Research Degrees
The Department of History at UWE has a vibrant research culture, with most of its staff being entered into the last Research Assessment Exercise and almost half of their outputs rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. The RAE also judged our Research Student work to be excellent, reflecting excellent support and monitoring practices. An important contribution to this culture is its body of research students. Currently the Department has 28 doctoral students, most of them part-time, working on a varied range of topics.
Click here for a full list of History doctoral degrees awarded since UWE achieved university status
FAQs
- What is an M.Phil and what is a PhD?
- What topics could I research at UWE?
- What level of supervision can I expect?
- What resources are available at UWE for research students?
- What qualifications do I need to apply?
- How much will it cost?
- How do I apply?
What is an M.Phil and what is a PhD?
The M.Phil is normally examined by an individually researched dissertation of a maximum of 40,000 words. It is a substantial piece of independent research, which makes a defined intellectual contribution to an academic area or discipline. It should be completed in a period of 18 to 36 months, if full-time, and from 30 to 48 months if part-time.
The PhD is normally a maximum 80,000 words long. It is a substantial piece of independent research, which should make an original contribution to an academic area or discipline, and should be worthy of publication. It should be completed in a period of 24 months to 60 months if full-time and from 36 months to 72 months if part-time
What topics could I research at UWE?
African History
Twentieth century African Social History, particularly Southern Africa, including co-supervision of projects linked to asylum seeking, refugees and sustainable development.
In particular, we would welcome projects that make use of the very extensive Rhodesian Army Archive at the Empire and Commonwealth Museum in Bristol. These papers, including photographs, intelligence data, propaganda materials and operational instructions, can support a very wide range of doctoral topics.
American History
- Nineteenth and Twentieth Century American History
- American Foreign Policy
- Organized Crime, Corporate Crime and Corruption History
British History
- Culture and society in England and Wales c. 1688-1770
- Britain and the Atlantic slave system in the long eighteenth century
- Immigrants and minorities in Britain c. 1685-1832
- Crime, protest and popular politics in England, c.1720-1850
- Social history of South West England 1720-1850
- Nineteenth and Twentieth Century British Social History
- Labour History, Women's History, Family History
- History of Modern Bristol (post 1750)
British and Comparative Imperial History
Early Modern History
- Migration History/Historiography
- Early Modern European Religious History, Intellectual History, Military History
- Late Medieval English Social/Political History - with a particular interest in Bristol
In particular, we would welcome projects that make use of our Early English Books Online (EEBO) , Eighteenth Century Collections ONline (ECCO) research collections , and the collections made available through the Wiltshire Victoria County History Project, in particular the Glastonbury Abbey's Wiltshire Estates.
Economic History
Business History, Information Technology History
European History
- Any aspect of modern French history in the period 1830-1945
- Modern and contemporary Spanish History, in particular the Spanish Civil War and the Franco years
International History
- International History in the 20th Century; Cold War Europe; American Foreign Policy and the Cold War, British
- Foreign Policy and the Cold War; Mediterranean Politics and Security during the Cold War and post Cold War Era;
- Human Rights and the Cold War; Italian and Greek History in the 20th Century.
- British policies in the Middle East in the Early Twentieth Century
Irish History
Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Irish History
Russian History
All aspects of Twentieth-Century Russian (including Soviet) History and Culture
What level of supervision can I expect?
Supervision is critically important in promoting successful completion of research degree and helping to make the experience an enjoyable one for the student. It is possible for research students to have just one supervisor, although at UWE it is also more common for students to be supervised by a team of two (or occasionally three) researchers who each contribute particular expertise to the supervisory role. One of these is designated 'Director of Studies' and acts as a principal supervisor.
To find out who at UWE has expertise in the research area that interests you, look at the individual staff pages on this website.
What resources are available at UWE for research students?
In addition to committed supervision from experts in your field, we have a variety of original research collections of interest to those undertaking historical research, including
Printed Books - Documents on British Foreign Policy, 1919-1939, Documents on British Policy Overseas, 1945-75, Documents on German Foreign Policy, 1918-45, and British Parliamentary Papers for the nineteenth century.
Microform - The Lutheran Reformation in Germany, Sources; Witchcraft in Europe and America; Home Office Papers, 1782-1820; Archives of the Charity Organisation Society, 1869-1938; The British in Ireland Collection, 1882-1921; The British Cabinet Minutes 1916-1968; The Communist Party of Great Britain [publications - domestic 1916-1929 and international 1921-1953]; the Gertrude Tuckwell Collection; Women and the Labour Movement, the records of the Women's Labour League; Native Commissioner of Southern Rhodesia, annual and monthly reports 1895-1923; United States State Department, Spain (foreign affairs, 1930-1939).
As a research student in History you will have access to all the university-wide computing, library and student-support facilities as well as a the use of a dedicated postgraduate centre at the St Matthias Campus with a common room and a computer suite.
Students are encouraged to attend research seminars and similar events in the School as appropriate. In History, three series of staff-postgraduate research seminars run through the year: Modern History, Regional History and Renaissance and Early Modern Studies.
What qualifications do I need to apply?
We welcome applications from anyone with a good honours degree or its equivalent in an appropriate discipline. Many of our research students already possess a postgraduate qualification (such as an MA) or its equivalent. Those without such are normally required to take the two core modules on historical approaches and research skills from the MA in Historical Studies in the first year of their registration (or first two years if part-time). Any additional training needs may be met from within the Department, the School, or the University.
How much will it cost?
The information about the fees for Home/EU, and Overseas students can be found in the School's Graduate School web site.
Various awards are available to assist in funding postgraduate research. Small sums are offered by the Royal Historical Society and full and part-time study awards are offered by the Arts & Humanities Research Board.
How do I apply?
In the first instance you may wish to contact the Coordinator of Research degrees in History, Michael Woodiwiss who will then be able to put you in touch with colleagues whose expertise best matches your own particular interests.
An initial proposal form, asking for basic personal details and a brief outline of the proposed project, is available from the School Postgraduate Secretary.
If we find that we are able to supervise you in chosen area, that the topic proposed is sound and that completion within the available timescale is likely, we will invite you for an interview, at which you will have the chance to discuss the proposal, the supervisory arrangements and the admissions procedure with the Director of Studies and a representative of the History Department.
Download Application Form for Postgraduate Research Programmes in the Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities
Please send your completed form to:
HLSS Graduate School
The Conifers, Room C001
School of Humanities, Languages and Social Sciences
University of the West of England,
St Matthias Campus, Fishponds,
Bristol BS16 2JP
Telephone +44 (0)117 32 84412,
Email HLSSPostgraduate@uwe.ac.uk
This address can also be used for enquires.
