the nature of the research question and collections being investigated.

Expression of Interest Form

Applicants who wish to participate in the first stage must complete the official Expression of Interest form.

The form is available through the Collections & Communities in the East of England website.

The programme also provides information and support for prospective supervisors who are considering developing a proposal.

Expression of Interest deadline: 26 October 2026 at 12:00 noon.

Town Hall Information Session

The CC-EE programme also provided a Town Hall session for prospective applicants.

The session was scheduled for Thursday, 10 September at 2:00 pm and was intended to provide additional information about the studentship proposal process.

The programme states that the session would be recorded and added to the relevant webpage, allowing interested applicants to access the information afterwards.

Prospective applicants should consult the official programme page for the latest availability of the recording and any updated guidance.

Application and Preparation Timeline

Prospective supervisors can use the following timeline to organise their application:

Before 26 October 2026

• Develop an initial doctoral research idea.
• Identify relevant collections.
• Contact potential collection partners.
• Discuss the proposed project with the CC-EE team.
• Consider how the research relates to belonging, resilience and/or ecologies.
• Ensure that the proposed methodology is grounded in the arts and humanities.
• Develop and submit the Expression of Interest.

26 October 2026 at 12:00 noon

Expression of Interest deadline.

Only proposals progressing through the first stage will move forward to the full application stage.

Between the EOI and Full Application Stages

Successful applicants can further develop their proposals and strengthen the collaboration between the university and collection partners.

This stage can be used to refine:

• The research question;
• Research methodology;
• Collection access;
• Supervisory arrangements;
• Institutional responsibilities;
• Project outcomes; and
• The relationship between the participating collections.

16 December 2026 at 12:00 noon

Full Application deadline.

Successful full applications will contribute to the selection of doctoral projects for the 2027/28 studentships.

October 2027

The resulting PhD studentships are expected to begin.

Who Should Consider This Opportunity?

This opportunity is particularly relevant to people who already work with, research or have specialist knowledge of collections and who would like to develop that expertise into a collaborative doctoral project.

Potential participants include:

• Staff working at participating museums and collecting institutions.
• Curators interested in doctoral research.
• Collections professionals.
• Museum and heritage specialists.
• Conservation professionals.
• Learning and interpretation specialists.
• Researchers working with cultural collections.
• Academics based at UK universities.
• Researchers in arts and humanities disciplines.
• University staff seeking collaborative PhD projects with cultural institutions.
• Experienced collections professionals interested in PhD supervision.
• Potential supervisors seeking training and support in doctoral supervision.

The current call is not primarily a direct scholarship application for individual students. Instead, it is a call for the development of PhD projects and supervisory collaborations that will subsequently lead to externally advertised studentships.

Geographical Eligibility and Participation

The programme is focused on collections in the East of England, particularly participating institutions located in or associated with:

• Cambridge
• Norfolk
• Colchester
• Ipswich
• Peterborough

University-based collaborators must be based at a UK Higher Education Institution.

For collections-based supervisors, participation is tied to the participating CC-EE collections.

The opportunity is therefore not presented as a general worldwide individual PhD scholarship open directly to applicants from every country. International researchers who are interested in the eventual PhD studentships should monitor the external advertisements when the individual studentship opportunities are announced, as the current proposal call is aimed at supervisors and institutional partners.

Why Collections-Based Doctoral Research Matters

Collections can provide researchers with access to primary materials that can illuminate questions that cannot always be answered through conventional academic sources alone.

Objects, documents, artworks, photographs, archives and other forms of collected material can offer evidence about communities, societies, historical events, cultural practices, environments and changing relationships between people and places.

A collaborative doctoral model can further strengthen this research by allowing a student to work across multiple collections.

For example, collections held in different locations may contain complementary materials relating to the same historical, cultural or social question. Bringing those resources together can create opportunities for comparative research and new interpretations.

The partnership can also allow doctoral researchers to engage with professionals who have specialist knowledge of the collections, their histories, cataloguing, preservation and public interpretation.

Benefits of the Collaborative Model

The CC-EE approach can provide several dimensions of professional and academic development.

For Universities

Universities can develop new doctoral research partnerships with cultural and collecting institutions and give doctoral students access to collections and specialist professional knowledge.

For Collections Institutions

Museums and other collections can contribute their expertise to doctoral research while developing new research relationships with universities.

For Supervisors

Supervisors can work across academic and collections environments, with training and support available to those who are new to doctoral supervision.

For Doctoral Students

Students selected through the resulting projects can gain:

• Access to participating collections.
• Collaborative supervisory support.
• Consortium training.
• UK-wide Collaborative Doctoral Programme training.
• Dedicated research funds.
• Experience working across academic and cultural institutions.
• Opportunities to develop specialist research expertise.

How to Apply

Interested prospective supervisors should begin by discussing their research idea with the CC-EE team and relevant staff at the collection institutions they would like to involve.

The programme strongly recommends this preliminary engagement before the Expression of Interest is submitted.

The Expression of Interest form can then be completed and submitted before the first-stage deadline.

Applicants who successfully progress through the EOI stage will be invited to prepare a full application for consideration at the second stage.

The resulting studentships will subsequently be advertised externally for prospective PhD students.

APPLY HERE

Important Deadlines

Applicants should keep the following dates in mind:

Expression of Interest: 26 October 2026 at 12:00 noon

Full Application: 16 December 2026 at 12:00 noon

Expected PhD start date: October 2027

Because the programme operates a two-stage selection process, prospective applicants should begin discussions with the CC-EE team and potential collection partners well before the Expression of Interest deadline.

Official Application Resources

Prospective applicants can access the official Expression of Interest Form 2026 through the Collections & Communities in the East of England programme.

They can also consult information about participating collections and further guidance for potential supervisors through the official programme resources.

Applicants are encouraged to rely on the official CC-EE information for the latest requirements, deadlines and application instructions.

Visit HERE to learn more about the Collections & Communities in the East of England Collaborative Doctoral Landscape Award 2027.

Conclusion

The Collections & Communities in the East of England Collaborative Doctoral Landscape Award 2027 provides a structured opportunity for UK university researchers and professionals working within participating collections to develop collaborative PhD projects based on significant collections across the East of England.

With five studentships planned for 2027/28, the programme seeks research projects that bring together two or more CC-EE collections and a UK university and use arts and humanities methodologies to investigate meaningful questions connected to areas such as belonging, resilience and ecologies.

The programme also offers substantial support for the eventual doctoral researchers, including consortium training, UK-wide Collaborative Doctoral Programme training and dedicated research funds. Importantly, support is also available to supervisors who are new to doctoral supervision.

Anyone interested in proposing a project should begin discussions with the CC-EE team and relevant collections as early as possible. The first key deadline is 26 October 2026 at 12:00 noon for Expressions of Interest, followed by the 16 December 2026 at 12:00 noon deadline for full applications for proposals that successfully pass the first stage.

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