PhD at the Institute of Historical Research

Undertaking doctoral research allows you to develop in-depth knowledge, while making a meaningful contribution to your chosen field.

The School of Advanced Study at the University of London brings together eight internationally renowned research institutes to form the UK's national centre for the support of researchers and the promotion of research in the humanities.

The Institute of Historical Research (IHR) was founded in 1921 to address the limited opportunities for historical research and training in the UK.

The IHR was significant in its aim to place the UK historical profession in a global context, bringing international scholars together in a variety of fora. It was designed to provide historically informed research to government, to serve as a repository of bibliographic information, to be a testing ground for new historical ideas and methods, and a meeting place for historians of all nationalities.

With guidance from our expert supervisors, you'll carry out extensive independent research culminating in a thesis of up to 100,000 words. 

This degree presents the opportunity to gain expertise in your area of interest while also honing a range of transferable skills. On completing this course, you'll be well prepared for specialist career paths both within academia and beyond.

The Institute of Historical Research has a broad remit to cover the history of the world from the fourth to the twenty-first century, but has particular strengths in British and European history. 

Full-time study for the PhD degree entails three or a maximum of four years' independent research, part-time students complete the same programme in six, or a maximum of eight years. You'll initially be registered for our MPhil and then, providing your progress has been satisfactory, be upgraded to our PhD programme.

Throughout your study, you will work closely with a supervision team of two or more specialists, who will support your work and provide advice and feedback. You will meet them every fortnight in the early stages of your project and at least monthly thereafter. Alongside your supervisor you will also have access to the support of the Doctoral Centre, the Careers Service and our nationally-leading programme of research training and researcher development. You will be a member of a rich research environment, nurtured by regular seminars in which you will be encouraged to participate.

Shortly after  submission of the thesis, you will attend an oral examination (‘viva’) conducted by two examiners drawn from a British or world university, who may suggest ways to improve and develop the final text.

Subject Areas

The Institute of Historical Research offers doctoral research supervision in the following broad areas:

• Medieval British history
• Modern British history
• Local, regional and community histories of the British Isles
• Place and Identity
• Early medieval Northumbria and the north
• Later medieval armies and warfare
• Urban and metropolitan history (especially London), including comparative approaches across Europe and elsewhere
• Late medieval and early modern urban history
• Digital history and Historical GIS
• History of propaganda in the twentieth century
• History of the First and Second World Wars
• History of emotions in modern Britain
• The everyday lives of ‘ordinary’ people
• Architecture, planning and the built environment in Britain from the twentieth century onward
• The British Commonwealth and British decolonisation
• History and policy
• Medievalism and other usages of the past

Before submitting an application you are advised to contact a member of the Institute's academic staff who has interests in your proposed field of study to discuss your proposal.

It is now possible to register for a PhD by Practice, giving you the opportunity to develop a body of creative work as part of your doctoral research. Unlike a traditional PhD, you will be assessed on the creative output of your research in addition to a shorter written thesis.

Examples of the creative output could include an exhibition, art installation, a film, a translation or a piece of software. This element is worth two-thirds of the whole award, with the 30,000-word written critical component contributing the final third.

The PhD by Practice is available to study on campus or by distance learning, with the same admission criteria as our other research degrees.

Dr Adam Chapman
Lecturer in Medieval History; Editor, Victoria County History
Email | Research Profile

Topics:  

• Late medieval England and Wales (c. 1250-1500)
• Later medieval armies and warfare
• Local and regional history

Prof Catherine Clarke
Director of the Centre for the History of People, Place, and Community 
E-mail | Research Profile

Topics:  

• Medieval history
• Cultural history
• Place and identity
• Heritage (including interpretation practice)
• Medievalism and other uses of the past
• Interdisciplinary approaches (including digital methods, creative, and practice-based elements

Prof Claire Langhamer
Director of the Institute of Historical Research.
Email | Research Profile

Topics:  

• Modern Britain
• Emotions and Feeling
• Everyday Life
• Life Writing and Mass Observation

Professor Jo Fox
Director of the Institute of Historical Research; Professor of Modern History 
Email | Research Profile

Topics:  

• History of modern propaganda and psychological warfare
• History of the First and Second World Wars
• European and British History, 1900-present
• History of communications and media

Dr Justin Colson
Senior Lecturer in Urban and Digital History
Email | Research Profile

Topics:  

• Urban and Digital History
• History of Towns and Cities
• London: Late Medieval and Early Modern Periods
• Societies and Cultures through Digital and Spatial Techniques

Prof Philip Murphy
Director of History & Policy at the IHR
Email | Research Profile

Topics:  

• Twentieth-century British and Commonwealth history
• British Monarchy and the Post-War Commonwealth
• Post-war British decolonization particularly in Africa
• Post-war African politics

Dr Simon Trafford
Director of Studies and Lecturer in Medieval History
Email | Research Profile

Topics:  

• Early medieval migration
• The kingdom of Northumbria, c.450 – c.1100
• Popular medievalism
• 1800 – present
• Early medieval seas and rivers

Please note that occasionally the Institute will co-supervise with individuals outside of the IHR in order to enhance the breadth of expertise available to the student.

