History and Heritage Studies: AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Studentship (Fully Funded) in History with Museum Wales (RS950)

Funding Provider: Arts and Humanities Research Council

Subject Area: History

Project Start Date: October 2026*

* (Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates.)

*In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed.

Supervisors:

• Dr Geraldine Lublin; Associate Professor; Department of Literature, Media & Language, Swansea University; g.lublin@swansea.ac.uk 
• Prof. Martin Johnes, Professor of Modern History, Swansea University; m.johnes@swansea.ac.uk 
• Dr Dafydd Tudur, Head of Engagement, Engagement Department, NLW; dafydd.tudur@llyfrgell.cymru
• Ms. Miidong P. Daloeng, Assistant Archivist - Communities and Access, NLW; miidong.p.daloeng@llyfrgell.cymru 

Aligned programme of study: PhD in History

Mode of study: Full time or Part time

Place of study: Swansea University (Singleton Campus)

Project description:

The National Library of Wales holds the largest collection of materials documenting the history of Y Wladfa, as the Welsh settlement in Patagonia is known in Welsh. However, these documents have hitherto been only considered in the context of traditional, Wales-centred narratives about cultural resilience and linguistic survival, with little regard for the broader Argentine context or Patagonia’s indigenous peoples.

On this year’s 160th anniversary of Y Wladfa, this project combines expertise in Latin American Studies, Welsh History, Digital Humanities and Library and Information Science to address a widely acknowledged outstanding issue. We aim to explore ways to enable interpretation and re-interpretation of the collection, revisiting holdings to answer these research questions:

1. To what extent has the collection been underexplored? How might established approaches have marginalised or undervalued specific documents? 
2. May contemporary interpretive frameworks reveal new insights which improve understandings of Y Wladfa and its contemporary repercussions?
3. What identifiable gaps exist and what are the implications of this absence?
4. How may the collection be (re)interpreted and developed to reflect a wider diversity of voices and experiences and ensure more equitable representation?
5. How may project findings be used to develop appropriate interpretive resources which will advance inclusive representation and stimulate wider public engagement?

Revisiting how this important chapter of Welsh history is interpreted within the NLW’s collections will be highly significant and impactful, contributing primarily in two areas:

• Promoting complex and inclusive understandings of history
  While recent scholarship on Y Wladfa has argued for more nuanced and inclusive understandings of its historical complexity, relevant curatorial framings continue to reflect romanticised, Welsh-focused narratives. Given its status as the holder of the largest collection of relevant materials, the NLW bears a critical responsibility regarding this.
• Revisiting such valuable materials to acknowledge meaningful gaps and amplify underrepresented voices and experiences will challenge the romanticised, Welsh-focused predominant narrative. This will yield deeper historical insights into Y Wladfa and its contemporary repercussions, ultimately promoting more complex and inclusive understandings of history in general.

Supporting strategy and policy 
The project will support delivery of the NLW’s fundamental mission to preserve and develop the nation’s memory and other key aspects of its 2025-30 Strategic Plan. Enhancing how relevant collections are (re)interpreted in the 21st century will lead to the development of more appropriate and accessible curatorial framings and an annotated collection guide based on the extensive archival survey. Findings will also inform strategic recommendations co-created with relevant interested parties and a public engagement blueprint aligned with the 2025-30 Strategic Plan.

This initiative also contributes to the Welsh Government’s “Anti-racist Wales Action Plan” and “Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015”, fostering cross-cultural understanding through education and cultural heritage, and contributing to building a more equal Wales with cohesive communities.

Note for international and European applicants: 
Details of how your qualification compares to the published academic entry requirements can be found on our Country Specific Entry Requirements page. 

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in.

PhD: Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level and a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’. Alternatively, applicants with a UK first class honours degree (or non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) not holding a master’s degree, will be considered on an individual basis.

English Language
IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £21,805 for October 2026).

This studentship also receives an enhanced stipend of £600 per annum.  

Additional research expenses of up to £750 per year will also be available.

To apply, please complete the entire application form here:

History PhD, Full Time, October 2026
History PhD, Part Time, October 2026

To be considered for this scholarship award the following steps are also required. 

1. In section ‘Programme Related Information’ please input the relevant RS Code for the scholarship award i.e. RS950

2. In section ‘Research’ you will see ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’* (Mandatory)

• In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input:
  • the RS Code, RS950
  • the scholarship title 
• Please leave Proposed Supervisor field blank 
• Please leave Research Project (if applicable) blank 
• In ‘Do you have a proposal to upload? *’(Mandatory) Please select 'Yes' 
• Then upload copy of advert (you can save the advert by clicking print, and then print to pdf)

3. In section ‘Funding information’ please choose the option ‘Scholarship Funding’ only. Please ensure no other options are selected. 

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award. 

If you’ve previously applied for this programme, the system will display an “Application Submitted” warning and block a new submission. In this case:

1. Apply for the same course with the next available start date (e.g., select January if October is unavailable). 
2. Email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with your student number and the relevant scholarship RS code, requesting the start date be amended to match the advert. 
3. Admissions staff will then update your application accordingly.

Important: If you have previously applied for the same programme & intake, do not re‑apply using a different email address. Applications submitted with an email address that differs from the one used in your original application will not be accepted or considered.

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards. 

NOTE:  Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.   

Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted.

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email): 

• CV
• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient) 
• A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project. 
• One reference (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference. 
• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable). 
• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)
• Confirmation of EDI form submission

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact: Dr Geraldine Lublin g.lublin@swansea.ac.uk 

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.