ucl phd in history

• Home »
• UCL (University College London) »

find your perfect postgrad program Search our Database of 30,000 Courses

Ucl (university college london): history.

Full-Time, 1 years started Sep 2024

The UCL MA History draws on the department's extensive research and teaching expertise to allow students to choose modules across many historical periods and locations. The programme offers advanced-level teaching by leading practitioners in a range of fields.

Part-Time, 2 years started Sep 2024

Full-time, 1 years started sep 2023.

This MA draws on the wide range and depth of research and teaching expertise in UCL History to give students the opportunity to choose modules relating to a variety of historical periods and locations. The programme offers advanced-level teaching by leading practitioners in a range of fields.

Part-Time, 2 years started Sep 2023

Master of philosophy - mphil, full-time, 3 years started sep 2024.

The UCL History MPhil/PhD programme offers students the possibility to study in the heart of London in a vibrant and diverse research community. Students will work with world-leading academics, gaining the skills to move into careers both within and outside academia.

Part-Time, 5 years started Sep 2024

Full-time, 3 years started sep 2023.

The MPhil/PhD programme in History offers students the possibility to study in the heart of London in a vibrant research community. Students will work with world-leading academics, gaining the skills to move into careers both within and outside of academia.

Part-Time, 5 years started Sep 2023

Make your Master’s matter 

For a real-world advantage, study at a world-class university and your Master’s will take you further.  Studying a graduate degree at UCL gives you a deeper understanding of your chosen field and the opportunity to develop the cultural fluency and global outlook that are prized in today’s job market. You will be part of the ninth best university in the world, The Times and The Sunday Times University of the Year 2024, and the university in London that is most targeted by graduate employers*. You’ll join courses led by world-renowned experts and shaped by collaborations with …

Not what you are looking for?

Postgraduate Bursary Opportunity with Postgrad.com

Are you studying as a PG student at the moment or have you recently been accepted on a postgraduate program? Apply now for one of our £2000 PGS bursaries.

Exclusive bursaries Open day alerts Funding advice Application tips Latest PG news

Complete Our Destination Survey

Take 2 minutes to complete our Destination Survey for the chance to win a Postgrad Study Bursary worth £2,000.

All we need to know is:

• Your university
• Your PG course

Our cookies

We use cookies for three reasons: to give you the best experience on PGS, to make sure the PGS ads you see on other sites are relevant , and to measure website usage. Some of these cookies are necessary to help the site work properly and can’t be switched off. Cookies also support us to provide our services for free, and by click on “Accept” below, you are agreeing to our use of cookies .You can manage your preferences now or at any time.

Privacy overview

We use cookies, which are small text files placed on your computer, to allow the site to work for you, improve your user experience, to provide us with information about how our site is used, and to deliver personalised ads which help fund our work and deliver our service to you for free.

The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience.

You can accept all, or else manage cookies individually. However, blocking some types of cookies may affect your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.

You can change your cookies preference at any time by visiting our Cookies Notice page. Please remember to clear your browsing data and cookies when you change your cookies preferences. This will remove all cookies previously placed on your browser.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, or how to clear your browser cookies data see our Cookies Notice

Manage consent preferences

Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.

They are essential for you to browse the website and use its features.

You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. We can’t identify you from these cookies.

Functional cookies

These help us personalise our sites for you by remembering your preferences and settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers, whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then these services may not function properly.

Performance cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and see where our traffic comes from, so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are popular and see how visitors move around the site. The cookies cannot directly identify any individual users.

If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to improve its performance for you.

Marketing cookies

These cookies may be set through our site by social media services or our advertising partners. Social media cookies enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They can track your browser across other sites and build up a profile of your interests. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to see or use the content sharing tools.

Advertising cookies may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but work by uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will still see ads, but they won’t be tailored to your interests.

History of Art MPhil/PhD

Ucl (university college london), different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, university information, similar courses at this uni, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

Art History

Course type

UCL History of Art is top-rated for research; our staff are active researchers in a range of specialist fields and there is a thriving graduate community. Graduate students participate in our weekly graduate seminar, and research students also write, edit and produce the journal Object. We also offer opportunities, posted on our Latest News and Events feed, for research students to work as Teaching Assistants in the department .

Recent graduates have been awarded prestigious postdoctoral fellowship and secured academic positions at top universities and research institutes in the UK, Europe, North America and Asia. Many have also pursued successful curatorial careers at major museums and collections in Britain, including Tate Modern, the Hayward Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Barbican Art Gallery and many more including museums and galleries abroad. Others work as art journalists or in publishing.

Employability

The PhD in the History of Art requires independent, self-motivated research and will teach students to formulate and convey their ideas both to specialised as well as to broader audiences. It will enable students to develop original thinking on all aspects of visual culture, drawing on historical and contemporary cultural debates. Students gain experience of working in different kinds of archives and with different approaches to visual material. PhD students are trained to work as teaching assistants in the department, and the combination of research and teaching skills prepares them for the diverse demands of an academic career.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

A UK Master's degree in a relevant discipline (pass of 68% or better), or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Students are normally required to have achieved an upper second-class UK Bachelor’s or its overseas equivalent at first degree level.

UCL (University College London) is consistently ranked among the top ten universities in the world, conducting leading research across a wide range of subject areas. Throughout its long and prestigious history, it has inspired and educated countless minds and produced 30 Nobel prize recipients. With one campus located in the heart of Bloomsbury and a second campus in vibrant east London, the university is home to around 42,000 students... more

History of Art MA

Full time | 1 year | 23-SEP-24

Human Geography MPhil/PhD

Full time | 3 years | 23-SEP-24

• Chancellor’s Message

Print Options

2024-25 edition, history, ph.d..

The Doctoral Program in History is designed to provide students with advanced historical research skills and a solid grounding in the theory and methodology of history. This combination reflects the Department’s conviction that scholars should approach significant questions about the past with rigor and sophistication. The Department requires that students develop critical abilities in dealing with primary sources, secondary syntheses, and the interrelationship of history and theory. Candidates for the Ph.D. in History are expected to gain teaching experience as an integral part of their graduate training. This is accomplished through work as a teaching assistant.

Doctoral students take a minimum of 15 formal courses to be completed during the first two years of the program. Ten courses must be taken within the History Department.

History and Theory

Required coursework for doctoral students includes two courses in History and Theory. These courses explore a variety of theoretical issues and methodological concerns that have sparked debate in the humanities and social sciences in the past decades and which remain pertinent to 21st century historical writing. Topics may include the relationship between materialist approaches and cultural analysis; subjectivity and governance; gender and sexuality; ethnicity and racial formation; the politics of religion; "the archive" and archival practice; nationalism and postcolonialism; world history and transnational studies.

History Methods

Required coursework for doctoral students includes one course in History Methods. This course introduces graduate students to some of the most foundational ideas and debates that have shaped historiographical practice over the past half century. This course explores fundamental questions about how historians imagine the past as they try to write about it, how they constitute it as a domain of study, and how (and why) they argue about it.

Field Emphases

Doctoral students are required to take a total of five courses satisfying requirements for specialization in two historical fields, in either area studies or thematic fields. Students take three courses in the first field and two courses in the second field. The Department offers area studies fields in Asian History, European History, Latin American History, Middle East and African History, U.S. History, and World History. Thematic fields vary depending on demand. Students may take courses satisfying field requirements in any order.

Research Seminars

Doctoral students are required to take a two-quarter course sequence in research and writing both their first and second year in the graduate program. In the first year, students take a proseminar on historical methodology ( HISTORY 202A ) followed by a second quarter ( HISTORY 202B ) in which they write a research paper that engages the methodologies and questions explored in the previous quarter. Students who enter the doctoral program with a master's may petition to be exempt from the first-year research sequence, pending acceptance of the M.A. thesis as an equivalent to the final research paper of the sequence.

In the second year of study, Ph.D. students take a two-course sequence ( HISTORY 204A and HISTORY 204B ) in which they research and write a paper on a topic of their choice. The second year research paper is required of all doctoral students.

Professional Development Colloquium

Doctoral students are required to take a three quarter long colloquium (HISTORY 210A-HISTORY 210B-HISTORY 210C) on professional development during their first year in the graduate program. The Professional Development Colloquium introduces graduate students in history to career diversity and life as a professional historian both within and outside academia. It addresses topics including finding support for successful and intellectually rewarding on time degree completion, preparing for different kinds of employment searches, and applying skills learned from academic training to a variety of professional settings.

Language Requirement

All students must demonstrate a proficiency in one language other than English prior to taking the Ph.D. candidacy qualifying exam. Competency in a language may be established either by passing a departmental examination (proctored in the department office) or through extensive language use in one of the research seminars. The language used to satisfy this requirement is subject to their advisors' approval.

Summary of Required Course of Study:

• History and Theory - one course
• History Methods – one course
• Research Seminars - four courses
• Professional Development Colloquium – three courses
• First Field - three courses
• Second Field - two courses
• Electives - three courses
• Foreign Language Proficiency  

First-Year Review and M.A. Conferral

To continue in the doctoral program, students must satisfactorily pass a departmental evaluation at the end of their first year of study; this includes students who entered with a M.A. from another institution.

Doctoral students can be awarded an M.A. from UCI after fulfilling requirements for residence, one language, and successfully completing 36 units, including 28 units in required courses and one of the following: submitting an approved M.A. thesis, passing a one-hour exam in the primary field, or completing an additional 24 units of approved coursework.

The Candidacy Qualifying Exam and Dissertation Prospectus

In the third year of the doctoral program, students prepare for their candidacy qualifying exam and write the dissertation prospectus. Most third year students enroll in the intensive readings course ( HISTORY 298 ) or directed readings ( HISTORY 291 ) to work closely with faculty in preparing for exams and writing their prospectus.

The candidacy qualifying exam is an oral, two-hour meeting during which a student is examined in their first and second field by a committee of four faculty members, plus an additional faculty referee. Upon successful completion of the exam, the student is officially advance to doctoral candidacy (all but dissertation) and presents the dissertation prospectus in a colloquium including all members of the dissertation committee for formal approval. Both the exam and prospectus colloquium should be completed by the end of the third year.

Dissertation Research and Writing

The dissertation is the most important part of the Department's doctoral program. The dissertation is an original piece of historical scholarship, involving extensive primary research and original analysis of secondary source material. Students spend a year or more engaged in intensive research, and another year or more writing the dissertation. Throughout this period, students work closely with the advisor and the dissertation committee members. The finished dissertation must be approved by all members of the dissertation committee.

Most graduate students begin work as a teaching assistant for the Department or School courses during their second year and continue throughout their tenure in the program, except when dissertation research or writing require their residency away from the university. Students have the opportunity to apply to teach their own courses during summer session once they have advanced to doctoral candidacy. Students beyond their second year are required to also apply for teaching positions outside the department, e.g. in Composition or Humanities Core.

Time to Degree for the Ph.D .

Normative time to degree for the doctoral program is seven years. Maximum time to degree permitted is nine years.

Requirements for Admission to the Ph.D. Program

It is desirable that an applicant have the equivalent of an undergraduate major in History; however, the Department also considers students who have previously specialized in other subject areas and who have strong analytical and writing skills. Many students entering the program hold a Masters degree in History, or an associated field. The Department's required grade-point minimums and English Language Proficiency requirements for international student admission are consistent with university policy. A GRE score is not required for admission. Students are accepted for fall admission only.

Send Page to Printer

Print this page.

Download Page (PDF)

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

2024-2025 Catalogue

A PDF of the entire 2024-2025 catalogue.

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.

You are here:

• Study & Training
• Study with Us

MPhil / PhD

These are University of London research degrees examined wholly by thesis, prepared under the supervision of a member of staff of the Institute. Students can pursue their academic interests within the friendly and supportive environment of the Institute, enhanced by the outstanding libraries of the University of London, including our own prestigious library collection.

• Share page on Twitter
• Share page on Facebook
• Share page on LinkedIn

Course details

The Institute of Historical Research is based in Bloomsbury, located within the University of London’s Senate House, and in easy walking distance of the British Library.

Our research students have access to the world-renowned IHR's Wohl Library with over 200,000 history books and periodicals, the digital and online resources within the Institute, as well as free access to the University of London’s Senate House Library with over a million books. Also available are other unique collections such as the Institute of Classical Studies Library and the Warburg Institute Library.

Students are also welcome to attend the wide range of history seminars and specialist research training programmes hosted by the IHR. Students also benefit from the Institute’s network of Senior, Honorary, Research and Associate fellows with their many research interests.

There are also opportunities to work alongside our established research centres: the  Centre for the History of People, Place and Community , the Victoria County History and Digital History .

The Institute is at the centre of academic history, and has partnerships with numerous nationally and internationally renowned library and art collections, as well as links to the cultural and heritage sector, professional bodies, London guilds and livery companies, archives, the City of London and higher education institutions in the UK and internationally.

Subject areas covered

The Institute currently offers supervision in a number of subject areas across different periods, including, but not limited to:

• Medieval British history
• Modern British history
• Local, regional and community histories of the British Isles
• Place and Identity
• Early medieval Northumbria and the north
• Later medieval armies and warfare
• Urban and metropolitan history (especially London), including comparative approaches across Europe and elsewhere
• Late medieval and early modern urban history
• Digital history and Historical GIS
• History of propaganda in the twentieth century
• History of the First and Second World Wars
• History of emotions in modern Britain
• The everyday lives of 'ordinary' people
• Architecture, planning and the built environment in Britain from the twentieth century onward
• The British Commonwealth and British decolonisation
• History and policy
• Medievalism and other usages of the past
• American foreign relations
• US political history

Tuition Fees

2024-25 fees, mphil/phd .

• Home Full-Time : £6,253
• Home Part-Time : £3,126
• Overseas Full-Time : £15,810
• Overseas Part-Time : £7,905

Potential supervisors at the IHR

Adam Chapman

Catherine Clarke

Justin Colson

Claire Langhamer

Philip Murphy

Ruth Slatter

Simon Trafford

Student handbook.

Related content

Library & Digital

IHR Library & Digital provides a wealth of services and resources, both in person and online, to all those interested in history.

Centre for the History of People, Place and Community

The Centre for the History of People, Place and Community fosters engaged, innovative research into placed histories across all regions and periods.

IHR's Digital Collections

Digital is central to the IHR. We've a well-established reputation as a host of digital resources and digital approaches to the past.

Research Training

The IHR offers a wide range of training courses for historians at all career stages, from digital research and oral history to archives and publishing.

Seminars, A-Z

We are home to the UK's largest programme of research seminars dedicated to history, with over 70 meeting regularly during the academic year. All welcome, explore the directory.

The Veale-Straschnov Doctoral Studentships

The IHR offers The Veale-Straschnov Doctoral Studentships for mature students seeking to begin a doctoral degree at the Institute of Historical Research.

History Lab

History Lab is the national network for postgraduate students in history and related disciplines.

IHR Doctoral Fellowships

The IHR Doctoral Fellowships are available for either 6 or 12 months, and are for PhD students to complete a doctorate.

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.

Main navigation

Research degrees: history.

• Jump to: Key information
• Jump to: Course overview
• Jump to: Structure
• Jump to: Fees and funding
• Jump to: Employment

Key information

Home student fees (full-time) : £4,860 per year Home student fees (part-time) : £2,430 per year Overseas student fees (full-time) : £22,490 per year Overseas student fees (part-time) : £11,245 per year

Please note that fees go up each year.   See  research fees  for further details.

We normally require a 2.1 bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) plus a Masters degree in appropriate subject area plus one reference. In exceptional cases we may accept applicants who do not meet these criteria if they show evidence of a strong Masters degree and/or appropriate level of relevant work experience. International applicants should also see  Doctoral School English language requirements

Course overview

The SOAS History Department is one of the world’s major centres offering supervision for research degrees in African and Asian history. It attracts students and scholarly visitors from all parts of the world. The top ratings given to the Department in the official national research assessments of 1996, 2001 and 2008 took into account the excellence of its research training, as well as the staff publication record.

The Department provides opportunities for well-qualified applicants to join large groups of students and staff working in or around their specialist fields of history. The unique combination of individual supervision, taught courses and seminars ensures that the large majority of students complete their degrees within four years.

Why study Research Degrees History at SOAS?

In History we are 11th in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2021) 45th in the World (QS World University Rankings 2021).

SOAS students have unrestricted and usually free access to a huge range of seminars, conferences and workshops being held in SOAS or within easy reach. Most importantly, they attend a weekly regional history seminar – on Africa, South Asia, the Near and Middle East, East Asia, or South East Asia – and often special workshops on themes related to their research.

Close links are maintained with the nearby Institute of Historical Research and the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, which run their own research seminars. These give research students many opportunities to meet scholars who are visiting SOAS, and those based elsewhere in the University of London or in Britain. Attendance at classes forming part of taught courses in SOAS or elsewhere may also be possible by arrangement.

Library holdings in London are superb for many of the subjects studied in the Department. SOAS history students have free access to the nearby British Library (including the India Office and Oriental Collections), to the British Library Newspaper Library at Colindale, to the National Archives, and to a vast array of other collections, including the libraries of most other London colleges and universities.

How to apply

Minimum Entry Requirements: a BA and/or MA degree in History, with a merit or equivalent in the Masters Degree and a MA dissertation grade of 65% or higher. Applicants must provide a clear and coherent research proposal of 2000 words.

Inquiries relating to possible research topics should be directed in the first instance to the member of staff whose interests conform most nearly to those of the prospective student. For information on general or technical matters, please see below and the tab ‘structure’.

Inquiries on such matters should be sent either to Research Admission, [email protected] or the History Research Tutor. Offers of admission will be made on the basis of an applicant’s academic record, references and proposed topic.

Those wishing to be considered for scholarships from or through SOAS are advised to make their applications as early as possible (for example, before January in the year of entry), as in most cases only those who are already holding the offer of a place will be considered for an award.

Although some theses rely mainly on materials in English and other European languages, a major advantage of taking a research degree in history at SOAS is that the School can provide instruction in many African and Asian languages.

Students requiring such instruction are advised to mention it at the time of application, and to discuss arrangements with prospective supervisors as early as possible after receiving an offer.

Before applying for a research degree, please read:  how to write your research proposal.

This departmental research handbook sets out the main stages of writing a MPhil or PhD in history, the department’s programme for research students, the supervision you can expect and the expectation from the research students.

We, the faculty members, value the active participation of the research students in the department’s academic life and we consider the research students a vital part of its research culture. The following is meant to ensure that you complete your research in the proscribed period and that you take the most out of your years in our department.

This handbook completes the School’s Code of Practice for Research Degrees, which is the main document for all questions linked to your research degree.

Supervision

Every student has a three-person Research Committee. Co-supervised students have a four-person committee.

Your supervisor is your main point of contact and will be available for matters concerning your work and welfare. Normally, you will have the same supervisor throughout your study programme. If your supervisor is absent on research leave, you are expected to keep in touch, but your second supervisor will normally assume responsibility for administrative matters during this period.

As a first-year student you should arrange to meet your supervisor during registration week and fortnightly during term time. Your supervisor will schedule regular meetings with you once you have introduced yourself. In subsequent years students are expected to meet with their supervisors once a month or more frequently given their writing timetables. You will submit in coordination with your supervisor an annual report to the School reviewing the progress of the thesis. If you are not comfortable with your supervisor, you can request a change from the Research Tutor, although such changes are not undertaken lightly and will need approval from the Associate Dean of Research.

Second Supervisor

Your second supervisor is usually assigned to complement the thematic or regional expertise of the first supervisor. A second supervisor can be consulted during the first year of research, but their principal task is to examine the upgrade portfolio at the end of the year. In subsequent years students might arrange occasional meetings with the second supervisor to seek advice and to keep her or him informed of progress. This member is normally a second referee for grant and other applications. The second supervisor will also step in to fulfil the first supervisor’s administrative duties should the latter be on leave.

Co-Supervisor

Some students will have two supervisors who see them through the programme. A co-supervisor is generally based in another department and the supervision is shared equally between the two supervisors. The co-supervisor from the student’s main department will take responsibility for the paperwork. If you have a co-supervision you will still have a ‘second’ supervisor within the department (in this case thus a ‘third’ supervisor).

Research Tutor

During registration week, first-year students are also advised to meet the Research Tutor. From week one they will be seeing the Research Tutor regularly in the Methodology Seminar. The Research Tutor can offer moral support and general guidance, acting as both confidant and spokesperson. The Research Tutor monitors the progress of every student and signs the Upgrade Form at the end of the first year.

The Associate Dean for Research

The Associate Dean for Research (ADR), together with the Faculty Research Committee, has responsibility for overseeing all faculty-related aspects of research student training. The ADR oversees the progression of all students through to graduation.

If arising problems related to supervision or training cannot be resolved with your supervisor, the Research Tutor and Head of Department, you should speak to the ADR regarding regulations and procedures.

The Doctoral School supports students regarding administrative issues (find all relevant Doctoral School forms).

Registration procedures for first year students

During the Registration period, your supervisor and the Research Tutor will be available at advertised times to meet you in their offices. You will need to discuss any courses that you may want to audit or that you are required to take and pass (i.e. courses specified in your letter of acceptance from the School and/or language courses) with your supervisor.

Presence in London

Students are expected to be based at SOAS throughout their study, except for periods of fieldwork.

Logbook and email

Each student has a personal electronic logbook that you can access via BLE . The logbook must be completed every time you meet with your supervisor throughout your study programme, and all goals and deadlines agreed during the tutorial must be logged. The logbook is an online tool designed to support you in your academic and professional development and to help you build a broad and balanced skills profile. It also enables your supervisor(s) to follow your progress and advise you accordingly. Academic and faculty staff, as well as other students, will use your SOAS email to contact you with important degree-related information throughout your studies. If you use another email account make sure that all mail from your SOAS account is forwarded.

Four-year rule

The School requires all students to complete their PhD within four years. It is crucial that students notify their supervisor, the Research Tutor and the Registry as early as possible if their study has to be interrupted for any significant period because of exceptional personal circumstances. These problems might be financial, personal or in relation to your role as a parent and/or carer. Please provide documentation in the form of medical certificates, letters of explanation, etc. where applicable. Be also aware that any extensions to your fieldwork beyond the usual 12 months period will result in a shortening of the writing-up period as the four-year rule will remain in place.

All first-year students are required to attend the weekly Methodology Seminar, the main forum for discussing current historical research, presenting your own research and engaging with the research of your peers.  First-year students are also required to attend at least one regional research seminar (African History Seminar, Near & Middle East History Seminar, South Asia History Seminar, Southeast and East Asia History Seminar) as specified by the supervisor. During the third term students will normally present a full paper to their regional seminar.

Other training needs, for example in languages, are required for some first-year students as set out in the letter of acceptance to the research programme. Students are also encouraged to audit courses within the History department or other departments and faculties within the School as agreed with the supervisor. Students need to ask the respective course convener for permission before they can audit a course. Auditing is possible for lectures but not for tutorial classes so that languages classes are normally precluded. Arrangements for additional courses with other colleges of the University of London (such as UCL for European languages) will be made wherever possible, but cannot be guaranteed. The times of such required lectures are not to clash with your seminar commitments within the department. If the time slots for other lectures you wish to audit outside the department coincide with that of the regional research seminar or the Methodology Seminar, then these compulsory courses must take precedence.

'For the wide range of generic skills training courses offered by SOAS and other London institutions visit the Doctoral School . The Institute of Historical Research (IHR) offers further courses.

Second-year students are expected to attend the regional research seminar during their terms in residence. Students in their third year attend the fortnightly Writing-Up Seminar, at which they will discuss draft chapters with fellow students. Third-year students are also required to attend the regional research seminar and will be expected to give one presentation to that seminar after their return from fieldwork. Fourth-year students are expected to attend the regional research seminar during their terms in residence. All students in residence attend the Department’s Research Seminar that will take place once or twice per term and in which members of staff discuss their current research projects.

Upgrade (‘mini-viva’)

All students are registered in the first year as MPhil students. They will submit their upgrade portfolio by Monday 11 May 2015. Good reason for any late submission must be supported by your supervisor and approved by the Research Tutor. Late submissions may require delays in examinations and a delay to the upgrade from MPhil to PhD status. The students will normally have their upgrade meeting by Friday 12 June 2015 . The meeting typically lasts for up to an hour and will be conducted by the research committee, but may also involve other members of staff, generally from the same section. In cases where either student or supervisor have concerns about the upgrade meeting, they can ask the Research Tutor, or another nominated staff member, to be present as an ‘external’ during the process. The group will discuss with the student on the basis of the portfolio the progress of the thesis and its future direction. On the basis of the portfolio and the discussion the student’s Research Committee decides that registration will be transferred to PhD, that registration will remain MPhil or that registration will be terminated. A student working well with their supervisor will find that there should be no need to worry about the last two categories. The committee might also decide to set further requirements over the summer, such as revision of one or several pieces of the written work before taking the final decision in September. No student is given permission to leave for fieldwork until a decision has been made about upgrading. After upgrading, PhD status is backdated to the original date of registration for the MPhil.

The expectations concerning length and content of the upgrade portfolio varies according to the section, but the departmental expectation is that it is in the region of 20,000 words (all-inclusive, i.e. including bibliography, appendices etc.). Please discuss with your supervisor the section-specific expectations for the upgrade portfolio. The portfolio will typically contain:

• statement of the problem: Why does this research need to be conducted? What is the rationale for it?
• literature review: This provides the background and context for the research problem. It shares with the reader the results of other studies that are closely related to the project and relates it to the larger, ongoing dialogue in the field. It basically delineates the ‘jumping-off place’ for your study. How will your study refine, revise, or extend what is now known?
• questions and main arguments/hypotheses: What are the main questions that you ask in your project and what do you expect the main findings to be?
• approach: Does your study employ a particular historical approach? How is your project situated in the field in methodological and theoretical terms? This section is closely related to the literature review where you already gave an indication of your approach by your choice of the literature that you discuss. Here you can show in more detail the wider background of your project.
• sources: What are the sources you will use for answering your research questions? What are the methodological challenges in using them? Have these or similar sources been used before? What will be your specific way to employ them? How does the choice of sources frame/limit your results? The Methodology Paper should represent about 40% of your portfolio.
• The preferred option is that you show in this chapter by way of one case study how your research proposal translates into actual research. Together with your supervisor you will define one topic for which you have access to a sufficient number of primary and secondary sources. Obviously access to primary sources can be difficult before you undertake your second-year research. However, the main point of this paper is not that you submit a finished piece of original research, but that you give your upgrade committee a sense of how you envision your project in practice.
• If you decide in consultation with your supervisor that due to the lack of primary sources option 1 is not feasible you can submit a paper on historiography, placing the significance of your research topic in the context of what has already been written on the topic. Obviously this will overlap with the Methodology Paper and you will have to make sure that there is sufficient distance between the two.
• The Core Chapter should represent about 40%-50% of your portfolio.
• Chapterisation of the thesis: This outlines how you envision the thesis to progress, chapter by chapter.
• Fieldwork Proposal: This sets out where, and for how long, you intend to go during the fieldwork year, and what sources you intend to consult there (archives, museums, oral informants, archaeological sites, etc). Considerations of feasibility, access (visas, permission, travel conditions), personal security, and ethics may all be important. Overall, this is a practical, rather than an intellectual exercise. If you project does not require fieldwork, please outline the accessibility of your sources.
• Timetable outlining your writing-up plan up to submission. The point of this is to demonstrate that you have an adequate schedule to bring the thesis to a successful conclusion within a total of three years. Few theses are completed within that time-limit, but it is important that any extra time does not bring the total to more than four years. The implications are (1) that the topic chosen – and the depth or extent of research required – must be manageable in the time; and (2) that each student’s personal timetable should be based on the outline for 36 months, to allow for unavoidable slippages.
• Upgrade form and Research Ethics Checklist. This form has to be completed in consultation with your first supervisor. The form is available at http://www.soas.ac.uk/registry/pgresearch/forms/ The form refers to 'disciplinary guidelines'. Please consult: . Royal Historical Society http://www.royalhistoricalsociety.org/rhsstatementonethics.pdf . and specifically for those doing oral history, http://www.ohs.org.uk/ethics.php In addition the ethical guidelines by the Association of Social Anthropologists are very useful and cover many issues that also come up in historical projects http://www.theasa.org/downloads/ASA%20ethics%20guidelines%202011.pdf

Your project will obviously change once you have more first-hand experience of field/archival research. Yet, the point of the upgrade meeting is to show the committee the intellectual and practical feasibility of the project and to outline the argument as a whole.

Fieldwork/research leave

Once upgraded to PhD status, most students leave for ‘fieldwork’ for one or several periods that begin at or after the end of the third term of the first year. It is recommended that students return to SOAS on full registration not later than the start of the third term of their second year. Variations of this pattern may be necessary, but must be approved in advance by the supervisor and research tutor. You and your supervisor must complete the Fieldwork Application form and submit it to Registry. On this form you are expected to outline your research plans for the next 12 months, including overseas university contacts and a description of arrangements for supervision while in the field. Fieldwork of longer than 12 months must be supported by your supervisor and approved by the Associate Dean for Research. You have to be aware that such an extension shortens your writing-up period.

You are expected to keep in touch with your supervisor throughout fieldwork. Some students prefer to send a regular monthly report of their activities; while others submit a longer mid-term fieldwork report after the first six months. You and your supervisor must agree on your planned method of reporting prior to departure. At the end of the year, your supervisor must complete an annual assessment form for you and will need to know what you have been doing. Any requests for extended stay made from the field must be supported by your supervisor and approved by the Associate Dean for Research, so regular contact with your supervisor is essential.

Not all students have their fieldwork funding in place and in these cases this issue occupies considerable first-year concern and effort. So while working on methods and training, a student is expected to identify and apply to any relevant sources of fieldwork funding as arrangements for fieldwork and grant applications should be completed in good time. Your supervisor can offer guidance, but, aside from writing references, a supervisor is not expected to locate sources of income for you. Finding funding, writing applications, and collecting the necessary supporting material are all part of your research training and transferable skills that will serve you after the completion of your degree.

See  scholarships options for research students (not only for fieldwork) 

Information on funding specifically for history students can be found at the IHR  and the Royal Historical Society.

