University of Amsterdam

Overview

The Heritage, Memory and Material Culture PhD programme at the University of Amsterdam offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding how heritage and memory are influenced by material culture, institutions, and public engagement. This programme allows students to develop original doctoral research aligned with UvA's research themes and supervision networks, fostering a rich academic environment for exploration and inquiry.

What you'll study

As part of this research-led programme, candidates will engage with various themes related to heritage and memory. Students will work closely with their supervisors to refine their doctoral projects and ensure their research aligns with one or more of the programme's focal areas.

Research themes (examples)

• Museums and Memorials: Investigate the impact of museums, memorial practices, and cultural objects on heritage and public memory, highlighting the roles of stakeholders and visitors.
• Heritage and Conflict: Explore contemporary issues surrounding heritage, including the activation of memory in conflict situations and its role in conflict resolution.
• Transnational Memory Narratives: Analyze the politics of narrative and memory dynamics regarding identity formation and the influence of material culture.
• Digitality and E-Memories: Examine how digital technologies affect the creation, sharing, and engagement with cultural heritage and memory.
• Materiality and Material Culture: Focus on the documentation, analysis, interpretation, and conservation of various materials, including archaeological sites and artworks.

Research groups (associated areas)

• Archaeological Heritage and Contemporary Society
• Archaeology of Cultural Landscapes and Natural Environments
• Archives and Records in Transition
• Books as Cultural Intermediary
• Conflict Archaeology
• Conserving Wax-Resin Lined Paintings
• Contemporary Art Conservation
• Digital Heritage
• Dynamics of Memory: WWII Heritage & Memory
• Explokart: Exploration of Maps and Mappings, 16th–20th Centuries
• Global Trajectories of Thought and Memory: Art and the Global South
• Looted Art: Provenance Research and Restitution in the Netherlands
• Making Memories: European Elites, Country House Cultures & Identities
• Materiality in the Study and Conservation of Cultural Heritage
• Museums and Interpretation: Visitors’ Narratives, Objects and Digital Tools
• Oral History & Transitional Justice
• Post Memories: Intergenerational Narratives of Conflict
• Postcolonial Heritages and Diasporic Memories

Entry requirements

To apply for the PhD programme, candidates must secure a UvA professor as their supervisor. Doctoral research must adhere to UvA's regulations, ensuring that students receive the necessary training and guidance throughout their academic journey. Proficiency in English is essential, as the programme is conducted in this language.

Career prospects

Graduates of the Heritage, Memory and Material Culture PhD programme are well-equipped for diverse career paths. They may pursue roles in academia, museums, cultural institutions, heritage management, and public policy, contributing their expertise to the understanding and preservation of cultural heritage and memory in various contexts.