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  4. Special Collections research support

Special Collections research support

Researchers at all levels are welcome to use our resources, and we actively encourage the use of Special Collections material as the main subject of academic research.

Getting started

Visit our Using archives for research page to find out how to use our catalogues, access material online, and understand our collections and how they can benefit your research.

Please use our catalogue and subject guides to discover more about our holdings, or if you need any more detailed information about our collections please contact us.

Find out about visiting Special Collections online and in person.

Find out how to book a virtual consultation or request a photo of an item on our Plan a visit webpage.

Digitised parts of the collection are available online and can be searched, browsed and filtered through our advanced search.

Arrange a placement

We are not currently able to offer onsite student placements, but can consider requests for remote placements when brokered by Academic supervisors at the University of Leeds. 

Requests will be considered on a case by case basis subject to departmental resource and priorities. Academic supervisors should discuss such placements at least six months in advance of an anticipated start date. Please see our Student Support Policy (PDF) for more details.

We are not currently able to accept speculative enquiries. 

We will review this approach once spaces have been reopened and an assessment of priorities has been carried out.

Order digitised copies

You can order digitisation or photocopies of material. As you cannot visit in person, we can take photos of items for you.

Propose an exhibition

We will consider proposals for exhibitions in our galleries from researchers using our collections; please see our exhibition policy for our proposal forms.

Support for funding bids

We may be able to support funding bids and grant applications for research projects using our collections, but please contact us well in advance of the deadline for a discussion.

Who we work with

Special Collections also works closely with the various research institutes and centres across the University, and we welcome discussions about possible projects with researchers and staff attached to them. Our main partners include: