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Humanities ➞ Postgraduate study

PhD History Research Programme (V300)

We offer a wide menu of stimulating and innovative programmes, across diverse chronological and geographical fields of research.

The programme is also available via distance learning, which is designed for people who wish to study without travelling to Southampton regularly.

Introducing your degree

Studying history can help us define a path for our future society; it helps us to discover where we came from and how our civilisation evolved. Become an expert in your chosen field of research through the PhD History Research Programme. Take a step back in time and research history on a global scale. Develop your own understanding and work with specialists in this field, while networking with fellow like-minded students.

We are known nationally and internationally for our excellence in research and teaching, and are continually improving the scope and delivery of our activities. We aim to generate a community of doctoral graduates equipped to act as research leaders in the discipline of History.

History at Southampton has one of the broadest communities of specialists in the UK, spanning the period from the Ancient World to the Contemporary era. Supervision is offered across a number of regions including Britain, Europe, America and South Asia, in the fields of political, social, economic, gender, imperial and maritime history.

Staff have strong interests in gender history, the history of identities, and the study of history and memory of migration, and offer supervision in a range of subject areas, including interdisciplinary research projects with Humanities colleagues.

Career opportunities are wide ranging and varied. Opportunities exist as a member of a research team in academic, leading toe future leadership positions within an academic context. The nature of the generic and discipline-specific skills obtained during your study make your experience and skills attractive to a range of organisations post-qualification.

Doctoral Programme Director:

Professor Mark Stoyle
Tel: +44 (0) 23 8059 4860
Email: mjs@soton.ac.uk
www.southampton.ac.uk/history

View the doctoral programme profile for this course

To Apply

Application process and required supporting documents

  • University online application including a personal statement
  • Research proposal
  • Transcript
  • 2 references
  • English language (if relevant)
  • Sample of written work

Candidates are advised to contact prospective supervisors with the subject of their proposed research prior to application.

Contact for postgraduate enquiries:
Tel: +44 (0)23 8059 7433
fah-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk
www.southampton.ac.uk/history

Key facts

Duration: up to 4 years (full time); up to 7 years (part time)

Assessment: Thesis (max 75,000 words), viva voce

Start date: Normally September and January each year

Closing date: 3 months before start date (also dependent on funding body deadlines); an application decision cannot be guaranteed in time for programme commencement unless a complete application is received in good time - students requiring a visa to study should also allow extra time for visa processes; informal enquiries welcome at any time

Apply here

Typical entry requirements

Academic entry requirements : First or upper second class honours degree and normally Masters at Merit level*, or an equivalent standard in other qualifications approved by the University in History or a cognate discipline.

(Merit 60%-69%, Distinction 70%+)

English language entry requirements : IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.5 in all components, or an equivalent standard in other qualifications approved by the University.

Selection process

Selection process: Online application and interview

Applications will be assessed under the following

  • Evidence of general academic aptitude
  • Preparedness or promise for doctoral research
  • Quality of the research project proposal
  • Fit with Southampton's research expertise

Applicant Quality: Your application will be judged against the following criteria:

  • it provides evidence that you meet our entry requirements
  • it demonstrates your personal suitability and commitment to undertake Doctoral study
  • it provides supportive references that indicate your suitability to undertake a PhD
  • it presents a well-focused and high quality research proposal which indicates potential to contribute original research to the discipline
  • it demonstrates critical awareness of the scholarly field to which the research will contribute, and appropriate methods to carry out this work
  • it may strengthen your application if you can demonstrate genuine interest in working with a named academic in the department

Personal Statement: Use your Personal Statement to provide additional information relevant to your application. This should include the following:

  • outline your reasons for wishing to conduct postgraduate research in your chosen area
  • explain how your proposed research matches the research environment and supervisory expertise offered by History at Southampton
  • reflect on how your education, skills, and experience will equip you for PhD study and to undertake your planned research
  • indicate details of any other achievements/interests
  • indicate any special circumstances pertaining to the academic record
  • tell us what you hope to get from the programme

This page contains specific entry requirements for this course. Find out about equivalent entry requirements and qualifications for your country.

