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The IHBC Gus Astley Annual Student Award

Up to £500 and free IHBC annual School places for selected entries for outstanding under- or post-graduate coursework relating to built or historc environment conservation.

Topics may cover any aspect of conservation including:

  • evaluation (eg history, research or surveying)
  • management (eg policy, finance or planning)
  • and/or intervention (eg design, technology or architecture)

Applicants need only submit a digital version of their coursework!
See gasa.ihbc.org.uk for forms & details

Closing date: 31st August

For results see the IHBC NewsBlog, Context, the IHBC’s membership journal, & the IHBC Annual School 

For information only please contact:
studentaward@ihbc.org.uk

EU – New European Bauhaus Prizes 2025

The New European Bauhaus (NEB) Prizes celebrate innovative projects and ideas that embody NEB values—sustainability, inclusivity, and beauty. Over four editions, the competition has attracted over 5,000 applications and awarded EUR 1.54 million to 72 winners. The Prizes inspire regions, cities, and towns to embrace NEB principles, foster youth participation, and promote intergenerational dialogue.

In this section, you can find an overview of the main elements of the NEB Prizes 2025.

Applications for this award are now open! You can apply from 14 January 2025 to 14 February 2025. Learn more about the upcoming edition below.

Find out more here

The British Library – PhD Placement Scheme

he British Library annual placement scheme offers doctoral researchers from all disciplines the chance to develop and apply transferable skills and expertise outside the university sector.

Projects cover activities ranging from cataloguing, conservation and interpretation to policy research, resource development and research or community engagement. The duration for each placement is 3 months (or part time equivalent).

Current research themes are available on the British Library’s website, where more information on each theme is available. The themes open for applications now are:

  • Sarah Sophia Banks’s guide to her ‘Ceremonies &c p = print’
  • Imprimerie Royale Proofs 1640-1789 
  • Computational analysis of early printed book descriptions
  • Curating the manuscripts in the Lady Eccles Oscar Wilde collection: provenance, preservation and access
  • Examination of the British Library’s collection of American underground comix and related ephemera 
  • Understanding user needs on climate change and sustainability
  • Unearthed at the British Library: achieving a sustainable exhibition
  • Afro-Brazilian history and culture in print: surveying the British Library collections
  • Mapping the collections: oral histories of architecture in the British Library

Deadline: 21 February
More information and booking here.

UCL EPSRC Landscape Award (UELA) studentship

Applications close: 28 January 2025

The UCL EPSRC Landcape Award (UELA) has 50 fully-funded four-year studentships available for 2025/26. Studentships are open to both Home and International fee status students, however EPSRC caps the number of International students at 30% so a maximum of 15 International students can be recruited and competition for these places will be particularly strong.

Applications close at 13:00 UK time on Tuesday 28 January 2025. If there are places available after all offers have been made, additional applications will be considered in Round 2. Round 2 will open in February and close in early June. We will not know whether there are places available for round 2 until after it closes, and Round 2 will be for Home candidates only. We strongly recommend you apply by the initial deadline for round 1 of 13:00 UK time on 28 January 2025.  

For more information visit the website here

AHRC/CHASE Collaborative Doctoral Award (CDA) PhD studentship – Coastal Heritage and Socio-Economic Decline on the Isle of Sheppey: Learning from the lost village of Elmley in Kent

AHRC/CHASE Collaborative Doctoral Award (CDA) PhD studentship in collaboration with the School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Kent, and Hillcrest Conservation Consultants (Hillcrest Enterprises South Ltd) – Coastal Heritage and Socio-Economic Decline on the Isle of Sheppey: Learning from the lost village of Elmley in Kent.

Qualification type: PhD

Location: School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Kent, Marlowe Building, Canterbury, CT2 7NR

Funding for: UK Students and International Students

Funding amount: fees and stipend at AHRC rates (for the current academic year 2024-25, the stipend rate is £19,837). This includes enhanced stipend to cover additional travel costs relating to the project. Please note: this funding amount typically increases with inflation each academic year. Access to additional funding related to research/equipment/event costs will be available.

Closes: Monday 17 February 2025, 12 noon

NTU – PhD studentship opportunity: Re-imagining energy retrofit and home adaptation to deliver safe and resilient homes during interconnected energy, health, housing and climate crises

Applications close – 14 February 2025

‘The Ministry of Defence warns of cascading risks, including flooding and energy insecurity, leading to homelessness and increased civil unrest (MoJ, 2024). Rising temperatures in the UK could lead to an estimated 10,000 additional deaths per year by 2050, with the impacts of heat stress on health services and community resilience remaining poorly understood (UKHSA, 2024; Richmond and Hill, 2023). During the 2022 heatwave, 71% of Nottingham residents reported physical health impacts, and 31% struggled with work (Ogunbode et al., 2023). The Grantham Institute for Climate Change are sharing urgent research questions about trade-offs and synergies for thermal comfort in winter and in summer; what works in housing retrofit to address climate risk? (Bird, Wittke, 2024)

Housing energy retrofits can improve thermal efficiency and reduce energy costs; home adaptation measures like handrails and ramps enhance accessibility; climate adaptation measures can include shutters, shading and green spaces. However, these strategies have not been studied together in research or policy (Simpson & Connelly, forthcoming). At a time of interconnected housing, energy, health, cost-of-living and climate crises, this PhD research aims to re-imagine energy retrofit and home adaptation practices toward climate adaptation.

