History PhD

University of Southampton

In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014), 87% of our research was ranked as world-leading and internationally excellent.You'll be supported by a supervisor who'll provide direction and can help you shape your research proposal. We offer PhD supervision across a full chronological, geographical and thematic range due to the expertise of our more than 40 historians.You’ll also have access to the archival material in the Hartley Library’s Special Collections. These include collections of primary documents relating to the history of Britain and its Empire and the history of the modern Jewish experience.We offer our PhD students an opportunity to take part in our Skills Development Training Programme to enhance life skills and employability. You'll also become a member of our humanities graduate school. This provides additional help and support as well as, student-led activities and a social network.You’ll be encouraged to participate in part-time tutoring and research seminars, and to present and publish your research findings.Our doctoral students have a record of finding academic and other posts which we are proud of as we put great emphasis on offering an all-round preparation for a professional career.Main areas of researchOur research is based around our research centres and groups. We have a wide range of expertise across a broad chronological and geographical range:American and Atlantic historyancient and medieval historyBritain and Europe in the middle agesearly modern historyEighteenth-century studieshistory of the Americas and AsiaJewish historyLGBT historymedieval and renaissance culturemodern British and British colonial/post-colonial historymodern European history