Developing a Framework for a National Collection of Scottish Video Game Heritage

About the Project

Scottish Graduate School of Arts and Humanities (SGSAH) funded in collaboration with Abertay University RLINCS and the University of Glasgow. The Studentship is available for an October 2026 start.

Abertay’s pan-University Graduate School offers an integrated training programme to the postgraduate community within a single centre, serving to inculcate interdisciplinary working in our next generation of researchers.

Interviews will be held online in late May or early June.

Project Description:

Scotland’s history of game development is considerable, ranging from bedroom-coding to high-end production as a key player in the globalised games industry. The video game heritage of Scotland encompasses physical and digital artefacts, cultural assets, and oral histories. However, to date, there has been no concerted effort to develop a consolidated approach to capturing, collecting, and curating the distinctly Scottish story of video games.

This project asks: what does it mean to collect video games for a Scottish national collection, and how can museums develop robust collections strategies that account for technical complexities, design and cultural practices, diversity, and production histories?

Through the collaborative partnership of National Museums Scotland, Abertay University, and University of Glasgow, this project will develop a robust and practical national collections strategy for video game heritage underpinned by desk-based, practice-based, and qualitative research methods across museum and games production studies. The successful candidate will be based at Abertay University in Dundee, but will have a placement with National Museums Scotland in Edinburgh, providing hands-on experience working in a museums and heritage context.

Key research questions include:

Conceptual

• How do we define collectable objects when collecting video games?
• How have museums historically dealt with similar complex, composite objects (hardware, software, source code, documentation, media, and living histories)?
• What testimonies, materials, and personal archives might game developers offer for collection?

Curatorial

• What aesthetic, social, historical, and technical criteria are required to exercise value judgement on what to collect in a national context?
• What value should be placed on developer, player, and media judgements of what should and should not be collected?

Institutional

• What principles should be applied in determining selection and prioritisation when collecting objects of video game heritage?
• How can a strategy be developed to remain flexible and sustainable given the rapid changes in game production and consumption practices?

Games encapsulate interactivity as a method of engagement with audiences which pose challenges in a sector traditionally focused on analogue preservation techniques. While this is not unique to games, it speaks to larger challenges in the museum sector.

The programme of research is expected to encompass analysis of primary and secondary sources, qualitative research involving developers and related practitioners and professionals with ties to the Scottish games industry, and desk-based case study research. Additionally the project will involve placement time with National Museums Scotland conducting collections research and community consultation.

It is anticipated that the output of this research will have significance for a range of beneficiaries. For the collaborative partner, National Museums Scotand, this project will inform acquisition strategy for game-related artefacts, addressing a critical gap in existing collections. Of over 12 million artefacts in the National Museums Scotland collection, fewer than 200 relate to Scotland’s video game heritage. It is anticipated that there will be a six month period in the second year of the PhD of intensive research at National Museums Scotland, however, the successful candidate will be encouraged to embed themselves within the museum throughout the project. As a member of the Science and Technology team at National Museums Scotland, you will have the opportunity to research not only the collections but the wider curatorial working practices of the team and museum in relation to video game heritage and contemporary digital collecting practice.

More broadly, the findings and recommendations of this project will be of value to the galleries, museums, and archives sector. The theoretical underpinning and novelty of the reseach will contribute to knowledge in game studies and museum studies. Findings are expected to be disseminated to both academic audiences and public audiences, including the games sector.

Supervisory Team: The candidate will be supervised by Dr Hailey Austin (Abertay), Dr Jane Draycott (Glasgow), Prof Robin Sloan (Abertay), and partner supervisor Dr Geoff Belknap (National Museums Scotland). Queries on this project should be directed to both Dr Hailey Austin (h.austin@abertay.ac.uk) and Prof Robin Sloan (r.sloan@abertay.ac.uk).

Entry Requirements: Candidates must have a first class or upper second-class honours degree in an arts and humanities discipline relevant to museum work, including but not limited to History, Art History, Ancient History, Classics, Archaeology, Media and Communications, Digital Media, and Information Studies. Additionally, applicants must have (or be working towards) a Masters degree in a relevant area. Applicants who do not have a Masters qualification but who have relevant professional experience may also apply.

We are looking for an independent, enthusiastic, and driven candidate with some understanding of digital games. Applicants should have experience in analysis of primary and secondary sources and possess strong oral and written communication skills.

The successful candidate should be prepared to work with existing collections, conduct qualitative inquiry such as interviews and workshops, and develop and a range of documents for a diverse set of audiences.

For applicants who are non-native speakers of English, the University requires IELTS of 7.0 (with no band less than 6.5) or an equivalent qualification accepted by the Home Office.

Funding Notes

A PhD studentship that comprises tax-free stipend of £21,805 (increasing in line with UKRI per annum), tuition fees paid, and a generous study package (e.g., limited research consumables, travel budget, and training when appropriate) each year for 3.5 years. The studentship is fully funded for 3.5 years.