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Different course options

Full time | University of Cambridge | 3 years | 08-OCT-24

Study mode

Full time

Duration

3 years

Start date

08-OCT-24

Key information
DATA SOURCE : IDP Connect

Qualification type

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

History

Course type

Research

Course Summary

The PhD in History is an advanced research degree, awarded on the basis of a thesis and an oral viva voce examination. The primary purpose of the PhD is the preparation and presentation of a substantial piece of independent and original academic research, completed in three or four years if studying full-time and five years if studying part-time.

Every PhD student in the Faculty of History is supported by a supervisor (or in some cases, supervisors). Supervisors are experts in their field of study and support students throughout the PhD. Students will also benefit from the advice and support of other academic members of the Faculty who will be involved in progression through the various stages of the PhD, from the registration assessment exercise at the end of the first year through to the completion of the thesis.

Most of our PhD students study here full-time but each year we admit a number of students who wish to study on a part-time basis. Part-time study can be ideal for those who are looking to gain a postgraduate qualification without leaving employment and wish to develop their careers while they continue earning, or for those who are home-based for whatever reason and wish to develop their skills. However, it’s important to note that the part-time PhD at Cambridge is not a distance-learning course. Part-time students are expected to fully engage with the Faculty, to integrate into the research culture of the University and to attend the University on a regular basis for supervision, study, skills training, research seminars and workshops.

Throughout their time at the Faculty, PhD students are encouraged to attend one or more of the Faculty’s graduate workshops in their subject group or area of research. These workshops are spaces for PhD students to share their work and collaborate with visiting speakers, academic and peers.

Modules

The primary purpose of PhD study is the preparation and presentation of a substantial piece of original research in the form of a dissertation. From the very beginning of the PhD course, the student focuses primarily on the writing of the thesis. A successful PhD thesis in Cambridge must meet the following examination criteria: It must represent a significant contribution to learning through the discovery of new knowledge, the connection of previously unrelated facts, the development of a new theory or the revision of older views. It must take due account of previously published work on the subject. It must be clearly and concisely written and must not exceed a maximum of 80,000 words (excluding footnotes and the bibliography). The student?s original contribution to knowledge is assessed in the light of what it is reasonable to expect a student to complete within three years, or five years if part-time.

Tuition fees

UK fees
Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

£9,387

International fees
Course fees for EU and international students

For this course (per year)

£28,401

Entry requirements

Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Masters (Merit). Applicants should hold at the very least a high upper second-class degree from a UK University (usually 67 per cent) or international equivalent as set by the University Graduate Admissions. Candidates for the PhD are also normally expected to hold a master’s degree in a subject relevant to the intended topic of study. Each application is considered on a case-by-case basis.