Highland Institute School of Advanced Studies
The Postgraduate Certificate in Research (PGCertR) is the Highland Institute’s flagship academic training programme—an immersive, interdisciplinary, and field-oriented pathway designed for early-career researchers, postgraduate students, and advanced undergraduates. Rooted in the Highland Institute’s long-standing commitment to mentorship, grounded research, and critical scholarship, the PGCertR builds on the legacy of our highly successful Summer School, now expanded into a full 12-month research certificate programme.
Participants join a dynamic learning environment where they receive intensive training in research methods, engage directly with communities and archives, and develop original scholarly projects under the close guidance of expert mentors. The programme blends theory and practice, offering a rare opportunity to work at the interface of anthropology, environmental humanities, history, philosophy, health sciences, literature, and archaeology—while cultivating practical skills in fieldwork, writing, analysis, and presentation.
A Research Community in the Highlands
- Access to our specialised research library and growing digital archive
- Mentorship from experienced scholars in the Highland Fellowship
- Field-based research experience and primary data collection
- The opportunity to present findings at the Winter Research Colloquium, aligned with the Ursula Graham Bower Lectures
- A structured, high-impact academic publishing pathway
Disciplines and ExpertiseThe Highland Institute’s School of Advanced Studies fosters interdisciplinarity while drawing on deep in-house expertise in:
- Anthropology (medical, political, visual/material)
- Philosophy (especially epistemology and social ontology)
- Environmental and climate studies
- Health and healing systems
- Ethnomusicology and oral literatures
- Archaeology and material culture
- History, historiography, and indigenous epistemologies
Our past instructors and subject leaders have included scholars trained at Oxford, Edinburgh, Cambridge, SOAS, and Deccan College, and we continue to maintain close partnerships with institutions in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Our Strengths and Expertise
The Highland Institute fosters interdisciplinarity, but has expertise in various core areas:
Anthropology
Our foundational discipline, we focus on human cultures and societies, as well as many subdisciplines, including medical anthropology, political anthropology, and material, visual and museum anthropology. Anthropology informs the main methodological approaches at The Highland Institute, including many of our Summer School workshops. Subject leaders are Dr Michael T. Heneise (PhD Edinburgh); Mr Roderick Wijunamai (PhD cand. Cornell); Dr Edward Moon-Little (PhD Cambridge); and Dr Don Duprez (PhD Edinburgh).
Philosophy
We delve into the rich domain of philosophy, with a focus on social ontology and epistemology as they feature in contemporary analytic philosophy. Interns will engage in rigorous argumentation and develop the skills to map and maintain fine philosophical distinctions. This philosophical exploration provides a vital context for our interdisciplinary research, offering interns a truly rounded and holistic academic experience. The subject lead is Mr Akumjung Pongen (University of Oxford).
Health Sciences
Examining the impact of societal factors on health, and on the other hand health policy, and community health provision, this critical research sector is one we have engaged in perhaps more empirically than any other. The Highland Institute has partnered in health research with the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Gov’t of Nagaland; Oxford Policy Management; the World Bank; the Universities of Edinburgh and Leeds, UK. Subject leaders are Dr. Michael T. Heneise (PhD Edinburgh), and Dr. Amrit Virk (DPhil Oxford).
Ethnomusicology
The study of music from the cultural and social aspects of the people who make it, and encompassing distinct theoretical and methodical approaches. Informing much of the institute’s approach to recording oral histories and literatures, this subject incorporates multimedia ethnographies. Subject leaders are Dr Christian Poske (SOAS), and Dr Bisakha Goswami (Rabindra Bharati).
Archaeology
Uncovering the human past through the excavation and analysis of artefacts is one of our newest areas of research. Through our staff and fellows, there is a range of expertise in ethnoarchaeology, community archaeology, dental bioarchaeology, zooarchaeology, archaeobotany, and cave archaeology. Subject leaders are Dr Ruokuonuo Rose Yhome (PhD Deccan) and Prof Tiatoshi Jamir (PhD Deccan).
Environmental Studies
Assessing the relationship between human societies and the environment, with a particular emphasis on climate change, adaptation, and community responses. Currently, we are running three large multi-year environmental projects at the institute: MyClimate funded by the Danish Institute of International Studies; Earthkeepers funded by the Canadian International Development Research Centre; and Ekologos funded by the Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education. Subject leaders are Ms. Catriona Child (MSc North Wales); Ms. Tarini Manchanda (MA South Asian U.); and Mr. Wayne Talbot (MPhil Bath).
What Makes the PGCertR Distinct?
- Intensive training: The programme begins with a research-focused summer phase and continues through fieldwork, analysis, and academic writing.
- Tailored supervision: Each student is paired with a Highland Fellow for sustained mentorship.
- Public scholarship: Participants are invited to present at our colloquia and contribute to publications.
- Tuition-free for selected candidates: Generously supported by the Highland Fellowship and donors, the PGCertR is fully funded for admitted students.
- Structure and Timeline
- Admission Requirements
- Scholarships and Support
- Summer School
- Winter Colloquium & UG Bower Lectures
akumjungpongen@gmail.com