Program start date | Application deadline |
2024-10-01 | - |
2025-10-01 | - |
2026-10-01 | - |
Program Overview
PhD History with Genealogical Studies
The PhD History with Genealogical Studies is a unique program that allows students to undertake a doctorate in History with a distinctive genealogical dimension. The program is supervised by academic staff in History with co-supervision by staff in the Strathclyde Institute of Genealogical Studies.
Research Opportunities
The History section of the Department of Humanities will consider PhD candidates who have a research topic with a focus on family history. Students enrolled in the PhD History with Genealogical Studies are supervised by academic staff in History with co-supervision by staff in the Strathclyde Institute of Genealogical Studies.
What You'll Study
A PhD in history with a genealogical dimension may incorporate one or more of the following areas:
- using genealogical techniques and/or sources to advance knowledge in associated areas
- reappraising previous research findings using genealogical research techniques and/or records and tools
- assessing and evaluating newly available or not-often-used resources
- assessing and evaluating development in genealogical practice or supporting areas
Fees & Funding
Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter. The annual revision of fees will be published on the University website in October each year for the following year of study, and any annual increase will be capped at a maximum of 10% per year.
- Scotland: £4,786
- England, Wales & Northern Ireland: £4,786
- Republic of Ireland: If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status.
- International: £18,050
Supervisors
Prior to submitting your application, you will need to identify one member of staff from History and one from Genealogy who could share the supervision of your thesis. You should nominate the History staff member as your first supervisor, and the Genealogy staff member as your second supervisor.
Genealogy Supervisors
- Alasdair Macdonald (Genetic genealogy, surname studies, Scottish genealogy, medieval and modern genealogy)
- Tahitia McCabe (American and British genealogy, nineteenth century, migration studies)
- Calista Williams (British and Irish genealogy, Welsh history, nineteenth century, history of reading)
History Supervisors
- Patricia Barton (The British empire, Indian economic links with the British empire, Disease in colonial South Asia)
- Tanja Bueltmann (diaspora history, especially Scottish diaspora history, history of migration to Scotland)
- Richard Finlay (Scottish history since 1700)
- Laura Kelly (Social history of medicine in nineteenth and early twentieth century Ireland, History of reproductive and sexual health)
- Arthur McIvor (Oral history, Labour history, Work in Britain since 1945)
- Jim Mills (Social history of drugs and narcotics, Social history of health and medicine in the British empire)
- Emma Newlands (War and health/medicine, Military culture and experience)
- Rogelia Pastor-Castro (Cold War Europe, Diplomacy and international security)
- Matthew Smith (Mental health and psychiatry, Allergy and immunology)
- Manuela Williams (Arab nationalism, History of Egypt and Iraq)
- John Young (The Scottish Covenanters, Scotland and Ulster)
- Matthew Eisler (Science, Technology and Innovation Studies, History of Engineering)
- David Wilson (Piracy, privateering, and maritime predation)
- Elsa Richardson (History of Popular Health Movements, Cultural History of Psychology and Psychoanalysis)
- David Murphy (French Colonial History, Colonial Troops and the First World War)
- Angela Turner (History of Disability and Health, World War Two and the British Home Front)
- Karine Varley (France since 1789, France in the Second World War)
- Ksenia Wesolowska (Arab-Israeli dispute, US foreign policy)
- Phil Cooke (Italian social, political and cultural history, 19th to 21st centuries)
- Martin Mitchell (The Irish in Scotland, The social history of religion in modern Scotland)
- Niall Whelehan (Modern Ireland, Migration and the Global Irish diaspora)
Support & Development
The Graduate School is a friendly and supportive study environment for research students studying subjects within Humanities & Social Sciences. Our staff will support you through your studies and you'll become part of a community of students who get involved with our workshops, seminars and competitions.
Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Professional Development (PgCert RPD)
Our PgCert RPD programme aims to ensure you get the most out of your current research activities at Strathclyde and helps you prepare for your future career as a researcher.
