A scholarship to support doctoral study into digital heritage and collections management is to be launched by the University of Leicester (UoL) School of Museum Studies.

Funded by the Collections Trust, the launch of the new programme comes as a partnership between the institution and the trust enters its second year in 2011-12. UoL's School of Museum Studies is the sole UK provider to have a formal tie-up with the trust and includes the provision of a specially-constructed curriculum.

The Collections Trust also offers eight-week placements to two Masters students each year in order to provide practical experience of working with the organisation in the field. Canadian student Amy Hetherington has been confirmed as the successful applicant for the new Collections Trust Scholarship and will begin her PhD in October.

Dr Ross Parry from the School of Museum Studies said: "This new scholarship follows a number of collaborative research projects and Knowledge Exchange ventures with the Collections Trust. "The school and the trust have pursued funded research together on the future of the Semantic Web and linked data for the museum sector, on digital signage and in-gallery connectivity, as well as on the research skills sets needed by 21st century practitioners and academics investigating digital heritage."