History PhD Level: Postgraduate research Subject: History Year of entry: 2026 Study options Full-time PhD | 3 years | Start date: September 2026 Part-time PhD | 6 years | Start date: September 2026 Key facts School School of History, Classics and Archaeology College College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences PhD by Distance Available School location Central Area Apply now 19 to 21 November 2025: Postgraduate Virtual Open Days Join us live to explore postgraduate taught and research study at Edinburgh and gain key insights before you apply. Register now Overview About the degree programme The PhD in History offers you the opportunity to study history at an advanced level through independent research.The PhD is our principal research degree. The size of Edinburgh’s history department, and the breadth of expertise available from our staff, means that we can offer supervision for research projects in a wide array of fields.Research interests within History are extremely wide-ranging. In particular, we host expertise in:Medieval history:Our research interests lie in the social, political, religious and cultural history of Britain, Europe, the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean – with particular emphasis on gender, saints, medicine, crusades, trade, economic history and Islamic law.British and Irish history:We have particular interests in early modern religion, belief and intellectual history (including the Scottish Enlightenment); social and political history; Second World War Studies, relations between Britain and Ireland; and international relations.European history:Specialisms include the Renaissance, early modern political and intellectual history; genocide; Russia and the Soviet Union; modern political and intellectual history of France, Spain, Germany, Greece, Czech Republic; historical memory and public history; histories of gender and sexuality.US (American) history:Expertise includes revolutionary and early national America; the Civil War; US diplomatic history in the 19th and 20th centuries; politics in the 20th century; African-American history and the civil rights movement; and history of labour.African history:We have expertise in West, East and South Africa, and specialisms include intellectual history; environmental history; comparative African history; history of Islam; urban history; print culture; history of nationalism and decolonisation.Asian history:We have expertise in the Middle East, South Asia and East Asia, with specialisms in histories of print and archives; intellectual history; diplomatic history; economic history and history of economic thought; cross-cultural interactions; histories of religion and philosophy; nationalism and colonial resistance.Latin American and Caribbean history:Specialisms include history of slavery; colonialism; histories of race, gender, and the body; Indigenous history; and material culture studies.Members of the history department have strong links with colleagues elsewhere in the University with research expertise in related disciplines, from Classics, Archaeology and History of Art to Politics and Economics.The breadth of research expertise in the School and in the wider University makes it possible for us to supervise a very wide range of topics. Each student is allocated at least two supervisors, allowing us to combine thematic, chronological and, if appropriate, disciplinary expertise in the supervisory team. We also have close links with external organisations, such as the National Museums of Scotland, and may be able to include external partners in supervisory teams. Study options The PhD programme is designed to take three years full-time or six years part-time.PhD by Distance optionPhD by Distance students will receive the same level of support and supervision as on-campus students. The frequency with which students will meet with their supervisors, and method of communication for supervision sessions, will be provisionally agreed at the point of application and confirmed during induction. All core training provided to on-campus PhD students in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology will be delivered in a hybrid fashion and/or recorded for PhD by Distance students. Certain opportunities that are only available in Edinburgh and which are not core to the successful completion of the PhD programme, such as tutoring, will not available to PhD by Distance students. Applicants who are keen to take up tutoring opportunities should apply to the on-campus PhD programme. Applicants should take into account that while the PhD by Distance programme offers flexibility and accessibility, there may be resources not be available to Distance learners.Please be aware that some funding bodies do not permit students to study by distance, for example both ESRC and AHRC regulations currently state that students must be residents at the Institution where they are studying. Why choose this programme Each student is allocated at least two supervisors, allowing us to combine thematic, chronological and disciplinary expertise in the supervisory team.The University of Edinburgh has one of the largest groups of historians in any British university.We can offer supervision across an exceptionally wide chronological and geographical range. The University of Edinburgh, and the History Department in particular, immediately appealed to me because of the high quality of research and varied courses that were on offer. The city itself was somewhere I had never been before and since moving here have never regretted. Jonathan PhD in History, graduated 2018 Applying How to apply You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant. When to apply Programme start date Application deadline 14 September 2026 1 July 2026 We encourage you to apply as soon as possible so that we have enough time to process your application. This is particularly important if you are also applying for funding or will require a visa. