The University of Hertfordshire invites applications for two MA by Research fees-waivers in History in
association with St Albans Cathedral, and the British Antarctic Survey.
The fee waivers are offered on a full-time basis for one year, starting on 4 January 2016. They will cover
the University tuition fees for UK/EU students, together with a small grant for travel expenses. The MA by
Research students will be part of the Centre for Regional and Local History, and have access to facilities
at the respective archives.
The two MA by Research projects will use the archives of the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban, St
Albans, and the British Antarctic Survey (Cambridge) respectively as their main resource, and will work on
a specific project that falls within the remit of the themes detailed below. More information about each
archive is available on the website: http://herts.ac.uk/regional-history. Applicants should discuss their
proposals with the relevant contacts listed below before the application deadline.
About the projects:
1. The British Antarctic Survey (https://www.bas.ac.uk/), has extensive archives in Cambridge. The MA
will produce a biography of one of its historical bases, Horseshoe Base ‘Y’, managed by the United
Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT).
Research questions may include:
a) How did the base change over time (physically, strategically and in terms of its use,
significance and impact) and what can this reveal about the broader scientific, sociopolitical and/or symbolic context of Antarctica.
b) What was the experience of the men who manned the base?
c) How can the archive inform decisions made about the future conservation and
management of the site?
2. St Albans Cathedral and Abbey archives (http://www.stalbanshistory.org/page.aspx?id=462) in
Hertfordshire predominantly date from the 19th century. They are especially rich in material relating to
the development and restoration of the Abbey in the Victorian period.
Projects may cover the following themes:
a) The heritage, restoration and material culture of the Abbey from the 19th century to the present
day;
b) The Abbey’s role in charity, the poor law, and the wider community in the 19th and 20th
centuries;
c) The Cult of Saints in recent history.
Requirements:
A first or high 2:1 or equivalent in an undergraduate degree in history or history-related subject.
Cover letter stating clearly which studentship you are applying for.
Completed UH application form
Two academic references
Research Proposal of 1000 words: This should be based on the outline above and explain how the
candidate would shape the project in light of their own research interests. It should be a maximum of 1000
words.
Copies of degree certificates
Candidates for whom English is not their first language will require certification of English language
competence (minimum IELTS 6.5, preferably higher).
Application details:
Deadline: 12 November 2015. Interviews to be held the week beginning 30 November.
For an application form and the degree schedule see: http://www.herts.ac.uk/research/ssahri/contactresearch-ssahri and/or email Dr Janice Turner j.m.turner@herts.ac.uk
For enquiries about the collections of St Albans Cathedral, email Dr Clare Coombe,
alo@stalbanscathedral.org
For enquiries about the British Antarctic Survey archives, email Ieuan Hopkins, irho@bas.ac.uk
Please send completed applications to both Dr Janice Turner j.m.turner@herts.ac.uk and Dr Katrina
Navickas k.navickas@herts.ac.uk