History Research students are entitled to apply for the Arts & Humanities Faculty’s Conference Allowance for Research Students

Extension of writing-up (continuation) status (4th year)

All students who do not submit within three years may enrol for a maximum of three terms on Extention of Writing-up (continuation) status (cf. the Postgraduate Research  Handbook for details).  In order to move to this status, students must submit a portfolio that includes two thirds of the thesis in draft form, a detailed outline for each of the remaining chapters (giving an overview of content, questions, sources, structure), a chapterisation of the entire thesis and a timetable up to submission . Students will submit this portfolio before the end of August of their third year of enrolment to all members of their supervisory committee.

Teaching as GTA

Students have the chance to apply for a position as Graduate Teaching Assistant, running one or several tutorials for courses offered in the department (or, if relevant, in other departments). Students normally teach in their third and/or fourth year. Those not leaving for fieldwork might also consider teaching in their second year. Teaching experience is crucial for your career after the PhD and helps you to master a wider thematic array of themes. Your supervisor has to support your application and will happily do so if your thesis progresses well. All students can participate in the Academic Teaching Development Programme which leads to accredited certificate. GTA positions are normally advertised in early summer.

Submitting the dissertation

The major task for all students from before the beginning of their third year is to develop a realistic strategy for collating and organising research materials, and writing the thesis.

You are expected to have completed a draft of your thesis by the end of the third year. You must submit the thesis for viva voce by the end of the fourth year. You will find all necessary information and forms for submitting your PhD on the pages of the postgraduate research section.

Deciding whether the dissertation is near completion should be done in consultation with your supervisor (and possibly second supervisor). You should discuss well in advance of submission potential examiners with your supervisor who will make the final decision. Every student will normally be examined by two examiners: At least one of whom will be external to the School. While a student may have had previous contact with their examiners, it is normally expected that the examiners will not have read large parts of the dissertation nor will they have engaged in extended discussions of the thesis with the student beforehand. Your supervisor will seek approval of the nominated Examiners from the Department’s Panel for Approving Examiners.

The majority of students are successful in their PhD examination, but there are regularly minor amendments to be made, or up to 12 months further work to be done. Total failure in the PhD is rare, but possible. The best way you can ensure success is to allow yourself to be guided by your supervisor. That is, while your research makes you the expert on your subject, it is your supervisor who best understands what constitutes an acceptable PhD thesis. Working together with your supervisor (rather than avoiding them) leads to the most positive outcome.

Part-time students

Regulations for part-time students are the same as above with the following exceptions: Part-time students are expected to see their supervisors monthly in years one and two and as needed during the subsequent period. They attend the Methodology Seminar and give the methodology presentation in the first year of their enrolment. They give the presentation to the regional seminar and have their upgrade meeting in the second year of their enrolment. The other elements of the first year (attendance at regional seminar and auditing/taking other courses) will be agreed with the supervisor. They will attend the third-year writing-up course after completing their fieldwork.

Student representation

At the beginning of each year arrangements are made for the election of student representatives: one from the first year and one from the third-year cohort. Representatives attend the departmental meetings and play an important role in identifying issues that need to be taken up by the Department. We, the faculty members, greatly value the contributions of student representatives to the department meetings. Student representatives from the department will also have a chance to serve on Faculty- and School-level committees. Faculty office staff will assist student representatives in setting up e-mailing lists for the research programme and in organising meetings and events (i.e. making room bookings). These may include informal meetings with staff or with other students, year forums, workshops, or social events as students see fit.

Familiarise yourself from an early date with the principal sections of the SOAS main library. All SOAS research students may have access to University of London college libraries, especially those of UCL and LSE, the British Library and the University of London library (Senate House).' The Institute of Historical Research’s library is indispensable for students in the department and your supervisor can advise you on further specialized libraries that are of relevance for your project.

History in London

As with any other discipline London offers an enormous range of history-related events. A good starting point for research students is the History Lab, based at the Institute of Historical Research (IHR) . The IHR runs numerous seminar series that will be of interest to many students. The Royal Historical Society  organises also regular lectures and other events. Your supervisor will be able to advise you on institutions and events that are of specific interest for your thematic and regional focus.

Students are also encouraged to actively participate in the SOAS Research Students' Association that publishes for example its own research journal, SOAS Journal of Postgraduate Research . You should get in touch with the relevant regional centre(s) at SOAS to receive information on their activities.

Important notice

The information on the website reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. The modules are indicative options of the content students can expect and are/have been previously taught as part of these programmes. However, this information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

Scholarships

Fees and funding

Fees for 2023/24 entrants per academic year.

Please note that fees go up each year. See  research fees  for further details.

With specialised historical knowledge, an understanding of cultural sensibilities and skills in research and analysis, graduates from the Department of History are well respected by employers across private and public sectors. Recent graduates have been hired by:

• Amnesty International
• Bank of England
• Blackstock PR
• British Council
• British Library
• Ernst and Young
• Goldman Sachs
• International Committee of the Red Cross
• Middle East Consultancy Services
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Cyprus
• Natural History Museum
• Publicis Media
• United Nations Development Programme

Find out about our  Careers Service

SOAS Voices

How studying history at SOAS was different to school and changed my worldview

SOAS MA History graduate and secondary school teacher Hamidah Siddiqua discusses his experience studying at SOAS and reflects on what he learnt about the British education system colonial lens.  

Decolonising the school curriculum: Free teaching resources on the legacy of empire

A new SOAS project has created free learning resources for secondary school teachers to address the legacies of colonialism.

Slavery And Forced Internal Migration in Western Mali (SlaFMig)

Analysing the past and present links between forced displacement and descent-based slavery in Western Mali.

Djonya Kélé ja Toulon: Gaming against slavery

Contributing to the fight against descent-based slavery in Mali through the creation of a video game for mobiles.

Resilience in West African frontier communities

Making local cultures visible and turning local actors from rural West African areas into producers of knowledge.

Watigueleya Kèlê: Equitable Climate Resilience in West Africa

Long-term resilience strategies developed by marginalised communities to respond to socioecological stress and climate-related disasters in West Africa.

Changing awareness of internal slavery in Mali

Research conducted by Dr Marie Rodet  has raised awareness of the history of internal slavery in Mali, transmitted previously lost history between elders and the younger generations, and exposed enduring discrimination against populations with ascribed status as descendants of former slaves.

The 2024 London Undergraduate Social Philosophy Conference

The conference is organised by undergraduates at SOAS for undergraduate students in the federal University of London.

Related content

MA History at SOAS University of London

School of History, Religions and Philosophies

The School specialises in teaching and researching the history, religion, and philosophy of the Global South in a critical, decolonial, and interdisciplinary manner.

Jaina-Prosopography: Monastic Lineages, Networks and Patronage

Exploring the relationships between Jaina mendicant lineages and their supporters.

History PhD

The Department of History offers a PhD program in History. The program prepares the student in four selected fields of study: Three fields of history (called the first, second, and third field) and one field in another discipline (called the outside field). Students indicate their choice of the first field at the time of application to the program, and they decide upon the second, third, and outside fields by the end of the first year of study.

The department represents a rich spectrum of research interests, collaborations, and approaches spanning 16 established fields of history: Africa, Ancient Greece and Rome, Byzantine, Early Modern Europe, East Asia: China, East Asia: Japan, Global, Jewish, Late Modern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Medieval Europe, Middle East, North America, Science, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. The depth and breadth of our program and the strengths of our faculty members, students, and other professionals provide an especially stimulating and congenial setting for graduate training.

Contact Info

[email protected]

3312 Dwinelle Hall

At a Glance

Department(s)

Admit Term(s)

Application Deadline

December 1, 2024

Degree Type(s)

Doctoral / PhD

Degree Awarded

GRE Requirements

Library Services

UCL LIBRARY SERVICES

• Guides and databases
• Library skills

Support for dissertations and research projects

• UCL dissertations & theses
• Literature searching
• Resources for your discipline
• Primary sources
• Can't access the resource you need?
• Research methods
• Referencing and reference management
• Writing and digital skills
• Further help

UCL dissertations and theses

The Library holds a copy of most research degree theses completed by students registered at UCL. Print copies of research theses are catalogued by author in  Explore ; electronic versions are in many cases available on open access in  UCL Discovery .

The Library does not normally have copies of UCL:

• MA, MSc, MRes, LLM theses
• Diploma theses
• Undergraduate dissertations

However the following libraries have small local theses collections covering their own subject areas, please contact the relevant library directly for more information:

• Bartlett Library : select exemplars of Masters dissertations are available through UCL's Open Educational Repository .
• Ophthalmology Library  has a very small collection of PhD, MD and MSc dissertations.
• Institute of Orthopaedics Library  has BSc and MSc theses.
• School of Pharmacy Library  has a small collection of MRes theses which date from 2011 – 2014  for reference use in the library. 
• UCL Institute of Education Library  has selected masters dissertations, which are findable in  Explore . Those published after 2000 are openly accessible in the library. All others must be requested in advance. 
• Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Library has examples of past MSc and MRes dissertations.
• The UCL Institute of Archaeology make some available on the dissertation module page in their Moodle.

Some departments may also maintain their own collections. For further details, please contact your departmental administrators. 

• Theses Further Information on repositories and databases for accessing theses held by other institutions.
• << Previous: Primary sources
• Next: Can't access the resource you need? >>
• Last Updated: Aug 22, 2024 3:08 PM
• URL: https://library-guides.ucl.ac.uk/dissertations

PhD Architectural & Urban History & Theory

This stream within Architecture MPhil/PhD allows students to conduct an exhaustive, original and creative piece of research into an area of their own selection and definition. The range of research topics undertaken is broad, but most explore the history and theory of architecture and cities between 1800 and the present day.

This programme allows you to conduct an exhaustive, original and creative piece of research into an area of your own selection and definition. The range of research topics undertaken is broad, but most explore the history and theory of architecture and cities between 1800 and the present day.

ABOUT THIS DEGREE

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) consists of a piece of supervised research, normally undertaken over a period of three years full-time. Assessment is by means of a thesis, which should demonstrate your capacity to pursue original research based upon a good understanding of the research techniques and concepts appropriate to the discipline.

Initially, you will be registered for the MPhil degree. If you wish to proceed to a PhD, you will be required to pass an ‘Upgrade’ assessment. The purpose of the upgrade is to assess your progress and ability to complete your PhD programme to a good standard and in a reasonable time frame. It is expected that a full-time student will attempt upgrade within 18 months of registration.

