Program Overview

---

Overview

The Department of History delivers expert postgraduate supervision by internationally recognised scholars in a wide range of subject areas. The department offers a lively research community in the setting of an exciting city and region with a rich heritage. Excellent research resources are available for postgraduate study locally (for example in the library's Special Collections department and its print holdings), online through the library's database subscriptions, and in close proximity to the city.

Members of the History department publish and supervise research in a range of areas within the broad fields of cultural, social, economic and political history. We cover the medieval, early modern and modern periods. Our research culture is diverse and dynamic, and our collective work includes interests in political culture, studies of people and ideas on the move, environmental history, public and creative histories, and work on visual and material culture alongside colleagues in the Department of the History of Art.

Prospective applicants should make contact with a potential supervisor before submitting an application to discuss their proposed research questions, the state of the proposed field of study and appropriate primary source material.

In addition to topics focusing on single research areas, we actively encourage interdisciplinary research that cuts across the spectrum of historical studies, or other intellectual disciplines in the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences and beyond.

Key Information

Programme Duration

• MPhil: one year full-time; two years part-time
• PhD: up to four years full-time; up to eight years part-time

Start Date

• January 2025, September 2025, January 2026

Application Deadline

• January 2025 start: 1 December 2024
• September 2025 start: Overseas applicants: 25 July 2025, Home applicants: 1 August 2025
• January 2026 start: 1 December 2025

Delivery Method

• Distance Learning, On-Campus

Location

• Clifton

Awards Available

• PhD, MPhil

Programme Structure

MPhil

• A standalone, one-year (full-time) research degree
• Students will undertake their own research project, concluding in the submission of a 25,000-word dissertation
• Students may have the option to audit units from our taught master's courses if they are relevant to their research

PhD

• A research project undertaken across four years (full-time, minimum period of study three years), culminating in an 80,000-word thesis
• As well as having the option to audit taught units, there may be the potential for PhD students to teach units themselves from their second year of study onwards

World-Leading Research

• The University of Bristol is ranked fifth for research in the UK (Times Higher Education)
• 94% of our research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent

Entry Requirements

MPhil

• An upper second-class degree or international equivalent
• Acceptance will also depend on evidence of your readiness to pursue a research degree

PhD

• A master's qualification, or be working towards a master's qualification, or international equivalent
• Applicants without a master's qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree (or international equivalent)
• Applicants with a non-traditional background may be considered provided they can demonstrate substantial equivalent and relevant experience that has prepared them to undertake their proposed course of study

Fees and Funding

Home

• Full-time: £4,850 per year
• Part-time: £2,425 per year

Overseas

• Full-time: £21,300 per year

Alumni Discount

• University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study

Funding and Scholarships

• The University of Bristol is part of the South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership (SWW DTP) and the ESRC South West Doctoral Training Partnership, which will be offering studentships for September 2025
• Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students

Career Prospects

• Some graduates of this programme go into academic posts or post-doctoral positions
• Others take their skills in research and written/oral communication into a host of other professions

Meet Our Supervisors

• A list of potential supervisors for this programme, including their research and expertise

Research Groups

• The department has links with a variety of research centres and groups both within and outside the University
• These include the major University Research Institutes such as the Brigstow Institute as well as inter-disciplinary centres based in the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences
• Research students in the Department also participate in the vibrant networks of historical research connected with groups including the Hong Kong History Centre and the Bristol-Exeter Modern British History group

How to Apply

• Apply via our online application system
• For further information, please see the guidance for how to apply on our webpages
• Application deadline:
  • January 2025 start: 1 December 2024
  • September 2025 start: Overseas applicants: 25 July 2025, Home applicants: 1 August 2025
  • January 2026 start: 1 December 2025
• Preliminary contact with staff from the Department is welcome at any time of the year
• We strongly encourage prospective applicants to contact us early, before submitting an application