AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) studentship

AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) studentship – Iconographies of change: currency and medals of Iran's Pahlavi regime 

Start date: 1st October 2023

Application Deadline: 9 June 2023

Interviews will take place in mid-June

The British Museum, and the University of St Andrews are pleased to announce the availability of a fully funded Collaborative doctoral studentship from October 2023 under the AHRC’s Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Scheme.

This project will be jointly supervised by Dr Vesta Sarkhosh Curtis and Dr Tom Hockenhull at the British Museum and Professor Ali Ansari and Dr Siavush Randjbar-Daemi at the University of St Andrews. The student will be expected to spend time at both The British Museum and University of St Andrews, as well as becoming part of the wider cohort of CDP funded students across the UK. The studentship can be studied either full or part-time.

We encourage the widest range of potential students to study for this CDP studentship and are committed to welcoming students from different backgrounds to apply. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian, Minority, Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds as they are currently underrepresented at this level in this area.  Students should have a Master’s Degree in a relevant subject or can demonstrate equivalent experience in a professional setting. 

Project Overview  

This project seeks to understand how Iran’s Pahlavi regime (1925–1979) defined and projected its identity through analysis of the circulating official iconography on coins, banknotes and commemorative medals. It will study how the two Pahlavi shahs fused Persian history and culture with western-style iconography to forge a distinct vision for modern Iran, in the process creating a political and societal divide that took full force during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, persisting to the present. The project will contextualise this highly significant body of material within what was a transformational period for Iran economically, politically and culturally.

The British Museum’s substantial and visually significant collection of coins, banknotes and medals from the Pahlavi period, will be the primary focus of this study.

Research questions include:

  • How did the iconography on Pahlavi currency and commemorative medals change and develop over time?
  • What were the messages and reasons behind the evolution of iconography on Pahlavi currency and commemorative medals, and how were they defined by the politics of the Pahlavi regime?
  • What were the external influences on the developing iconography? For example, the geopolitical situation in the Middle East and private business interests, including mints and security printers.

Details of Award

CDP doctoral training grants fund full-time studentships for 45 months (3.75 years) or part-time equivalent. The studentship has the possibility of being extended for an additional 3 months to provide professional development opportunities, or up to 3 months of funding may be used to pay for the costs the student might incur in taking up professional development opportunities.   

The award pays tuition fees up to the value of the full-time home UKRI rate for PhD degrees. Research Councils UK Indicative Fee Level for 2022/2023 is £4,596. The University of St Andrews has agreed to waive the fee difference between domestic and international fees for international applicants for this award.

The award pays full maintenance for all students. The UKRI National Minimum Doctoral Stipend for 2022/2023 is £17,668, additionally the student will receive a CDP maintenance payment of £550/year and a half London Weighting allowance of £1,000/year.

Further details can be found on the UKRI website

The student is eligible to receive an additional travel and related expenses grant during the course of the project courtesy of The British Museum worth up to £1,500 per year.

The project can be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis. 

Eligibility

  • This studentship is open to both Home and International applicants.   
  • To be classed as a home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:
    • Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
    • Have settled status, or
    • Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
    • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter

Further guidance can be found on the UKRI website

  • We want to encourage the widest range of potential students to study for a CDP studentship and are committed to welcoming students from different backgrounds to apply. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian, Minority, Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds as they are currently underrepresented at this level in this area. 
  • Applicants should ideally have or expect to receive a relevant Masters-level qualification or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience in a professional setting. Suitable disciplines are flexible, but might include Archaeology, Anthropology, Art History, History
  • Applicants must be able to demonstrate an interest in the museum sector and potential and enthusiasm for developing skills more widely in related areas, History and Art History
  • As a collaborative award, students will be expected to spend time at both the University of St Andrews and the British Museum . 

Some proficiency in Persian is desirable. Further language training will be available.


NB. All applicants must meet UKRI terms and conditions for funding. 

Project details and how to apply 

More information and how to apply 

The successful candidate will be eligible to participate in CDP Cohort Development events.