The proposal is focused on using participatory community-based approaches, alongside review of standards, policies and interventions, for the co creation of an open access resource for the sector. The primary goal of the study is to co-create a climate resilience retrofit toolkit with retrofit providers, home adaptation groups and communities.’

For more information, visit the website here

The London Topographical Society – Ann Saunders essay prize for 2025

Submissions Close: 1 April 2025

‘At the suggestion of members, the Council of the London Topographical Society decided to fund a prize in honour of Dr Ann Saunders (1930-2019). Ann was an enthusiastic and distinguished historian of London and for thirty-five years the Society’s Honorary Editor and in that capacity helped many scholars, both young and old, to achieve publication of their work.

A prize of £1,000 will be awarded annually, depending on the response and at the discretion of the Council.

It will be awarded for an original and unpublished research essay on the topography, development or buildings of London in any period.

For more information visit the website here

Vernacular Architecture Group Winter Conference Bursary 2025

Applications Close: 9 December 2024

This year’s Winter conference is taking place on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th January 2025 at
College Court Conference Centre in Leicester. The theme is ” Pioneers in Vernacular Architecture:
examining the legacy of English Vernacular Houses, Houses of the Welsh Countryside and
other early scholars” and the attached brochure provides full details of the programme.

The Vernacular Architecture Group is able to offer two bursaries to assist registered full or part-time
students, recent graduates or professionals in the early years of their career to attend the conference.
The Committee is aware that the cost often makes attendance difficult for students and others who
might benefit from the lectures and discussions, and from the opportunity to meet people active in the
field.

Applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Undergraduates, masters or doctoral students or those who have graduated within 5 years (with a preference for those studying vernacular architecture or a related discipline)
  • Early career professionals working in the field or those with a junior professional role e.g. assistant heritage consultant, project officer or similar.

Candidates will be expected to:

  • show evidence of an active interest in historic buildings, ideally vernacular architecture,
    including a list of relevant courses undertaken
  • show evidence that they are active in the field, e.g. by membership of the VAG or other
    relevant groups, or through relevant work experience
  • Explain how they hope to benefit from attending the conference

Applications and tutor endorsements/references should be sent by email to the VAG Secretary, Claire Jeffery, email secretary@vag.org.uk to reach her no later than Monday 9 December. The bursary will cover the full cost of the £217 residential conference fee but will not cover travel to or from the
conference or any other expenses. Applicants who are already members of the Group and propose to
attend the conference with or without the support of a bursary should ensure a place on the
conference by booking in the normal way. Anyone who has reserved a place at full cost but
subsequently obtains a bursary will receive a full refund.


Bursary recipients will be asked to write a resume of the conference for the VAG Newsletter. We hope
that they will be sufficiently inspired by the conference to join the VAG if they are not already
members. The VAG Committee would be grateful if you could bring this item to the notice of anyone
who is eligible and whom you feel would benefit from attending the conference.

Climate Heritage Network – Preserving Legacies Leadership Cohort Program

Closes: 3 January 2025

 Preserving Legacies Leadership Cohort Program

 From November 1, 2024, to January 3, 2025, you can nominate custodian individuals or organizations for a place of cultural significance to join a passionate cohort of individuals determined to protect cultural heritage against climate change.

In partnership with the Climate Heritage Network, the International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and the National Geographic Society, Preserving Legacies is a global initiative that equips heritage custodians with climate heritage training, professional connections, and resources to implement climate adaptation actions that protect heritage places. In 2024, Preserving Legacies partnered with 20 remarkable heritage places worldwide, each a testament to resilience. With each cohort, we grow a dedicated community of practice committed to securing a sustainable future for heritage in every corner of the world.

Apply Here

The Gardens Trust – Chair of the Gardens Trust

The Gardens Trust is the only UK national charity dedicated to conserving historic parks and gardens for everyone to enjoy today and in future. The ideal candidate may have an interest in gardens and garden history, but more importantly, a desire to support a small, established and ambitious organisation, and a willingness to learn and adapt skills to meet the needs. Apply here.

Closing date: 1 January 2025

Location: Working from home, London office, some travel

CYARK – Heritage Documentation Training Grant

Applications Close: 1 November 2024

CyArk is pleased to announce the Heritage Documentation Training Grant. A unique opportunity for 10 dedicated individuals to gain comprehensive photogrammetry training and hands-on experience with industry-standard software, all completely free of charge. Elevate your skills in documenting cultural heritage with cutting-edge digital tools over an intensive 3-week virtual training.

For more information visit the website here

IHBC North West Branch: Historic Building Conservation Award 2024

The IHBC North West (NW) Branch ‘Conservation Award’ for 2024 is open to nominations to 4 October, looking for the project that demonstrates best historic building conservation practice in the North West.

The IHBC NW Conservation Award is awarded annually for the project that demonstrates best historic building conservation practice in the North West.

The award is open to IHBC members involved in any historic building conservation project in Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire or the Isle of Man completed between January 2023 and the end of July 2024. The professional leading on the conservation aspects of the project should be a full member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation…

DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION FORM

Application forms should be sent by email to : paulhartleyconservation@gmail.com with up to 5 captioned photographs and 2 plan/drawings of the project sent via wetransfer (https://wetransfer.com/ )