All students have the option of auditing modules from Architectural History MA, led by Professor Peg Rawes.

Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the variety of skills development courses run by the UCL Doctoral School and the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

The MPhil/PhD programme is one of independent research but your Principle Supervisor will establish a timetable of regular meetings with you at which all matters relating to your work can be discussed; such meetings should take place at least once per month.

In their first year, students are registered as MPhil candidates, but are then expected to upgrade to PhD status. Full-time students are expected to complete their PhDs in three to four years, whilst part-time students complete theirs in five to seven years.

Architectural Design thesis submissions combine a design project and a text of around 60,000 words. The research for Architectural & Urban History & Theory is normally presented as a text of 100,000 words maximum with illustrative material.

Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the variety of skills development courses run by the Graduate School UCL and the Language Centre. In particular, students are advised to follow the workshop The Creative Thesis, run in conjunction with the Slade School of Fine Art, which is tailored to practice-led research.

SUPERVISORS

Architectural Design MPhil/PhD and Architectural & Urban History & Theory MPhil/PhD both draw on the full range of the research expertise offered at The Bartlett School of Architecture.

As an MPhil/PhD candidate, you will have two doctoral supervisors: one from the school and a second from another school in The Bartlett or elsewhere in UCL, depending on your research area.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

A minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, in a relevant subject, is essential. Exceptionally: where applicants have other suitable research or professional experience, they may be admitted without a Master’s degree; or where applicants have a lower second-class UK Honours Bachelor’s degree (2:2) (or equivalent) they must possess a relevant Master’s degree to be admitted. We expect any successful application to include a sufficiently strong and convincing proposal, and those holding a Master’s degree are typically well prepared to provide one. Relevant work experience is highly desirable.

English language requirements

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.

The English language level for this programme is: Standard

Further information can be found on our  English language requirements page. 

APPLICATIONS

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

Application deadlines

Prospective MPhil/PhD applicants are encouraged to send an informal research enquiry before applying. This should be sent directly to the academic you would like to supervise you. Please refer to the staff list on the department website and see UCL’s Institutional Research Information Service (IRIS) for staff profiles. Please attach to your e-mail a referenced research proposal of around 1,000 to 2,000 words and your curriculum vitae (CV).

Further details on how to apply to an MPhil/PhD can be found on the  UCL Graduate Admissions website.

For more information see our  Applications page.

APPLY ONLINE CHECKLIST 

UCL is not able to support applications made through agents. UCL expects that the email ID and password that you create will be used by you solely for the purpose of submitting your own application(s) to study at UCL.

Before you apply online, you should satisfy a number of conditions. Please read the statements below and if you satisfy them, please then click the ‘Accept and apply’ button and you will be transferred to the Apply Online pages.

– I have checked whether there is an application deadline and I will submit my application before any applicable deadline. I understand that references must be uploaded before any deadline.

– I can provide a valid email address for each referee and I have contacted both referees to advise them they will receive a request to upload their reference via a secure website. I understand that my application will be put on hold and will not be considered by UCL until references have been uploaded.

– I am able to submit my transcript in electronic format (.doc, .docx, .jpg, .pdf) at the same time as my application. This document will less than 2MB in size.

– If an application processing fee applies to my programme, I am able to pay the fee online as part of my application, or arrange for the fee to be paid on my behalf, and have read and understood the Terms and Conditions. I understand that if a fee is required, my application is not submitted to UCL before the fee is paid.

– I understand that if I am applying for a research programme or a taught programme which is exempt, that no fee is required.

– I will submit my own application and am not using an agent to do so on my behalf.

Further information on UCL’s processing of student personal data can be viewed in our Prospective Students (Enquirers and Applicants) Privacy Notice.

ALL APPLICANTS

A step by step guide to applying for a research programme at UCL.

1.- Identify the degree programme at UCL you wish to study

All graduate research programmes offered at UCL are listed in the research degrees section.

Research programme directory

2. Investigate research opportunities across UCL

UCL is a large, multi-faculty university and it may be that your area of interest is represented in more than one department or in one of our multidisciplinary institutes or centres. There are two main types of research degree opportunities:

Studentships

Some funded PhD programmes will be advertised as studentships. This is more common in Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine (STEM) areas. These opportunities may be listed on our studentships page, although some academics prefer to only advertise them on their websites. Each studentship will stipulate its own application process and entrance requirements.

Studentships are also offered in UCL’s doctoral training centres. Many of these studentships are funded by the UK Government and are only available to UK/EU students.

Speculative opportunities

Most opportunities, and potential funding, are not packaged as studentships or advertised. Exceptional students, that meet the entrance requirements, are therefore encouraged to be proactive to identify opportunities with UCL academics whose recent research closely matches their interests.

There are three main ways to identify an appropriate supervisor to contact:

– Browse research programmes to find centres of research in your area of interest. Click through to the department or centre website to find staff profiles.

– Look on UCL’s Institutional Research Information System (IRIS) where you can search for relevant academic units and potential supervisors by keyword. Not all academics are listed in IRIS but it is a good place to start.

– Search our online research repository (UCL Discovery) where all UCL’s research papers are published, subject to approvals. If you identify a research paper that particularly interests you it is likely that one of the authors would be a suitable research supervisor.

If an academic is very impressed with your research experience and proposal they may be able to help you to identify sources of funding, including from their own, or departmental, research funds. There are also UCL scholarships that they can nominate you for.

3. Making a research enquiry

All prospective applicants, except those applying for advertised studentships, are encouraged to send an informal research enquiry. This should either be sent directly to the academic you are interested in working with or the departmental contact.

Making a research enquiry helps define your interests, contributes to making your application successful, and also serves to ensure the identification of the best possible supervisor for your needs.

You can find contact details for academic departments at the bottom of relevant programme pages. Alternatively you can find Graduate Tutor information on the UCL Doctoral School website. More information on how to contact potential supervisors and write a research proposal can be found in our guidance document.

4. Submit a formal application

Finally when you and your prospective supervisor are happy with your research proposal, you should submit a formal application.

5. Await decision

You will be able to track the progress of your application via the UCL Applicant Portal (log in required). If you are required to submit anything further after your application has been submitted you will be notified by email and in the portal.

UCL Applicant Portal

© BEST ARCHITECTURE MASTER’S Todos los derechos reservados | Nota legal | Política de cookies

• Recommendations
• Notifications
• My Favorites

Favorites, recommendations, and notifications are only available for UCLA Graduate Students at this time.

Access features exclusively for UCLA students and staff.

As a student, you can:

• Add funding awards to your favorites list
• Get notified of upcoming deadlines and events
• Receive personalized recommendations for funding awards

 We're Sorry

You've signed in with a UCLA undergraduate student account.

UCLA Graduate Programs

Graduate Program: History

UCLA's Graduate Program in History offers the following degree(s):

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Masters available on Doctoral track

With questions not answered here or on the program’s site (above), please contact the program directly.

History Graduate Program at UCLA 6265 Bunche Hall Box 951473 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1473

Visit the History’s faculty roster

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Visit the registrar's site for the History’s course descriptions

• Admission Requirements
• Program Statistics

(310) 825-3269

[email protected]

MAJOR CODE: HISTORY

25 Best Online Doctorate in History Programs Top Online PhD History

Find your degree.

Get a personalized list of degree programs that fit your needs.

Created on December 27, 2020 Updated: July 20, 2024

If you are considering going all the way in history, you have probably already done so much to get to this point in your life. You are moving towards a dream and you want to, of course, take the right path, to access exactly what you are looking for. Most people who get their doctorate in history online are looking to go beyond their master’s degree to specialize in their career and/ or teach at the academic level.

Some people get their terminal degree to work in government or are even law. There are many places to go, and the best online history PhD programs will show you that this terminal degree generally comes with a specialized path. Generally, those who take this journey do it because they are incredibly passionate about a specific historical framework, period, and niche. Therefore, finding an online PhD in history program should not be as challenging. You’ll be attracted to the program that offers what you’re looking for. 

Recommended Online Doctoral Programs

Explore our featured online programs to find the right match for you today.

Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Online History Doctorate Programs

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, your academic investment in this field will most likely not be in vain. It appears that the field will grow three percent in the next ten years, which means its growth rate is a little faster than the average. We have ranked the best online history doctoral programs for you according to the following metric:

• Students Success Rate

University of Florida Gainesville, FL

To kick off this best online history programs list is, the University of Florida offers an Ed.D. in curriculum & instruction entirely online. What is standout about this program is it is structured with the practicing educator in mind. The online program has online specialization teachers, schools, and society. This program links up well with a history background, as a high percentage of history majors move on to educational settings.

Yet even if you don’t, some history majors want to move on to the educational sector in public policy in the state department so having this degree can pair up well with professionals in a variety of sectors with a historical background. History program applicants must have a master’s with a specialization closely linked to education and have at least three years in the field experience. There are several coursework requirements, TSS courses are 30 credits, research credits 12, and dissertation 18 credit minimum. 

Degree: Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction

School Type: Public

Graduate Tuition: $10,770

Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University has an Ed.D in Educational Leadership . This course of study was created to enhance the skills of professionals aspiring to advance their standing and position in their company. Graduates of this program move on to accept positions as school administrators, faculty members, leaders with community organizations, research, leaders in government agencies, or educational analysts. This doctoral program is 60 credits of coursework, and students can decide whether they choose to pursue a full-time or part-time enrollment. Courses in history programs include classes in topics such as special education law, curriculum design, policy and politics in public education, and school law and ethics.

To qualify for acceptance into this history program, applicants must have a 3.0 GPA for undergraduate work and 3.6 for master’s degree courses at the time of graduation. A GRE and/or MAT exam scores are required. To become the future leader of our societies and communities needs stamina and hard work. 

Degree: Ed.D. Educational Leadership

School Type: Private

Graduate Tuition:$27,810

Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University offers an Ed.D in Curriculum & instruction,  this program is given in a cohort structure that takes students up to four years to complete. All 64 credits of the coursework tackle education in public or private settings instructional assessment, and curriculum building and instruction. This program requires at least 5 years of practice experience teaching, several writing samples, and applicants must submit GRE scores. This best online Ph.D. in history is the next step for a history teacher, or history master degree graduate once they have worked as a teacher for a while.

