History MPhil/PhD

Program Overview

---

History MPhil/PhD

Overview

The Institute of Arts and Humanities has a strong mix of academics with a high degree of professional and personal experience, enabling you to get the most out of your programme. Our staff have expertise in fields including: women and the home front in WWI and II; the history of international relations; the Atlantic slave trade, Abolition movement, and histories of emancipated African people; early modern British and Irish history; and the medical Humanities.

Entry Requirements

For MPhil

• First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree or an approved equivalent award
• Research or professional experience which has resulted in appropriate evidence of achievement

For PhD

• Postgraduate Masters Degree in a discipline which is appropriate to the proposed programme of study
• First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree or equivalent award in an appropriate discipline
• Research or professional experience at postgraduate level which has resulted in published work, written reports or other appropriate evidence of achievement

International Applicants

International applicants will be required to demonstrate that they have the appropriate level of written and spoken English. For MPhil/PhD this is an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.0 in every component.

Programme Structure

PhD Year by Year

After receiving your application, we try to establish if we have the necessary expertise to supervise your project and we begin to form a supervisory team for you. This will normally consist of a Director of Studies (DoS), who will be your lead supervisor, and at least one other supervisor, who will offer you additional support and guidance throughout your studies.

First Year

You will have submitted a draft research outline with your application. In your first year, you will be working towards submitting a more complete research proposal. You will be aided in your research by meeting with your supervisory team to discuss your progress. You will also be supported through your first year by engaging with a series of three modules as part of our Researcher Development Programme:

• RSDP4001: Developing as a Researcher
• RSDP4005: Approaches to Research
• RSDP4004: Planning Your Research Project

Second Year

In your second year, you will be collecting data and working on your research project under the supervision of your supervisors through regular meetings. You may at this point have research papers ready to publish and you may wish to attend conferences to present your research to other experts in your field.

Third or Fourth Year

In your third and fourth year, you will be writing up your thesis and preparing for your viva voce examination. This is an oral exam with two examiners and a chair. You can also request that your supervisor be present at the exam.

Resources

With study space and IT provision in the Research Office, and access to the University of Worcester’s virtual resources and state-of-the-art library facilities, the History team at Worcester have an excellent range of resources to support your learning and research project.

Programme Specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please download the latest programme specification document for the MPhil or PhD.

Research Areas

Supervisors

• Professor Neil Fleming: Expertise: twentieth century Britain; metropolitan imperialism; British foreign and imperial policy; Northern Ireland.
• Dr Elspeth King: Expertise: The Home Front in Britain during the Second World War and immediately afterwards, the influence of social class and the impact this has on the lived experience, twentieth century British history in general.
• Dr Paddy McNally: Expertise: Irish history, ; German history, ; political thought; nationalism.
• Dr Anna Muggeridge: Expertise: the history of modern Britain with a particular specialism in women’s and gender history
• Professor Darren Oldridge: Expertise: religion and the supernatural in early modern England; witchcraft; the Devil.
• Professor Suzanne Schwarz: Expertise: the Atlantic slave trade; slavery; abolitionism; Sierra Leone; British colonial policy in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
• Dr Wendy Toon: Expertise: the United States in the era of the Second World War; Americanization; enemy image creation; propaganda; twentieth century Germany and Japan; foreign relations of the United States; the “study of culture at a distance.”

Careers

All students engage with our Researcher Development Programme (RDP). The RDP aims to develop and enhance the skills, both generic and specific, that you will need to complete your research degree but also to become an effective researcher.

Fees

The current fees can be found within the tuition fees document on our figure out finances page.

Accommodation

Finding the right accommodation is paramount to your university experience. Our halls of residence are home to friendly student communities, making them great places to live and study. We have over 1,000 rooms across our range of student halls. With rooms to suit every budget and need, from our 'Traditional Halls' at £131 per week to 'Ensuite Premium Halls' at £228 per week (2025/26 prices). For full details visit our accommodation page.

Program Outline

History MPhil/PhD at the University of Worcester:

---

Degree Overview:

• Focus: The program allows students to pursue research in various historical areas, including:
• Women and the home front in WWI and II
• International relations history
• The Atlantic slave trade, Abolition movement, and histories of emancipated African people
• Early modern British and Irish history
• The medical Humanities
• Distinctive features: The program aims to produce research that is unique, socially and culturally relevant, and impactful on national agendas.
The university continually strives to develop new areas of research excellence, while in some areas, their work has already been recognized as world-leading.
• Duration:
• Full-time: 3 years (typical) or 4 years (maximum)
• Part-time: 5-6 years (typical)
• Progression:
• Full-time students typically transfer from MPhil to PhD towards the end of their second year.
• Part-time students normally transfer to PhD in their fourth year.
• Resources:
• Dedicated study space and IT provision in the Research Office
• Access to the University's virtual resources and state-of-the-art library facilities
### Outline:
• Year 1:
• Develop a research proposal with the support of a supervisory team.
• Engage with the Researcher Development Programme (RDP) through three modules:
• RSDP4001: Developing as a Researcher
• RSDP4005: Approaches to Research
• RSDP4004: Planning Your Research Project
• Annual Progress Review (APR) at the end of the year.
• Year 2 (Full-time) or Year 4 (Part-time):
• Collect data and work on the research project under the guidance of supervisors.
• Potential publication of research papers and conference presentations.
• Apply for the Research Student Support Scheme for funding.
• Annual Progress Review (APR) at the end of the year.
• Year 3-4 (Full-time) or Year 5-6 (Part-time):
• Focus on writing the thesis and preparing for the viva voce examination with two examiners and a chair.
• Potential amendments to the thesis based on the examiners' feedback.
• Annual Progress Review (APR) at the end of each year.
• Structure:
• Full-time students follow the same structure as part-time students but complete the PhD over a shorter timeframe.
• Part-time students take two modules in each of their first two years.
### Assessment:
• Assessment methods:
• Research proposal
• Thesis
• Viva voce examination
• Annual Progress Reviews (APRs)
• Assessment criteria:
• Originality and significance of the research
• Quality of research methodology
• Clarity and depth of analysis
• Effective communication of research findings
• Contribution to the field of history
### Teaching:
• Teaching methods:
• Individual supervision meetings with experienced academics
• Group seminars and workshops
• Guest lectures by renowned historians
• Participation in research conferences and seminars
• Faculty:
• Experienced academics with expertise in various historical areas
• Strong research profiles and publications
• Passionate about teaching and supporting students
• Unique approaches:
• Focus on developing independent research skills
• Encouragement to engage in critical thinking and analysis
• Opportunities to present research findings at conferences and seminars
### Careers:
• Career paths:
• Academic research
• Teaching in higher education
• Museum and archive work
• Heritage management
• Policy and government roles
• Journalism and media
• Opportunities:
• The program equips graduates with transferable skills valuable in various careers.
• The university offers career support services to help graduates find employment.
• Outcomes: Graduates have successfully secured positions in academia, museums, archives, and other sectors.
### Other:
• Application process:
• Submit a research outline
• Provide academic transcripts and references
• Interview with potential supervisors
• Funding:
• Scholarships and bursaries available
• Research Student Support Scheme
• Research areas:
• The School of Humanities has expertise in a wide range of historical areas.
• Students can choose to focus on their specific research interests.
• Supervisors with expertise in various areas are available to guide students.
• Program specification:
• A detailed program specification document is available for download.
## Summary: The History MPhil/PhD program at the University of Worcester offers a comprehensive and rigorous academic experience. The program provides students with the opportunity to develop their research skills, engage with cutting-edge scholarship, and make a valuable contribution to the field of history.