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.For an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including your transcripts.If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, we will still review your application and issue a decision providing it is otherwise complete. Application fee There is no fee to apply to this programme. What you need to apply As part of your online application, you will need to provide: a personal statementdetails of relevant knowledge/training skillsand, if applicable:details of any published workYou will also need to provide some or all of the following supporting information and documents:a research proposal (include provisional project title)name of supervisorProvisional supervision agreement between you and a primary supervisor, in writingresearch project (if applying to an advertised project)copies of your degree certificates and academic transcripts that confirm your current or final marksreferencesevidence you meet the English language requirementscertified translations if your original documents are not in EnglishApplicants to the PhD by Distance will also be required to complete a PhD by Distance Applicant Admission Form. PhD by Distance option What's involved?The PhD by Distance mode is available to all applicants for eligible School of History, Classics and Archaeology PhD programmes. Applicants will select between on-campus and distance options, as well as between part-time and full-time options.PhD by Distance students will receive the same level of support and supervision as on-campus students. The frequency with which students will meet with their supervisors, and method of communication for supervision sessions, will be provisionally agreed at the point of application and confirmed during induction. TrainingAll core training provided to on-campus PhD students in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology will be delivered in a hybrid fashion and/or recorded for PhD by Distance students.Certain opportunities that are only available in Edinburgh and which are not core to the successful completion of the PhD programme, such as tutoring, will not available to PhD by Distance students.Applicants who are keen to take up tutoring opportunities should apply to the on-campus PhD programme. Applicants should take into account that while the PhD by Distance programme offers flexibility and accessibility, there may be resources not available to distance learners.Please be aware that some funding bodies do not permit students to study by distance, for example both ESRC and AHRC regulations currently state that students must be residents at the Institution where they are studying.Entry requirementsThe entry requirements for the PhD by Distance are the same as for the School’s on-campus PhD programmes.In addition, applicants to the PhD by Distance will also be required to complete a HCA PhD by Distance Applicant Admission Form. This form must be emailed to the Postgraduate Research Office (hca-pgr@ed.ac.uk) who will upload this to your application on your behalf. Document HCA PhD by Distance - Additional Application Form (16.38 KB / DOCX) Applicants should provide information about previous experience of distance study together with a statement detailing the potential risks and characteristics of distance learning. It is important that student’s applying for this mode of study recognise its particular challenges. While experience of studying at a distance is desirable in applying for the programme, this is not a specific requirement for admission. All of this should be discussed with the potential supervisor(s) prior to application and can be reflected on further during the admissions interview.Applicants should also use this additional application form to provide details of the access they will have to research facilities at the normal site of study and where the core datasets that they will rely on are located.Working whilst studyingThe School understands that many students will take on paid work alongside their studies. The University’s guidance for full-time PhD students is that they should work no more than an average of 9 hours per week for across the academic year, to ensure they have time for their studies. While there are no specific rules about how many hours part-time students can work, the School recommends that part-time students allocate at least two to three days a week, on average across the year, to their PhD research. You should discuss any working patterns that you have with your proposed supervisor and reflect on the time you are devoting to your studies throughout your programme, particularly if you are struggling to make sufficient progress; this might well be a topic for discussion at annual reviews. Provisional supervision agreementYou must name a member of staff who has provisionally agreed, in writing, to supervise you in order for your application to be taken forward. Please ensure that the relevant correspondence is uploaded to your admissions application. This statement of support is provisional, pending assessment of your application and your performance at an interview. If you haven't approached a member of our academic staff yet, please use the following staff list to help you find a supervisor in the subject area of your interest. Guidance on finding a supervisorList of HCA academic staffResearch proposalYou must submit a research proposal (in a Word or PDF document) demonstrating your knowledge of your field of research. This will be closely scrutinised as part of the decision-making process. The suggested word count for the research proposal is 1,000-2,000 words, including footnotes and bibliography. Applicants are encouraged to adhere to the word count but will not be penalised for exceeding this. Guidance on writing a research proposal can be found online: Guidance on writing a research proposalReferencesYou must submit two references with your application. Interview If you meet all of the entry requirements, you will need to attend an online interview with potential supervisors. The interview should last 20-30 minutes. Please note that an offer to study is subject to a successful interview.This interview will be organised by your prospective supervisor and will be an occasion for you to meet the proposed second supervisor. The supervisory team will use it as an opportunity to explore your knowledge of the field and get a sense of your ability to carry out the proposed research programme. We cannot issue an offer until the supervisor confirms in writing that the