The exciting aspect of the program is the online format, allowing candidates to continue working until they complete a doctorate. The three core learning outcomes are broken down between leadership discovery and application of knowledge. There are internship hours required for this degree, the student must undergo 300 hours of a professional internship, which can be broken up between two semesters. 

Degree: ED.D. in Curriculum & Instruction

Graduate Tuition: $6,885

Arizona State University

Arizona State University has an EdD in leadership and innovation is for the change makers, those that have a vision for the future of education and educational institutions. Having a firm understanding of the historical effects policy and notable events have had on the current educational institutions is helpful. This best online Ph.D. will pair well with a candidate with a foundation in history. There are 20 primary courses that total out to 90 credits with course periods lasting between 7-15 weeks. Featured courses of the program are, advanced quantitative methods, mixed methods of inquiry, systems change and leadership, and leadership for organizational change.

To change the system you first have to know how it got that way and the history of the people you are changing it for. Dive into the rigorous educational environment of this program will require a self-motivated learning practice, faculty members will be there to guide you, yet it is on the student to complete coursework on time. 

Degree: EdD in Leadership and Innovation

Graduate Tuition: $10,170

Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, IN

Ed.d in literacy, culture, and language education offered by Indiana University is online and an expert program for students of culture and people. The entire course of study in 60 credit hours all online. This degree is structured in a cohort model to encourage networking, students will advance throughout the program together and in the process become career-long colleagues. This collaborative process within the program in a virtual format opens the door to diversity as online students will be able to share experiences from all over the countries they tackle the core learning outcomes.

The program’s purpose is for professionals to strengthen their knowledge of language and literacy in the current times, discovering the evolution of language as a result of the change in many cultures in our shared society. Students will take courses like theoretical issues in the language in education, doctoral early inquiry in literature. 

Degree: Ed.D. in Literacy, Culture, and Language Education

Graduate Tuition: $10,133

Florida International University Miami, FL

Florida International University offers a Ph.D. in Atlantic History , an advanced study degree delivered entirely online. The whole course of study for this program is 45 credits if the student is accepted with a master’s degree, if applicants are accepted with a bachelor’s, 75 credits are required to receive a degree, with 15 of those credits dedicated to the dissertation. Which can only be earned once a comprehensive examination is passed. The study of the Atlantic world is an advanced study starting from pre-colonial times to the modern era. The learning goals are that students become experts in skills related to research, teaching, and innovative historical practices. Graduate candidates will have the opportunity to present papers at regional conferences and publish ongoing research. It is highly encouraged by faculty for students to take advantage of these opportunities. The history department also has concentrations related to Latin America, Africa, the United States, or Europe.

Doctoral History Programs Degree: Ph.D. in Atlantic History

Graduate Tuition: $9,119

University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR

The University of Arkansas offers a doctor of education in educational leadership program a professional degree for individuals pursuing positions as principals superintendent or in federal and state government agencies. For those with a master of bachelors in history, this is the best online Ph.D. in history, education, and leadership. Although this program is only for history majors that have a desire to continue to pursue the educational sector, this may also lead to a position in government developing policy and curriculums for public schools and private schools all over the country. Becoming a part of the network of professionals connected to this institution of learning is often a reason enough for students to choose this program. However other key facts to note are that required coursework accounts for 42 credit hours. 

Degree: Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership

Graduate Tuition: $7,092

University of Houston Houston, TX

The University of Houston offers an Ed.D in social studies with an emphasis in social education. Obtaining a degree in social studies is the next step in the educational career of history, while finding the best online Ph.D. in history is somewhat difficult this list has found several that will match up with the aspirational goal of those looking to become history teachers, educational policymakers, or a historian. The purpose of this program is to build educators who intend to root themselves in educational institutions. The entire course load is 52 credit hours and delivered via an online format, professionals can assess on their schedule. Graduates of this degree will obtain a doctorate of education in leadership, and be able to grapple with the issues of teaching in an urban setting. This program will help professionals teach students with developmental reading problems and assess collaboratively.

Doctoral History Programs Degree: ED.D in SOCIAL STUDIES

Graduate Tuition: $8,723

George Mason University Fairfax, VA

George Mason University has a Ph.D. in history this professional degree will advance careers in digital media educational administration, and help students gain expert knowledge of technologies used online to store historical data and standard historical methods. Graduate candidates will have the choice to choose from full-time or part-time enrollment. Students will enjoy taking their degree courses based on their own interests from the major field choices, US history, European history, and world history. Minor fields can be chosen from areas of study such as public history constitutional studies and new media and information technology. The program will groom students for careers in academia museums and digital humanities centers. There is a new fellowship available to those that are passionate about investigating the digital history and its applications. The exciting facts of this course are that while this program is rigorous with a required 72 credit hours, there is so much to choose from, and a range of areas to build from that will allow students to shape their studies around topics that are meaningful to them. 

Degree: Ph.D. in History

Graduate Tuition: $13,726

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE

The University of Nebraska offers an ED.D in Educational Leadership and Higher Education in a hybrid program, the majority of the coursework is delivered online yet all the Ph.D. candidates are required to attend 6 credits of research seminars on campus. This is a leadership program that will guide interested individuals through to advanced standing in their field. Primary leadership roles in educational organizations. They offer three specializations, educational leadership, high education administration, college community leadership. Graduates of this program will not qualify for administrative certification, as some may assume. It is safe to acknowledge the correlation between a master’s in history and this Ph.D. leadership degree as a next step will coincide with the written and analytical skills that will work well with this program. There are 96 required credit hours necessary to receive a degree, 18 of which are research at a doctorate level of study.

Degree: ED.D in Educational Leadership and Higher Education

School Type: Public 

Graduate Tuition: $6,318

Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX

Texas Tech University’s online Ed.D in educational leadership, is the next step for those that aspire to become executive leaders in the educational sector. This online degree, focus on the excelling leaders in the K-12 public and private educational institutions. Applicants of this program must have taken the GRE and have 3 professional recommendations to submit with an application into the program. The Ph.D. course amounts to 66 credits hours, 54 toward the major topics of the degree, 12 for the dissertation, and 30 transferable master credits for a total of 96 credit hours total. Another notable fact about this degree is the extra opportunities, the doctoral summer institutes when students come to campus for the required research seminars, students get to collaborate on projects. As the school is partnered with the Carnegie project for an educational doctorate, students will have the chance to present work, publish, and network with other students in the program. 

Degree Type: Ed.D. in Educational leadership

Graduate Tuition: $6,956

University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia, SC

The University of South Carolina has an Ed.D. in Educational Practice and Innovation , which is the prime choice for history buffs that want to use their knowledge to innovate the educational institutions, and rewrite the way we teach history as a curriculum.  The learning outcomes for this doctorate degree are to instill principles and techniques of instructional systems design. Students will also become skilled in creating educational technology, and learn integration methods for introducing technology into learning and performance assessments. This program will develop experts in educational technology, which has become the common modality. Start times are spring summer or fall, and students will attend full time as course work is offered completely online with 8- 15 weeks per course. This best online Ph.D. in history is a perfect coupling for those aspiring to reshape how we receive information and disseminate historical facts. The entire degree consists of 60 credit hours of course work with a dissertation presentation and writing. 

Degree Type: Ed.D. in Educational Practice and Innovation

Graduate Tuition: $13,374

Oregon State University Corvallis, OR

Oregon State University offers an Ed.D. in Adult and Higher Education delivered via a hybrid, online coursework and in-person two weekends per term, with 108 credit hours required for completion. The program is structured in a cohort format, which allows for small groups and collaborative instruction. While pursuing a Ph.D. is extremely rigorous, making the choice of which program to take can be just as difficult. This program highlights its mission to support the educational sector by enhancing professional leadership from an advanced degree. This takes the compounding of key leadership skills, management, vision, and commitment to the mission. Graduates of the program will go on to perform as Deans, Director, vice president, and president of a public or private institution. It is worthy to note that this program is not a teacher licensure program. 

Degree Type: Ed.D. in Adult and Higher Education

Graduate Tuition: 13,446

University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND

University of North Dakota Ph.D. in Teaching and leadership is preparing professionals to reach for the top echelon on their career path. History majors are leaders in every field they go into, seeking out the next step in their career. To be a leader in an educational institute, one would need to have a background in research, be excellent in a written and oral presentation, understand the importance of history and how today’s event has an effect on tomorrow. To complete this course of study candidates must undertake 90 credit hours of coursework. This best online Ph.D. is offered wholly online there are several concentration students, Childhood and Adversity Resilience, Constructivism in STEM Education, Family, School, and Community Engagement, Instructional Coaching, Leadership in Curriculum & Learning, Literacy, Language & Culture, School Reform & Public Policy

Degree Type: Ph.D. in Teaching and Leadership

Graduate Tuition: $11,963 

University of Kentucky Lexington, KY

The University of Kentucky has an Ed.D in Educational Leadership that is formatted in a closely structured cohort style instruction. This is an online program in which all the coursework is offered entirely online. Educational Leadership is at the foundation of great change initiatives in our country. In the last 70 years, civil rights movements and anti-war movements were all started on the campus of public and private institutions all over the world. Developing the future leaders of those institutions is necessary, and the mission of this advanced doctoral program.  Courses are online but the live discussion sessions within your cohort are also key to the learning experience. Candidates are required to complete 42 credit hours of postgraduate coursework. The faculty is dedicated to teaching within the values of the school and program, leadership, transformation, and collaboration are a few of the stalwart values at the core of the work. 

Degree Type: Ed.D in Educational Leadership

Graduate Tuition: $12,967

Andrews University Berrien Springs, MI

Andrews University offers a Ph.D. in educational leadership that is designed to train students to be leaders in a variety of fields . This is an excellent complement to the Andrews University MA in Educational Leadership pathway. Both are offered through the Distance Learning Graduate Studies Department. Typically, students can complete this program in four years. It is made up of 64 credit hours. It is fully accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and it is nationally recognized by the Educational Leadership Constituent Council. Andrews is a Christian based school with a Christian worldview. Students have access to technical support throughout the program as well as academic support. It is critical that students are prepared to engage in such an online learning endeavor by ensuring they have a stable internet connection and a computer that can run all of their coursework. 

