Over the past 50 years, we have acquired a global reputation for leading-edge thinking and experimental practice in museum studies.Researchers, practitioners and postgraduate students come together to think creatively and critically about museums, galleries and heritage.Museum Studies is part of the School of Heritage and Culture.We offer supervision in Museum Studies in areas compatible with the research interests of our academic staff including:Art and Its Institutions: Histories and PracticesCultural Heritage and Cultural PracticeCulture: Politics and RepresentationMuseums: Design, Space, and InnovationMuseums: Engagement and ParticipationMuseums: Experience and AffectMuseums, Heritage Sites, and Cultural Institutions: History and MemoryMuseums: Social Agency and Organisational Change Museum Work: Cultures and PracticesPhD students complete an independent research project under the guidance of a supervisory team.PhD students complete an independent research project under the guidance of a supervisory team. The maximum period of registration permitted before thesis submission is 4 years full-time / 7 years distance learning. Active research (including all experimental work, laboratory work, field work, and data collection) will typically take 3 to 3.5 years full-time / 6 to 6.5 years distance learning. On completion of active research students may request approval to register for a writing-up period of up to 12 months.The period of active research and writing-up together must not exceed the maximum registration period.The thesis should not normally exceed 80,000 words and must make an original contribution to knowledge and contain work of publishable quality. The thesis must then be defended in a viva voce (oral) examination before a degree can be awarded.