interview has taken place and their recommendation. Apply Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for. Select programme - Select a programme -PhD History (3 years)PhD History (6 years) After you apply Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.Checking the status of your applicationWe will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.Receiving our decisionWhat to do if you receive an offer:Receiving an offerAccepting an offerSubmitting supporting documents Funding, fees and costs Funding Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:borrowing moneytaking out a loanfamily supportpersonal savingsincome from workemployer sponsorshipscholarshipsExplore sources of funding for postgraduate study Search for other funding opportunities You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.Postgraduate funding opportunities Tuition fees Tuition fees by award and duration Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year. Full-time PhD History (3 years) tuition fees Part-time PhD History (6 years) tuition fees Graduate discount If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.Find out how to receive your graduate discount Costs Accommodation and living costs You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.Living costs include:foodutility billstravel, clothes, books and stationeryrecreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)Living costsAccommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.University postgraduate accommodation options and costs Entry requirements These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026. Qualifications We require the following (with further details below):Provisional supervision agreement between you and a primary supervisor, in writing Research proposalQualifications at undergraduate and Masters levelReferencesEntry interview PhD by Distance - additional application formEvidence of English language competencyQualificationsA UK 2:1 honours degree in a relevant discipline and a relevant Masters degree with an overall mark of at least 65%, or international equivalents. We may also consider your application if you have relevant professional experience; please check with your potential supervisor before you apply. You will need to submit both your undergraduate and postgraduate degree certificates and transcripts in order to be considered for PhD admission. For instructions on how to upload any additional documents after you have submitted your application, please follow the support guidance: Guidance on document uploadingPhD by DistanceFor PhD by Distance students please see the "PhD by Distance option" section for further requirements, including an additional application form. International qualifications To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list. Where you studied - Select a country or region -AfghanistanAlbaniaAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaHaitiHondurasHong Kong-SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofKuwaitLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLithuaniaLuxembourgMacau-SAR ChinaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritiusMexicoMoldovaMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlands, TheNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPacific IslandsPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTajikistanTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTogoTrinidad and TobagoTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamWest Indies and CaribbeanZambiaZimbabweMy country or region is not listed English language requirements You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:an English language testa degree that was taught and assessed in Englishcertain professional qualifications English language tests we accept We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher: IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component. Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components. Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 6 in each component. Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 135 in each component. How old your English language tests can be Tests no more than two years oldThe following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:IELTS AcademicTOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)Trinity ISEOxford ELLTOxford Test of English AdvancedTests no more than three and a half years oldAll other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality. Degrees taught and assessed in English We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.UKVI list of majority English speaking countriesWe also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).Approved universities in non-MESCHow old your degree can beIf you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country. Find out more about our English language requirements Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.English language requirements Programme details Our research community Postgraduate students are actively involved in our research groups and research centres. Some sit within the disciplines of History, Classics and Archaeology, others bring together researchers across the School. Cross-school research groups include: Digital HumanitiesIntellectual HistoryLate Antique and Byzantine StudiesMaterial CultureHistory of Science, Medicine and TechnologyGlobal and Transnational History Research GroupTo find out more about our research groups, centres and seminars, see:School research groupsSchool seminarsCentre for the Study of Modern and Contemporary HistoryEdinburgh Centre for Global HistoryCentre for Late Antique, Islamic and Byzantine StudiesThere are also many research seminars and other activities taking place in the wider University.Postgraduate-led seminars and reading groupsThere are also a number of postgraduate-led seminars and research groups.Current postgraduate-led seminars include:The Edinburgh Classics postgraduate seminarPostgraduate Scottish History Community Group Programme structure The PhD is a substantial piece of independent research which makes a contribution to the state of existing knowledge in the field. The PhD programme is designed to take three years full-time or six years