Research and Scholarly Activity

University College is an exciting multidisciplinary learning community. Whilst undergraduate and postgraduate students receive formal degree teaching in their academic departments, there are plenty of formal and informal learning opportunities within the College, supported by our connections with learned institutions, research fellows and wider research networks.  

The College regularly hosts visiting academics from around the world, often in collaboration with Institutes including the Institute for Advanced Study and the Institute for Medieval and Early Modern Studies. The College also has a range of scholarships available to support study. We currently have three Fellowships associated with the College:

• Early Career Research Fellows, one for each Faculty, for ECRs at Durham to connect, support and inspire our Postgraduate Research students
• The Solway Fellow, for research in Theology & Religion. This Fellowship is combined with our Chaplain.
• The Slater Fellow, for a senior academic working in the field of Medieval and Early Modern Studies to visit for a term.

University College Dunkley Curatorial Internship, 2025/27

Kick-start your museum career with the Dunkley Curatorial Internship 2025/27

Thanks to the generous support of University College alumnus Paul Dunkley, this paid, part-time role lets you work alongside the Castle Curator while studying for your MA in Museum and Artefact Studies. Earn around £9k a year, gain hands-on experience, and be part of the fascinating history of Durham Castle.

The internship will be awarded to one applicant biennially and the successful candidate will have access to the College collections while undertaking their studies, research and dissertation, and may potentially support both the Curator and the wider College in its efforts to improve the College as a museum and accessible heritage site. The course is carried out part-time over a period of two years. 

Thanks to the generous legacy of University College alumnus Paul Dunkley, we are welcoming applications for the Dunkley Curatorial Internship 2025/27. This internship is open to a student who is reading for the MA in Museum and Artefact Studies on a part-time basis, starting the course in autumn 2025. The recipient would become a member of University College.

The internship includes the valuable opportunity to work part-time (12 hours /week, paid) alongside the Castle Curator whilst studying part-time, earning approx. £9k/year. The intern would be responsible for their own tuition fees however financial support is available for these through Student Finance for Home students. A generous conference / professional support fund is also available for the intern to support continuing professional development.  

Further details on the course can be found here: https://www.dur.ac.uk/archaeology/postgraduate/taughtprogrammes/ma_museum_studies/

Applications for this Internship will open shortly with a closing date of 1 July 2025.