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Applications are invited for a fully-funded PhD studentship to commence in October 2025. 

The ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõ and ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõ City Council are pleased to announce the availability of a fully funded Collaborative doctoral studentship from 1 October 2025 under the AHRC’s .

The PhD will be based in the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries, and will be supervised by  Dr Claire Bailey-Ross and Dr Tarek Teba from the ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõ and Grace Scott and Emily Worsdale from the Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum, ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõ City Council. 

Successful applicants will receive a bursary from the Arts and Humanities Research Council through the Collaborative Doctoral Partnership scheme to cover tuition fees for up to four years and a stipend in line with the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26). Bursary recipients will also receive a £1,500 p.a. for project costs/consumables.

Costs for student visa and immigration health surcharge are not covered by this bursary. For further guidance and advice visit our international and EU students ‘Visa FAQs’ page.    

How can a small historic house museum remain relevant in a fast-changing, digital world? This PhD project explores how the Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum (CDBM) can reimagine engagement through participatory practices and digital technologies, particularly with younger and more diverse audiences.

As the birthplace of one of the world’s most celebrated authors, CDBM is rich in cultural significance. Yet, like many small or literary museums, it faces shared sector challenges: limited resources, static interpretation, and increasing pressure to demonstrate contemporary relevance and societal impact. This project positions CDBM as a testbed for innovation, offering new ways to tell stories, foster inclusivity, and co-create meaning with audiences.

Using participatory action research and co-design, the PhD student will develop and evaluate new digital experiences aimed at enriching the visitor journey and increasing inclusivity. Working in partnership with ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõ City Council and the ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõ, the student will collaborate with museum professionals, creative technologists, and local communities to design immersive storytelling tools and co-created interpretive experiences .The project will deliver prototypes of immersive interpretive tools, new impact metrics for museums, and a practical toolkit for co-creation. 

Through collaboration with museum professionals, creative technologists, and local communities, this PhD positions CDBM as a model for innovation in small literary museums. It offers an opportunity to  inform policy and practice in small and regional museums across the UK and beyond. By modelling democratic, inclusive, and evidence-based innovation, this project will help redefine the role of small museums in the 21st century.

How to apply

We’d encourage you to contact Dr Claire Bailey-Ross  (claire.bailey-ross@port.ac.uk) to discuss your interest before you apply, quoting the project code.
 

When you are ready to apply, you can use our . Make sure you submit a personal statement, proof of your degrees and grades, details of two referees, proof of your English language proficiency and an up-to-date CV.  Our ‘How to Apply’ page offers further guidance on the PhD application process.
 

If you want to be considered for this funded PhD opportunity you must quote project code FMC50450525 when applying.Please note that email applications are not accepted..