part time. The PhD is examined by submission of a thesis of up to 100,000 words and by oral examination.TrainingPhD students work closely with their supervisors, who are recognised experts in the field of study. All PhD students pursue an individually tailored programme of research training agreed with their supervisors. The PhD programmes in History provide core training in the research skills necessary to flourish at doctoral level and beyond, through a core course in semester one, Professional Skills for Historians, and a day-long annual conference for PhD students in semester two. All PhD students in the School also benefit from School and University-wide training in research and professional skills.Knowledge sharingPhD students are encouraged to share their research with other postgraduate students through workshops and seminars, and to take an active part in the research life of the history subject area, the School and the University through our research groups and centres and through student-led workshops and seminars. Current History research groups include:Intellectual HistoryHistory of ScienceMedicine and TechnologyPolitical HistoryIrish HistoryLate Antique and Byzantine StudiesWe also have three research centres: The Centre for the Study of Modern and Contemporary HistoryMedieval and Renaissance StudiesEdinburgh Centre for Global History Find out the aims and structure for each year of study on this programme. Full-time PhD History (3 years) (2025-2026) Part-time PhD History (6 years) (2025-2026) We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative. Support You will have at least two supervisors who will provide expert academic guidance on your chosen research topic. You will meet regularly to discuss your progress and research plans, as well as drafts of your thesis/dissertation chapters, conference papers and potential articles.In addition to individual supervision, all our PhD students pursue an individually tailored programme of research and professional skills training agreed with their supervisors.Please note, the University of Edinburgh does not sponsor students to study part-time using a Tier 4/Student visa. Facilities Postgraduate students have access to a wide range of resources and facilities both within the William Robertson Wing of the historic Old Medical School, and nearby in the vibrant heart of the city of Edinburgh. Study spacesOur location, right in the heart of Edinburgh, means you will be based close to the city’s cultural attractions and facilities, including a wealth of libraries, archives, museums and galleries, which provide uniquely rich support for the disciplines we teach.A tour of our postgraduate spaces:PhD room - Room 3.06Room 3.06 has been allocated as a working space for the entire HCA PhD community. This space is intended to provide research students with a quiet working environment. New first-year students may apply for allocated desk space at the beginning of year 2.Scottish History Collection - Room 3.07This small library houses the Scottish History Collection. While the library itself is available for use by all students, the desk space within the room is reserved for the use of PhD students.Postgraduate Study Room - Room 2.35This room is available to all postgraduate students and is intended to provide students with a quiet working environment. It is a dedicated study and computing lab with printing, copying and scanning facilities, overlooking the Meadows, one of the city’s best-loved green spaces.Computer Teaching Lab - Room 2.36Room 2.36 is a 24-seater computer lab on the second floor, which is available to HCA students at postgraduate and undergraduate Honours level when it isn't booked for teaching. The computers in this room are of a high specification and are particularly suitable for work requiring intensive computation or graphical manipulation. They also have some specialist software and may be particularly useful to students who have lab sessions in the room, using specific pieces of software.Student Research Room - Room 2M.25The Student Reading Room (2M.25) is a quiet study facility and houses some of the School's book collections. The room also contains a small number of PCs, and printing facilities are available. Please note that these rooms are not exclusively postgraduate resources, and access is shared with our Undergraduate student community. The Student Research Room contains nine collections of books from previous class libraries and special collections donated to the School over many years. Careers Careers Service Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. With the Careers Service, you can: access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisions Visit the Careers Service website Life at Edinburgh Accommodation We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programmeaccept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 Julystudy at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in SeptemberUniversity accommodation websiteAccommodation guarantee criteriaWe also offer accommodation options for couples and families.Accommodation for couples and familiesIf you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place Societies and clubs Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.SocietiesSport Clubs The city of Edinburgh Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. Find out more about living in Edinburgh Exercise, leisure and support facilities Outside of your studies, we offer a range of facilities that you might find useful day-to-day, including:sport and exercise facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and nonea University nursery (based at King’s Buildings campus) Health and wellbeing support You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.The support services we offer include: a student counselling service a health centre (doctor's surgery) support if you're living in University accommodation dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustmentsHealth and wellbeing support services Disability and Learning Support Contact General enquiries Have a question about postgraduate study? Postgraduate enquiries Academic contact Dr Meha Priyadarshini Programme Director Contact details Email: Meha.Priyadarshini@ed.ac.uk
