Research programmes

A research degree gives you the opportunity to develop a topic in an original way and so to make your mark on the discipline of History. It is examined by an extended piece of written work - the thesis - and is taught by means of close supervision, normally with two members of staff.

We offer three research degrees:

If you intend to study for the MLitt or PhD and do not already hold a Masters degree (or equivalent), we will normally ask that you register for one of our MA programmes in the first instance. We will usually advise that you take a Taught Masters because it provides research training. In some circumstances it might be appropriate for you to take the Research MA, with a view to 'upgrading' to MPhil or PhD status during your studies.

For studentship and scholarship awards and other financial opportunities, see our funding page.

We can offer specialist supervision in many areas of medieval, early modern and modern history.

• For medieval history, we have experts on Anglo-Saxon England, twelfth-century intellectual history, the cult of saints, late-medieval political, urban, rural and economic history, medieval court culture, late-medieval European political culture, and the history of the book from Antiquity to the Renaissance.
• In early modern history, our expertise lies in English political, religious, cultural, social and economic history 1500-1800, and in western European court, diplomatics, social and medical history, and in the history of visual culture.
• In late modern British history, for Britain since 1750, our strengths are in the histories of politics, government the monarchy and the financial system, and in social, religious and intellectual history.
• Our modern European historians specialise in the cultural, political and social history of France, Russia, Germany and central Europe from the eighteenth century, with expertise on such topics as dictatorship, film and propaganda, visual and material culture, inter-ethnic relations, regionalism, sport and terrorism.
• In the history of the USA, we specialise on Native American socio-cultural history and in modern business, labour and economic history.
• In African studies, our expertise is in the modern history of the Sudan and East Africa.
• Our historians of China specialise on eighteenth-century empire building and on twentieth-century social, cultural and gender history.

To obtain advice about possible research topics, please contact the Department or individual members of staff (for details see our staff pages).