Preserving and developing the nation’s memory about Y Wladfa

AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) studentship

National Library of Wales / Swansea University

Sepia photograph showing a row of riders on horseback outside a thatched building, with handwritten Welsh text at top left.

By permission of Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales

Swansea University and the National Library of Wales (NLW) are pleased to announce the availability of a fully funded studentship from October 2026 under the AHRC’s Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Scheme.

Founded in 1865 in Argentine Patagonia, Y Wladfa – as the Welsh settlement in Patagonia is known in Welsh – was established to preserve Welsh language and culture away from British influence. The NLW holds the largest collection documenting its history. However, these materials have hitherto been only considered within the traditional, Wales-centred narratives about cultural resilience and linguistic survival, and with little regard for the broader Argentine context or Patagonia’s indigenous peoples.

This project will explore ways to preserve and develop the nation’s memory about Y Wladfa in the 21st century by engaging extensively with relevant collections to enable interpretation and re-interpretation. Overseen and hosted by a partnership between Swansea University and the NLW, it will revisit holdings to identify gaps and underexplored materials, consider alternative perspectives, improve accessibility and reflect a wider diversity of voices and experiences. Outputs will include impactful learning resources, digital exhibits and audiovisual materials. Beyond advancing Welsh historical scholarship, this PhD offers critical professional development to equip the candidate for their long-term career goals.

The AHRC award pays tuition fees up to the value of the full-time home UKRI rate for PhD degrees and full maintenance for all students. The National Minimum Doctoral Stipend for 2025/26 is £21,805 (rising in alignment with UKRI) plus a CDP maintenance payment of £600/year.

The successful candidate will be expected to spend time at both Swansea University and the National Library of Wales.

This studentship is open to anyone with a Humanities background, but the ability to speak Welsh is required. The student would not be employed as a member of staff at the National Library of Wales.

Closing date: Applications must be submitted by 12.59pm BST on Friday 5 June 2026.

How to apply: Please make an online application for this project here.