Program Overview

History Postgraduate Research Degrees

Postgraduate Research in History

The University of Portsmouth offers postgraduate research degrees in History, providing students with the opportunity to explore their research interests and contribute to the field of historical studies.

Research Degrees

The University offers PhD, MPhil, and PhD by Publication opportunities in History. Students can choose from pre-approved funded and self-funded PhD projects or submit their own research idea.

PhD and MPhil Projects

• Funded Projects: Currently, there are no funded PhD projects available in this area. However, students can visit the University's funding pages for more information on funding their own research project.
• Self-Funded Projects: There are currently no pre-approved self-funded projects available in this subject area. Students can submit their own PhD proposal by finding a supervisor whose research interests match theirs.
• Submit Your Own Idea: Students can submit their own research idea by finding a supervisor whose research interests match theirs. Once a suitable supervisor is identified, students can discuss their idea with them.

PhD by Publication

A PhD by Publication is a postgraduate research degree based on research that has already been undertaken and published (excluding self-publishing) before registering with the University. Eligible research outputs include peer-reviewed academic papers, complete books or chapters in anthologies, and other materials accepted for publication, exhibited, or performed.

Duration, Fees, and Funding

• Duration: MPhil: 2 years full-time, 4 years part-time; PhD: 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time; PhD by Publication: 1 year part-time
• Fees: Tuition fees vary depending on the start date and student status (UK, EU, or International). For more information, please visit the University's fees page.
• Bench Fees: Some PhD projects may include additional fees for equipment and other consumables. These fees will be added to the standard tuition fee.
• Funding Support: MPhil full-time and part-time courses are eligible for the Government Postgraduate Loan (UK/EU students only). PhD full-time and part-time courses are eligible for the Government Doctoral Loan (UK/EU students only).

Entry Requirements

• Academic Qualifications: An upper second-class honors degree or equivalent in a relevant subject, or a master's degree in an appropriate subject.
• English Language Proficiency: IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0 (if English is not the first language).

Support and Facilities

• Doctoral College: Students will be supported by the Doctoral College, alongside their assigned supervisory team, who will help them get the most from the University's facilities.
• Graduate School Development Programme: The programme offers training, workshops, and events to help students grow their skills as researchers.

Career Opportunities

A postgraduate research degree in History demonstrates to potential employers that students are intelligent, capable, and motivated individuals with provable abilities and experience in critical thinking, problem-solving, project management, communication, leadership, and creativity. Successful postgraduate research candidates have gone on to successful careers as academic researchers, archivists, and museum curators.

Research Areas

The University's History research expertise includes:

• Early Modern History: Studying the lives of people in Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries, and how they made sense of their lives and formed their identities during a time of incredible change.
• British Social and Cultural History: Exploring the lives of people at all levels of society, and the complex communities, cultures, and subcultures to which they belonged.
• Urban Cultures: Investigating the experiences, culture, values, and activities of people in urban environments.

Current Research

The University's History research is focused on understanding how everyday people have responded to upheaval, and how their experiences, culture, values, and activities have shaped their identities and behavior.