diff --git a/src/batdetect2/data/__init__.py b/src/batdetect2/data/__init__.py
index 8d10f08..f9a5ee3 100644
--- a/src/batdetect2/data/__init__.py
+++ b/src/batdetect2/data/__init__.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from batdetect2.data.annotations import (
 from batdetect2.data.datasets import (
     DatasetConfig,
     load_dataset,
+    load_dataset_config,
     load_dataset_from_config,
 )
 
@@ -19,5 +20,6 @@ __all__ = [
     "DatasetConfig",
     "load_annotated_dataset",
     "load_dataset",
+    "load_dataset_config",
     "load_dataset_from_config",
 ]
diff --git a/src/batdetect2/data/datasets.py b/src/batdetect2/data/datasets.py
index b960305..ab43b17 100644
--- a/src/batdetect2/data/datasets.py
+++ b/src/batdetect2/data/datasets.py
@@ -161,6 +161,11 @@ def insert_source_tag(
     )
 
 
+# TODO: add documentation
+def load_dataset_config(path: data.PathLike, field: Optional[str] = None):
+    return load_config(path=path, schema=DatasetConfig, field=field)
+
+
 def load_dataset_from_config(
     path: data.PathLike,
     field: Optional[str] = None,