Degree Type: Ph.D. in Educational Leadership

Graduate Tuition: $27,380

Drexel University Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University offers one of the best online Ph.D. programs . This program was designed to foster leaders in the complex field of education. Students will learn how to develop the skills to lead in a myriad of contexts and sites, as well as colleges and other institutions of higher learning, government, foundations, school districts, and even non-profits. Students will choose from one of the following concentrations: athletic administrative doctoral concentration, creativity, and innovation doctoral concentration, educational administration doctoral concentration, global and international education doctoral concentration, human resource development doctoral concentration, learning technologies doctoral concentration, nursing education, special education leadership doctoral concentration. This online program still brings students together in cohorts, ensuring they have built-in support and collaboration opportunities throughout the entire course of the program. The coursework is known for being challenging and consuming, but worth its weight in the skills that you will step away with and overall experience. 

Degree Type: Ed. D In Educational Leadership and Management

Graduate Tuition: $36,234

Fordham University Bronx, NY

Fordham University offers the best online history Ph.D. program . The degree is technically an EdD in Educational Leadership, Administration, and Policy. This course of study is offered through their Graduate School of Education. They offer three distinct specializations including: problem-solving and design, social justice and ethics, and scholarly inquiry and research. The entire course of study is designed to be completed in three years’ time. It is made up of 50 credit hours. There is one start date per year, so it’s important to apply by the deadline and get prepared. There are many career paths that are applicable for those who complete this program including: administrator, public policy leader, school and district leader, nonprofit leader, superintendent, and assistant superintendent. The curriculum in this program consists of such courses as engaging and transforming schools, districts, and communities, leading teaching and learning, educational leadership and organizational change, and engaging and transforming schools, districts, and communities. 

Degree Type: Ed.D in Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy

Graduate Tuition: $25,080

Liberty University Lynchburg, VA

Liberty University offers a Ph.D. program in history that is delivered entirely online . The program can be completed in four years’ time. The entire course of study is made up of 75 credit hours. Students can transfer up to 50 percent of their degree from another academic experience into this program. Liberty University offers an evangelical Christian approach to education. Students will gain a Christian historical perspective in all of their teaching. This program is fully accredited by the SACSCOC. Liberty offers an affordable academic experience. They give a significant military discount and students have access to additional financial aid. The featured courses in this program include: historiography, American entrepreneurship since 1900, historical professions, and development of western freedoms. Students will be prepared to engage in a variety of career paths including museum curation, education, law, political science-oriented professions, among many others. 

Degree Type: Ph.D. in History

Graduate Tuition: $7,740

Concordia University-Chicago River Forest, IL

Concordia University Chicago offers a Ph.D. in Leadership program that is delivered entirely online . This is a Christian oriented program that is designed to embed scripture in all of the coursework. The entire course of study is made up of 67 credit hours. There are many doctoral specializations that students can choose from including: curriculum instruction, teacher leadership, early childhood education, sports leadership, educational technology, special education, gerontology, reading, language and literature, health and human performance, organizational leadership, and higher education. Engaged in the curriculum are the skills to conduct complex research, communication, conflict mediation, decision making, communication, change management, among many other topics that are leadership-oriented. Students in this program will have options to study abroad and connect to other innovative field experiences. Graduates will be prepared to hold leadership positions in nonprofits, roles in government, professional roles in business, among many others.                          

Degree Type: Ph.D. in Leadership

Graduate Tuition: $10,458

Regent University Virginia Beach, VA

Regent University offers a Ph.D. in Education that is delivered entirely online . This is considered one of the best online history Ph.D. programs. The entire course of study is made up of at least 75 credit hours. There are several concentrations that doctoral students can choose from which include: special education, K-12 student leadership, higher education leadership and management, higher education, exception education executive leadership, educational technology and online learning, educational psychology, curriculum and instruction, Christian education leadership, character education, advanced educational leadership, and adult education. Those who have completed this program have achieved careers in positions such as principal researchers, university faculty, school administrators, and superintendent. A program like this is bound to build on a career you already have but offer higher earning potential. One of the things that draw students to this particular program is the Christian worldview that it offers. 

Doctoral Degree Type: Ph.D in Education

Graduate Tuition: $16,128

Wilmington University New Castle, DE

Wilmington University offers an EdD in Organizational Leadership specifically in learning and innovation . This doctoral program is offered through its distinguished College of Education. The entire program is made up of eighteen classes, which equates to 54 credits. Doctoral students can complete the doctoral program in as little as three years. This history phD program pathway is considered to be interdisciplinary in reach. There are multiple concentrations to choose from including: workplace learning and talent development, strategic leadership, and the student-designed learning pathway. Students will all participate in research core courses including: disciplined inquiry and writing, assessment and evaluation methods, problem-centered research in organizational learning in two parts. Each student will undergo consulting field experience when they complete their coursework. This is one of the aspects of the history phD program that makes it unique and also desirable. Each year, students will participate in summer institutes, the third of which is where they will do their consulting reporting. 

Doctoral Degree Type: EdD in Organizational Leadership, Learning and Innovation

Graduate Tuition: $9,432

Franklin University Columbus, OH

Franklin University offers a doctor of professional studies in instructional design in leadership . It is considered one of the best online history phD programs for a number of reasons. Many doctoral students find this doctoral program because they are looking for a Christian foundation in the framework for which history is told. In addition, this is considered one of the more flexible history phD program options, as it allows students to transfer in at least 24 previously earned academic credits. There are accelerated ways to undergo this history phD program. For example, students can complete the program in a fast-paced three year time period. This includes a one-year dissertation experience. Another perk about this program is that it is very easy to customize and make it exactly what you want it to be. It is designed for those who want to expressly become leaders in instructional design. 

Doctoral Degree Type: DPS in Instructional Design Leadership

Graduate Tuition: $12,060

University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg, KY

The University of the Cumberlands offers a Ph.D. in leadership studies that is considered one of the best online history Ph.D. programs . Doctoral s tudents in this doctoral program will learn the most advanced leadership skills that can propel them into a variety of career paths following program completion. Maybe people engage in programs such as this one because they are interested in administrative roles in education or within organizations on the community or corporate level. This can also feed into the career path of project managers or business professionals. This history phD program offers many options for specialization. Students will choose one of the following areas of focus: student personnel, religion, nursing, math, information systems, history, health sciences, English, education, criminal justice, and business. This history phH program is designed to be flexible and convenient, as all of the coursework is delivered online. You will have access to excellent faculty mentorship and networking opportunities with your peers. 

Doctoral Degree Type: Ph.D. in Leadership Studies

Graduate Tuition: $4,260

Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, FL

Keiser University offers the best online history Ph.D. program that emphasizes educational leadership . This particular program is designed to foster academic maturity. This program is designed to support students to be change-makers in their communities and schools. The program was designed to lift up leaders through research, writing, critical thinking among others that will support K-12 environments as well as post-secondary institutions. This course of study was designed to be flexible and convenient, as many students will maintain full-time employment while participating in the program. Prospective students must already have a master’s degree in a related field in order to apply. They are also expected to have a full CV with significant contributions to education under their belts to be a good candidate for the program as well. Some of the coursework in the program includes: community relations, academia, research, educational law, and even school district administration. 

Doctoral Degree Type: Ph.D. in Educational Leadership

Graduate Tuition: $33,390

Why Should I Get My PhD in History Online?

There are many reasons to go the route of achieving an online PhD in history . For starters, you are probably looking into this degree path out of a deep love for something you are already doing, and you want to go deeper, or you are interested in building an academic teaching career from a specialization that you can leave your mark on.

There are many online PhD programs in history, so why not find something that is screaming your name. This could be a program about just the subject you are passionate about, or a building block that will let you deepen a discipline that holds your passion. There are many online history PhD programs out there, and finding the right one can make all the difference in the path that you carve out for yourself and the contribution you are able to make in the world. Once again, this can be the path that will set you on track to embark on the ultimate career. 

How Do I Choose an Online History PhD?

The best online PhD programs in history vary greatly. First off, it is important to look at programs that are accredited. Accreditation means they have been properly vetted by reliable sources, and therefore, offer the credibility that you need to ensure that they are safe and will give you what they say they will. Not to mention, finding the right program for you, in particular, is critical.

What this means is that you should invest the time in finding a program that really touches on the field for which you want to expand your expertise. In addition, if you require a very flexible format, it is important that you pick something that will allow you to participate in coursework from wherever you are whenever you can.

Many best online history PhD programs offer such flexibility, but you have to do the research to determine if there are in-person requirements along with other potential obligations that you want to be sure you can meet. Many programs offer a myriad of related networking opportunities that might be pertinent to your intended career path. If this is something that is interesting to you, you should seek out programs that will give you such opportunities. 

How Much Can I Make with a PhD in History? 

A history of PhD salary is quite variable. According to PayScale, on average, you are looking at something to the tune of $56,000 . Associate curators make something around $60,000, though a professor that teaches within a history department generally makes around $79,000. Some of the lower range salaries on this list are adjunct faculty who make around $37,000 and assistant professors who make around $50,000. A PhD in history salary is certainly not one size fits all, but you have some control, once you have your credentials, to go into the field that makes what you deem a comfortable salary.

25 Best Online Bachelor’s in History What Can I Do with an Master’s in History? 25 Best Online Master’s in History What Can I Do with a History Doctorate? Best Online DBA Programs Best Online Doctorate in Leadership Programs

• Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures
• School of History
• Research degrees

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Our PhD course will allow you to become an expert in a specialist area and provide you with an opportunity to gain high-quality research training.

Structure 

Your research will be guided by  supervisors with whom you'll have regular meetings throughout your PhD. Your supervisors will help you put in place an initial plan, provide guidance on your progress, discuss your findings, and set out your plans for the next stage of research. During your first year you'll work on a plan for your PhD project as well as a bibliography. You'll also develop a detailed research proposal and write a literature review. This work will be submitted to a panel of examiners who will assess it and provide you with feedback and advice on the progress of your research.

The further years are mostly spent with a focus on writing your thesis which will be examined by two academics (one external to the University). You'll discuss and defend your findings in a formal oral examination called a viva which is a way to further expand on your research and demonstrate your expertise in your chosen area of study.  

Your PhD can be taken full-time (three years standard, four years maximum) or part-time (five years standard, seven years maximum).

