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University of Leeds - School of Languages, Cultures and Societies  / British Museum London

AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Award - Disruption and Diversity: Understanding the Impact of Alexander the Great Through the Material Culture of the Hellenistic World

Session 2025/26 - Closing Date 17:00 (UK time) 15th May 2025

Award provides fees and maintenance at UKRI Rates (£20,780 in Session 2025/26), a London allowance of £1000 per annum plus a £600 enhancement per annum, a Research Training Support Grant and other allowances (pro rata for part-time study).
The School of Languages, Cultures and Societies at the University of Leeds and the British Museum are pleased to announce a fully funded<https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/2239-ahrc-cdp-disruption-and-diversity-understanding-the-impact-of-alexander-the-great-through-the-material-culture-of-the-hellenistic-world> Collaborative doctoral studentship, from October 2025.
This project explores how Alexander the Great's conquests and the resulting cultural and political changes can be understood through material culture, focusing on objects from the British Museum's collections.
Project overview
Alexander the Great's conquests (336-323 BCE) were one of the most disruptive periods in history, leading to the fall of the Achaemenid Empire and the establishment of new Graeco-Macedonian and local power structures. This project will explore how these transformations are reflected in material culture. The analysis of artifacts provides fresh perspectives on how Alexander's empire-building affected the everyday lives of people in different regions, offering a more nuanced and accessible understanding of ancient history and allowing for a more comprehensive interpretation of the cultural and political transformations during this period. The analysis will start out from the changes that can be observed in coinage. The evidence of coinage is particularly important as often it is the most precisely dateable and most demonstrative of political changes given the status of coins as 'official documents'. The coins' place of production, material, and iconography clearly express Alexander's impact on everyday life using a distinctly local vocabulary. Such changes will be compared to those present in other object groups, particularly in jewellery, figurines and vessels such as table ware. The successful candidate will have significant scope to shape the project by choosing particular object types on which to focus their study.
Research questions include:

  *   What can material culture reveal about cultural and political changes under Alexander's rule?
  *   How did different regions experience these transformations?
  *   Were Alexander's campaigns homogenising, or did they further diversity local identities?
  *   How does Macedonian influence appear in various forms of material culture?
About the British Museum
The British Museum was the first national museum to cover all fields of human knowledge, open to visitors from across the world. It is driven by an insatiable curiosity for the world, a deep belief in objects as reliable witnesses and documents of human history, sound research, as well as the desire to expand and share knowledge. You will be expected to spend time carrying out research and gaining experience at the Museum.
Outcomes, benefits and opportunities
The findings will contribute to a major British Museum exhibition on Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic World in 2030. You will be encouraged to participate in professional development events and activities organised for all Collaborative Doctoral Partnership students who are registered with different universities and studying with cultural and heritage organisations across the UK. These activities are organised by a coordination team based at the V&A and are designed to provide you with the skills to thrive in your future career.
For further project information contact Dr Samuel Gartland<Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein.>    

University of Reading - Department of Classics

UK Students, EU Students, International Students

£20,780 per annum


Supervisors: To be determined depending on the candidate and topic
Project Overview: Proposed projects should be within the fields of either Roman History or Latin Language and Literature, and within the time period of 753 BC to AD 600.
The Department of Classics has been undertaking pioneering research for over 100 years. We're continually working to extend the boundaries of the subject by developing new approaches that explore previously understudied areas across a range of ancient societies and cultures. Our research embraces a wide variety of cutting-edge methodologies and disciplines.
During your PhD at the University of Reading, you will expand your research knowledge and skills, receiving specialist supervision. You will also gain transferable skills that will support your career aspirations.
It is strongly recommended that candidates view the Department's website, PhD<https://www.reading.ac.uk/classics/phd> information and staff profiles<https://www.reading.ac.uk/classics/staff> before submitting an application.
Eligibility:

  *   Applicants should have a good first degree, and have obtained or be on track to obtain a Master's degree in a relevant discipline.
  *   Specific selection criteria include:
     *   Academic excellence of the applicant
     *   Quality of the research proposal (including methodological relevance and innovation, original contribution to knowledge, project feasibility)
     *   Applicants must apply to study for a PhD in the Department of Classics for a September 2025 start (or later in the 2025/26 academic year, as agreed)
Funding Details:

  *   Fees at the Home rate (International students will need to cover the difference between Home and International fees.) Fees can be found on this webpage<https://www.reading.ac.uk/doctoral-researcher-college/funding/fees/fees-new-students>.
  *   A stipend (living allowance, normally tax-free) equivalent to the UKRI rate (for 2025/26 the stipend is £20,780 per annum)
  *   Funding is for 4 years (or part-time equivalent)
  *   Starting in September 2025 (or later in the 2025/26 academic year, as agreed)
How to apply:
To apply click "Apply for a Programme<https://www.risisweb.reading.ac.uk/si/sits.urd/run/siw_ipp_lgn.login?process=siw_ipp_app&code1=P_ADM&code2=0001>" via the above 'Apply' button, create your account, and use the link sent by email to start the application process. During the application process please select the PhD in Classics programme. PhDs can be undertaken full-time or part-time, but not By Distance.
*Important notes*

  1.  Please quote the reference 'DRC25-035' in the 'Scholarships applied for' box which appears within the Funding Section of your on-line application.
  2.  As part of your application, you should upload

  1.
     *   A fully referenced research proposal (maximum 1000 words excluding references and project title). The proposal must articulate clear research questions. It should indicate clearly how the research will advance the field.
     *   A CV outlining the applicant's qualifications and experience.
It is not necessary to name a proposed supervisor. However, applicants are encouraged, if they wish, to make contact with possible supervisors<https://www.reading.ac.uk/classics/staff>, and may include a name. All applications will be considered equally, whether or not a supervisor is named.
Application Deadline: 2 May 2025
Further Enquiries:
For further details please contact Director of Postgraduate Research Studies, Professor Timothy Duff<Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein.>
Please note that, where a candidate is successful in being awarded funding, this will be confirmed via a formal studentship award letter; this will be provided separately from any Offer of Admission and will be subject to standard checks for eligibility and other criteria.