The University of Stirling and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) are pleased to invite applications for a three-year Collaborative Doctoral Studentship, fully funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (UK/EU rate) with additional associated expenses from RCAHMS, to commence on 1 October 2013, or as soon thereafter as can be arranged.

This studentship will be a collaboration between the School of Arts and Humanities, Division of History & Politics (http://www.stir.ac.uk/arts-humanities/about-us/history-and-politics/) and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) (http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/).

The project will focus on Scotland’s Early Stone Castles, c1050 – 1350 with the aim of exploring the physical impact of castle building on Scotland’s landscape and their historical and sociological impact within the time period identified, and in their wider international context.

The successful applicant will spend some of their time based at RCAHMS, working alongside RCAHMS staff on fieldwork and with the archives, liaising closely with Dr Piers Dixon, an Operations Manager in Survey and Recording.

Applicants must have a good first degree in an appropriate subject and a relevant Master’s degree, or be about to complete an appropriate Masters level qualification, or have other professional experience relevant to the scope of the project.  A demonstrable interest in pre-1300 stone castle development and/or their associated socio-economic ‘landscapes of lordship’ would be especially welcome, as would an interest in and aptitude for structural analysis of standing buildings.

Eligibility to Apply

In order to apply, you must fulfil both the academic and the residency criteria laid down by the AHRC.

Academic eligibility – you must:

1. Have applied for and been offered a place to study at the University of Stirling (such an offer will be made to the successful applicant for this studentship);
2. Hold a relevant postgraduate Masters degree, or be about to complete an appropriate Masters level qualification, or have other professional experience relevant to the scope of the project.

Residency eligibility – you must:

1. Be a British national normally resident in the UK; or
2. Be an EU national normally resident in the UK, the EU or Switzerland; or
3. Have been resident in the UK or EU for the past three years for reasons other than education.

For full details (particularly regarding residency eligibility, which has many conditions and exceptions), please see the AHRC’s Guide to Student Funding:http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Student-Funding-Guide.pdf

Further information on the studentship and on the application procedure is available by clicking ‘Apply’ below.

Potential applicants are welcome to contact Dr Piers Dixon (piers.dixon@rcahms.gov.uk) or Professor Richard Oram (r.d.oram@stir.ac.uk) with any questions they may have.

Deadline for applications: 12 noon on 10^th June 2013.

Interviews will be held at University of Stirling on Tuesday 25th June 2013.