Study for a PhD or Masters Degree in History
We offer MA in History by Research, PhD in History and a professional doctorate in public history and heritage. We encourage innovative and ambitious projects that offer benefits to wider scholarly and local communities, as well as furthering your career.
MA by Research (History)
The MA by Research in History can be taken full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years).
It is based on the development and completion of a discreet research project in any field of History for which expert supervision can be provided.
The resulting thesis, which should normally be around 20-25,000 words in length, is defended in an oral examination led by an external examiner.
MA by Research students are strongly recommended to attend relevant sessions of the University’s Generic Training for Research programme, and will be required to attend postgraduate research methods modules in History.
Contact us if you are interested in pursuing an MA by Research on a Heritage-related topic.
PhD in History
The PhD in History can be taken full-time (up to 4 years) or part-time (up to 7 years).
It is based on the development and completion of a discreet research project in any field of History for which expert supervision can be provided.
The resulting thesis, which should normally be around 80-100,000 words in length, is defended in an oral examination led by an external examiner.
Contact us for more information on how to apply for a PhD.
Our research interests
We can supervise a broad range of topics and periods, led by historians at the forefront of their fields.
- 18th and 19th century English society, with particular focus on London and Hertfordshire.
- Crime, and social and political disorder in early modern to modern Britain.
- The financial history of Britain.
- Digital history, particularly data-mining and collaborative projects.
- Public history and heritage.
- Material culture, consumption and leisure.
- Early modern religion, magic and witchcraft.
- Contemporary world history, including early 20th century Germany and Italy, and the Cold War.
See our Research Groups for more information on our staff and our research.
Our students
Our research students come from a wide range of backgrounds and interests.
Some have benefited from AHRC collaborative funding, in collaboration with such institutions as the British Museum and the Bank of England.
We encourage students to develop a wide skillset, including public presentation, organising seminars, and engagement with the local community.
Current students have set up their own History Lab, with a varied programme of talks, history-specific training, and archive and museum visits.
We hold an annual residential conference at Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Great Park, where staff, students, and external speakers present their latest research in a supportive intellectual environment.
Current and recently completed PhD theses
Download a list of current and recently completed PhD theses here.
Do you already work in heritage, archives, museums, creative arts or public policy?
Study for a Professional Doctorate in Heritage
Expand your skills and credit your achievements by taking our professional doctorate in heritage.
With a flexible and inter-disciplinary programme designed by YOU, this PhD is an innovative and distinctive qualification that distinguishes you from the rest of your field.
Contact Professor Owen Davies for more details.
What is the professional doctorate in heritage?
The Professional Doctorate in Heritage (The DHeritage) has a strong emphasis on the theory and practice of Heritage and Public History internationally, and their role in policy.
The DHeritage will provide a bespoke package of training and supervision across the disciplines of:
- History
- Education
- Digital Humanities
- Creative Writing
- Creative Arts
- Geography
- Urban
- Rural Planning, Business, and Tourism.
How does it work?
The DHeritage is cohort based, can be taken part-time, and will include a series of one-day workshops exploring a range of doctoral research methodologies and the skills necessary for writing a doctoral thesis.
It requires students to reflect on their own practice and explore the practical and intellectual possibilities offered by a range of disciplines relevant to their professional experience, and contribute to the development of the industry through published academic work.
Who is it aimed at?
The DHeritage is aimed primarily at people who work in or desire to work in the Heritage field broadly defined, whether in the private or the public sector.
It will interest those who are employed in:
- tourism
- museums
- archives
- community history
- archaeology
- social and cultural sustainability
It will appeal to practitioners who want to reflect on and contribute to the latest thinking in what is a dynamic and ever-changing sector crucial to the UK economy and its local and national identities.
Find out more about the Professional Doctorate programme and how to apply.