Areas of supervision

With over 40 academic staff , our research profile is exceptionally broad, ranging from the middle ages to the 'War on Terror'. We hope to be able to offer you expert supervision in your area of interest. Staff and postgraduate students within the School are grouped within the following research themes :  

• Medieval Studies
• Health, Medicine and Society
• War and Peace
• Leeds Global History
• Women, Gender and Sexuality

We have particular strengths in Medieval, European, Modern British and International History.

You'll have the chance to develop academically and professionally within the supportive environment of a research-led, Rusell Group University. We have an active research culture, hosting regular seminars given by invited academics, staff and current research students which will expose you to the latest historical research. We strongly encourage all prospective PhD students to contact the Director of Postgraduate Research  to discuss potential research proposals.

PhD by online learning 

We offer a PhD by online learning which is available to UK, EU and international applicants, allowing you gain an advanced degree from anywhere with internet access. You can study at the time and place that best suits you, and our part time options lets you study alongside work and other commitments.

For further information, please contact  Dr Pammi Sinha ,  Head of the Graduate School. 

Dr. Thomas Littlewood examines Canadian commemoration of WW2 in his successful PhD defence

Thomas Littlewood's dissertation, " Public Commemorations and Personal Memories: Canadian Commemoration of the Second World War ," examined how Canadians have commemorated the Second World War since its end.

He found that Canadians borrowed heavily from the commemorative traditions established after the First World War as a way of understanding their grief and charting a future for themselves and for the country.

Though the federal government was never able to get a traditional Second World War memorial off the ground, communities across the country built traditional stone and granite memorials in surprising numbers.

The rites and rituals of Remembrance Day were already solidified after the First World War, and they did not change significantly after 1945. Immediately after the Second World War, many Canadians conceptualized the conflict through the lens of Christian sacrifice and peace. Fears and threats of nuclear war in the 1970s had a distinct influence on how some Canadians viewed the war, the military, and Canada’s role in the geopolitical theatre. As the war became more distant, though, many minority groups in Canada began to use Remembrance Day as symbol for their inclusion in the Canadian mosaic, and they campaigned for explicit inclusion in Remembrance Day ceremonies. In the 1990s, a renewed interest in the Second World War thrust the memory of the war into the forefront of political and social debates, again shaping how the war has come to be remembered.

Dr. Littlewood's defence was held on Wednesday, June 26 at the University of Guelph. He was supervised by  Dr. Alan Gordon until his untimely death in 2022. Dr. Matthew Hayday of Guelph and Dr. Geoffrey Hayes  of Waterloo continued on as Thomas' supervisors. The rest of the committee included Dr. Tarah Brookfield of Laurier and Dr. Ian Milligan of Waterloo. His other examiners included Dr. Alex Souchen of Guelph and Dr. Jonathan Vance of Western University.

"I am currently revising some of the dissertation to form a monograph about Remembrance Day and its place on the yearly civic calendar. My non-academic work continues as a church administrator and fundraiser," says Thomas.

Thomas contributed a great deal to the Tri-U program over his time at Guelph, notably during the pandemic. He served as a co-president of the Tri-U Graduate Students Association (TUGSA) in 2020-21. He was part of the organizing committee at Guelph for the 2021 Tri-U Conference that was held entirely virtually. In 2023, his article, " Failure to Launch: Canadian Federal Government Attempts at Memorialising the Second World War, 1945-1967 ," published in  Canadian Military History  won that year's essay prize .

• Canadian_History ,
• military_history ,
• Current students ,
• Current graduate students ,
• Future students ,
• Future graduate students ,

UCL Careers

• Exploring your options
• Finding opportunities
• Preparing to apply
• Information for Employers
• myUCLCareers

Academic Career Planning for PhD students

25 November 2024, 11:00 am–12:30 pm

Sign up to this session to gain an oversight on academic career progression.

Event Information

Availability.

*THIS EVENT IS FOR RESEARCH STUDENTS ONLY*

You will be emailed some resources that we will look at during the session in advance, so please check your email 3 hours before the session. Also, please make sure your environment makes is possible for you to talk during the workshop and that you have a mic working (the workshop is interactive)!

If you have any specific requirements in terms of attending this event that we need to be aware of in advance, please do get in touch as soon as possible to let us know how we can help.

Learning outcomes for this workshop

• Gain an overview of the process of academic career progression 
• Develop an awareness of the personal qualities, experience and achievements needed to be successful in securing research and teaching positions in a higher education institution 
• Gain an overview of issues that can have an impact on the nature of your future work, your ability to progress and your personal life. 
• Obtain information on a variety of ways to locate advertised positions and sources of funding (note: in-depth details of funding for specific research areas is beyond the scope of this workshop) 
• Devise a series of concrete actions that you will take to increase the probability of securing your next academic position.

Upcoming Events

Funnelback feed: https://cms-feed.ucl.ac.uk/s/search.json?collection=drupal-professional-... Double click the feed URL above to edit

Revolution Revisited

Writing a history of the Nicaraguan revolution from the perspective of those who lived it

Share this page

Mateo Jarquín, PhD ’19, describes his new book, The Sandinista Revolution , as “a history of the Nicaraguan revolution truly told on Nicaraguan terms.” Based on his PhD dissertation and 2019 Harvard Horizons project, the book explores the years between 1979 and 1990 not only from the perspective of his Nicaraguan compatriots but also in the context of the country’s outsized influence on global politics. A better understanding of the Nicaraguan revolution, he asserts, yields new insights about the Cold War and the mark it left on Latin America.

You come from Nicaragua. Your family was involved in the revolution—sometimes on different sides. What influence did that history have on this book?

After the fall of the Somoza dictatorship in 1979, the Nicaraguan society was divided. Sandinista leaders embarked on a crusade to remake the country and sweep away all vestiges of the old regime. You were either for the revolution or against it.

My family didn’t fit neatly into those boxes. Both of my parents were members of the Sandinista government. Both had siblings in the US-backed opposition. After the revolution, we experienced a sort of tense reconciliation, as did many Nicaraguan families. It exemplified what happened at the national level.

My book isn’t about this personal history, but my research was shaped by it in countless ways. I started this work with the intuition and conviction that an account of this time in Nicaragua had to allow for complexity and messiness. It had to be skeptical of the broad categories and concepts scholars use to make sense of revolutions in general.

What does it mean to tell the story of the Sandinista revolution on Nicaraguan terms, as you try to do in the book?

President Ronald Reagan’s decision to fund anti-Sandinista insurgents known as the Contras in the 1980s ignited intense political debates, culminating in the Iran-Contra scandal. Consequently, most scholarship at the time reflected that US-based discourse. Even today, some of the richest and most widely read accounts of the revolution tend to be written from an American perspective and center on the motivations, consequences, and justification of US military intervention in Central America.

Of course, the way that Nicaraguans remember the revolution couldn’t be more different. For better or worse, they don’t think of Ronald Reagan and Oliver North as major protagonists or antagonists; they are fundamentally focused on the struggles between Nicaraguans. While my book places the history of the revolution in an international context, the main characters are the leaders of the Sandinista government because it’s important to tell this story in a way that gives agency to the people who lived it, who had the greatest impact, and who had the most at stake.

Nicaragua is a small country. It’s not an economic, military, or geopolitical power. Why is it important to better understand the revolution there?

It was the last major revolution of the 20th century—a rapid, violent change of government that preceded a radical effort to remake the socioeconomic structure, institutions, and even values of a society. In that sense, it was an important milestone in the transition from the Cold War era, when the Global South was alive with revolutionary movements, to the present day. That’s the global significance.

In Latin America, the Sandinista revolution was the first time—and last, it turned out—that the armed left managed to seize power after the Cuban revolution. The effect it had on regional politics was not unlike that of the Mexican and Cuban revolutions. Armed leftist organizations in other countries, especially in Central America, looked at what the Sandinistas did and said, “We can do that, too. That’s a blueprint for our success.” The slogan became, “Si Nicaragua venció, El Salvador vencerá”—if Nicaragua vanquished, El Salvador shall vanquish as well. This sentiment also affected Guatemala.

The Sandinista victory inspired many peer organizations across the region but also caused a huge backlash. Right-wing forces across Central America looked at what happened in Nicaragua and asked, “What do we need to do to avoid suffering the same fate as Somoza?” The ideological and geopolitical dimensions of the Cold War intensified these regional dynamics. The result was the most violent episode of Latin America’s history during the Cold War, in which around 300,000 people died.

Finally, you say that the Sandinista revolution began as an effort to democratize Nicaragua socially and economically. Today, you describe Nicaragua as an authoritarian state ruled by the family of Daniel Ortega, the former Sandinista leader. So, what’s the legacy of the revolution?

In the book, I resist the temptation to draw a direct line between the 1980s and today. Mr. Ortega and his wife claim to be carrying on the legacy of the revolution. Those from hardline anti-Sandinista backgrounds tend to agree, except they cast it in a very negative light. They argue that everything wrong with Nicaragua today is a direct consequence of 1979 and the policies of the 1980s. Still other Nicaraguans including many who supported the revolution, see Ortega as a usurper who betrayed the values of the original Sandinista project. They don’t see continuity but rather a break with the past, and they think comparisons with the earlier Somoza regime are more instructive coming from a society that was born of revolution and counter-revolution, where people have Manichaean outlooks driven by absolutes, I think what we need now is a little more room for unanswered questions and open-ended discussion.

Get the Latest Updates

Join our newsletter, subscribe to colloquy podcast, connect with us, view the entire issue, view all issues online, related news.

Paying It Forward

The members of the 2024 Centennial Medalist cohort—like those of the past 35 years—have defined excellence in their chosen fields.

Centering Dissenters

As a groundbreaking historian and activist, 2024 Centennial Medalist Martin Duberman has helped bring members of the LGBTQ+ community back into the American picture.

The Gold Standard for Scholarship

For more than four decades as a curator at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and teacher at the University of Maryland, 2024 Centennial Medalist Arthur Wheelock brought knowledge and love of art to new generations of learners.

Colloquy Podcast: Testing and the Origin of Big Data

Today, we are all the subjects of constant algorithmic testing by big tech companies—whether we like it or not. How did we get here?

Alumni Relations

The Office of Alumni Relations encourages connections between alumni and the University, partnering with alumni leaders, students, and administrators to develop opportunities for engagement.