Typical course content

The PhD by Research programme has no modules per semester. Instead it is an entirely research-oriented programme in which students conduct original research under the guidance of their supervisors.

Learning and Supervision

In addition, you will further develop through opportunities to engage with the Centre for Colonial and Post-Colonial Studies, the Parkes Centre for the Study of Jewish/non-Jewish Relations, the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Culture, the Southampton Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies, and the Southampton Centre for Nineteenth Century Research Studies. Some research projects are further enhanced by the access to the resources of the Parkes Library and the Palmerston and Mountbatten Papers in the Special Collections of the University Library.

Tuition fees

Fees for postgraduate research degrees vary across the University. All fees are listed for UK and international full-time and part-time students alphabetically by course name.

Course Title Award Year of Entry Mode of Study UK International
History PhD 2023 Full-time £4,596 £18,600
History PhD 2023 Part-time £2,298 £9,300
History (distance learning) PhD 2023 Full-time £4,596 £18,600
History (distance learning) PhD 2023 Part-time £2,298 £9,300
View the full list of course fees

Scholarships, bursaries, sponsorships or grants may be available to support you through your course. Funding opportunities available to you are linked to your subject area and/or your country of origin. These can be from the University of Southampton or other sources.

Explore funding opportunities

A postgraduate research degree from Humanities at Southampton offers you the wide and varied experience you should expect from a leading research university. We are committed to providing a relevant, modern and above all enjoyable environment in which to undertake your research project, along with the opportunity to gain the additional skills and understanding you need to start a career in any number of areas including academia.

How will you learn?

On a postgraduate research programme is led by academic staff, allowing you to engage with, and contribute to, the world-leading research carried out in Humanities at Southampton. Independent learning is the main element of undertaking postgraduate research, but we will guide you through the research experience by providing not only a dedicated supervisory team who will be on hand to help you to shape and direct your research project, but also a programme of research and transferrable skills training to prepare you not only for the project, but also for the career path you may wish to follow after its completion. If there are gaps in your knowledge when you start with us, you can join our taught masters students on one of their courses to provide you with the additional grounding you need.

We view our doctoral candidates as early stage researchers, so expect you to get involved with the wider research environment within, and external to, the university. Our disciplines have many unique and exciting additional opportunities for you engage with: such as visiting Chawton House Library, the former home of Jane Austen; studying the Broadlands Archive, containing the papers of Palmerston and Mountbatten; being part of one of our student-led interdisciplinary reading groups; and the chance to hear from visiting speakers from international universities who are frequent part of our research centre-led lecture and seminar series. You will have many opportunities to give papers and presentations, receiving feedback from peers and colleagues on how you can improve your work, maximise its effectiveness and gain recognition for your efforts.

Students on the Distance Learning pathway have electronic access to learning resources (e.g. Blackboard; VLE; EAP Toolkit, an online English for Academic Purposes self-access resource) as well as additional support from the learning technologists based in the Faculty’s eLanguages unit. The Hartley Library offers an extensive and growing collection of e-books and electronic articles (JSTORE).

Assessment

The goal of a PhD is a final thesis of 75,000 words. Assessment methods for progress relating to your research thesis will include oral presentations, written assignments, research proposal and progression reviews including Confirmation of PhD Registration. Summative assessment of the research thesis will include a viva voce examination with internal and external examiners.

Professional development

A PhD will enable you to further develop the key skills employers seek, such as: time management; problem solving; team work; deadline and project management; cultural awareness; working independently; using your initiative; relationship-building; critical thinking and research analysis. Above all, you will learn to communicate your ideas and enthusiasm for your research to a wide range of audiences.

Study locations

Avenue campus

Avenue campus

Only a few minutes walk from Highfield Campus, Avenue provides a purpo... Find out more

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