Entry Requirements
Normally, a first-class or upper second-class UK Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in history or a related subject. For PhD applications, we also normally require a Masters degree, or overseas equivalent, in history, genealogy/family history or a related subject.
Application
During the application, you'll be asked for the following:
- your full contact details
- transcripts and certificates of all degrees
- proof of English language proficiency if English isn’t your first language
- two references, one of which must be academic
- funding or scholarship information
- research proposal of 1,500-2,000 words in length, detailing the subject area and topic to be investigated
Start Dates
- Full-time: Start between Oct 2024 - Sep 2025
- Part-time: Start between Oct 2024 - Sep 2025
Program Outline
Other:
- The program is a PhD in History with a Genealogical Studies dimension.
- The program is a joint PhD with the Strathclyde Institute of Genealogical Studies.
- The program can be completed full-time over 36 months or part-time over 60 months.
- The program culminates in a thesis built on original research of 80-100,000 words.
- The program is supervised by academic staff in History with co-supervision by staff in the Strathclyde Institute of Genealogical Studies.
- The program provides the opportunity to undertake a doctorate in History with a distinctive genealogical dimension.
- The program is open to students who have a research topic with a focus on family history.
- The program is designed to provide students with a range of academic skills such as advanced research methods and analysis, and professional skills in communication, presentation and organisation.
- The program is part of the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences and is a member of the Graduate School.
- The program provides students with access to dedicated study facilities, social events and training, development and funding opportunities.
| :---------- |:----------| Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter. | |All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision. | |Annual revision of fees| |Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that tuition fees are revised annually and may increase in subsequent years of study. Annual increases will generally reflect UK inflation rates and increases to programme delivery costs.| |2024/25| |Scotland£4,786| |England, Wales & Northern Ireland£4,786| |International£18,050| |EU Engagement Scholarships are available to EU applicants who would have previously been eligible for Home (Scottish/EU) fee status.| |EU and International 50% Merit Scholarships available to self-funded, international fee-paying offer-holders (includes those classed as EU fee group). The scholarship entitles the recipient to a discount of 50% on tuition fees.|
Overview:
- Founded in 1796 as Anderson's Institution
- Received its Royal Charter in 1964, becoming the University of Strathclyde
- Consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the UK for engineering and technology
- Home to the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), a world-leading research center in metal forming
- Notable alumni include Sir James Black (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine), Sir David Murray (former CEO of Rangers Football Club), and Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (astrophysicist)
Student Life:
- Over 23,000 students from over 100 countries
- 150+ student clubs and societies, including sports teams, cultural groups, and academic societies
- Student support services include counseling, health, and disability support
- Campus facilities include a sports center, library, and student union
Academics:
- Offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in engineering, science, business, law, and social sciences
- Faculty includes world-renowned experts in their fields
- Teaching methodologies emphasize hands-on learning and industry engagement
- Academic support services include tutoring, writing centers, and language support
- Unique academic programs include the Strathclyde MBA, which is ranked among the top 100 MBAs in the world
Top Reasons to Study Here:
- Excellent reputation for teaching and research, particularly in engineering and technology
- Strong industry connections and opportunities for internships and placements
- Specialized facilities such as the AFRC and the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
- Vibrant student life with a diverse and inclusive community
- Located in the heart of Glasgow, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city
Services:
- Counseling and mental health support
- Health center with a range of medical services
- Accommodation services with a variety of on-campus and off-campus options
- Library resources with over 1 million books and journals
- Technology support including IT services and free Wi-Fi
- Career development services with support for job searching, CV writing, and interview preparation
Entry Requirements:
Normally, a first-class or upper second-class UK Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in history or a related subject. For PhD applications, we also normally require a Masters degree, or overseas equivalent, in history, genealogy/family history or a related subject. For those without a Masters degree or overseas equivalent, in genealogy/family history, we require evidence of extensive experience in genealogical research.
Language Proficiency Requirements:
For postgraduate studies, we require a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent (no individual test score below 5.5, the test must be taken within two years of the programme start date)