PhD Collaboration

The V&A Research Institute plays a central role in fostering collaborative doctoral research. We offer three fully collaborative studentship awards each year through the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) scheme, co-supervise PhD students through the V&A / RCA History of Design Programme, and are open to exploring other collaborations through Collaborative Doctoral Awards. Our collaborative research projects are rooted in the collections, resources and expertise of the V&A family of art, design and performance museums. Studentships are four years full-time, or eight years part-time. 

Since 2014, the V&A has been a member of the AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) consortium. Each studentship is jointly supervised by specialists from across the V&A's family of sites and academics at UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The CDP programme helps us to support a new generation of scholars working between the academic and heritage sectors, and we are proud to host this thriving postgraduate community. Further information, including how to propose a CDP project, is available here.

We also offer doctoral placements, enabling existing doctoral students to gain professional experience at the V&A by working on projects designed specifically as placements. These opportunities are advertised annually through the V&A website.

Cover image: Research in action at the V&A Research Institute (VARI) photograph by Eileen Budd