Distance learning offers you a more flexible way to study for a postgraduate degree in the humanities – combining innovative learning and teaching techniques with the ability to study from anywhere in the world.

We offer three master’s courses and a range of PhD supervision via distance learning. Our research degrees via distance learning allow you to study for a University of London MPhil or PhD degree from anywhere in the world. The programme is run on the same basis as campus-based programmes.

The School of Advanced Study will offer students with an appropriate topic and level of local resource the opportunity to undertake a PhD by distance learning. These students are required to attend our London campus at set intervals to complete an intensive research training module, for upgrade, and for the viva but will otherwise study at their own location. This option is available to UK, EU and international students on the same basis as our on-campus PhD programmes (three years full time, six years part time). Fees are the same as for our on-campus PhD programmes. 

Important note: It may not always be possible for all institutes and supervisors to offer the option of distance learning, as some topics are not appropriate to be studied this way. As such, we strongly recommend that you check first - before applying.

If you would like to be considered for our Research Degree programme via Distance Learning, please download and fill out the Research Degrees by Distance Learning form, to attach to your online application.

You'll have access to the world-renowned Wohl library, with over 200,000 history books and periodicals, and to the Institute’s digital and online resources. You can also take advantage of free access to the University of London’s Senate House Library with over a million books, and other unique collections such as the Institute of Classical Studies Library and the Warburg Institute Library.

The Institute is at the centre of academic history, and has partnerships with numerous nationally and internationally renowned library and art collections, as well as links with the cultural and heritage sector, professional bodies, Guilds and Livery Companies, Archives, the City of London and higher education institutions in the UK and internationally.

You'll be welcomed to the wide range of history seminars and specialist research training programmes, as well as benefitting from the Institute’s network of Senior, Honorary, Research and Associate fellows. There are opportunities to work alongside the established research centres in History – the Centre for the History of People, Place and Community and the History & Policy Unit.

As part of the School of Advanced Study (SAS), University of London, you'll also benefit from a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment. You’ll learn from leading specialists in your field; hone your research skills in our highly regarded training programmes; expand your knowledge through an extensive calendar of events, conferences and seminars and become part of a worldwide network of humanities scholars. You will also have access to training opportunities from across the University of London’s colleges through the Bloomsbury Learning Exchange (BLE) and Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network (BPSN).

Before submitting an application, you are advised to discuss your proposal with a member of the academic staff who has interests in your proposed field of study. You can find our academic staff's contact details and areas of expertise in the Supervisors section.

Before agreeing to accept you, the School will require you to submit a research proposal, so it is worthwhile to have drafted this before formally applying. See the Guidelines on drafting your research proposal.

Candidates will normally receive an initial response to their application within 28 working days. Those who have been formally interviewed will normally be informed within one week as to whether they are to be offered a place.

Note: in accordance with regulations research students will be registered for the MPhil degree in the first instance. Upgrading to PhD will be considered in the second year for full-time students and in the third or fourth year for part-time students.

Fees are set annually and cover registration, tuition, and (in the case of research students) supervision.

Fees are quoted per annum -- that is, you will need to pay at least the fee quoted below for each year of your studies. Please note that tuition fees are subject to annual uplift. The University of London reserves the right to alter or withdraw courses and amend other details without prior notice.

See the Tuition Fees for 2024-25 - listed by Institute.

Our students fund their studies in a variety of ways including scholarships, bursaries and fellowships, as well as government loans and postgraduate loans. 

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that you don't need to pay back and are awarded based on personal circumstances or academic achievement. Funding at postgraduate level is competitive so it’s a good idea to plan financially before starting your course. 

For information about fees and funding from the School of Advanced Study, please visit the SAS Fees and Funding page.

The SAS Careers Service works with students and graduates of all ages and at all stages of career development across all the institutes. Our mission is to provide high-quality information about careers and skills, and professional advice and guidance. We help students with their career development, either within their current field of work or in something completely new. 

SAS students can access 1-2-1 guidance appointments throughout their studies and for up to 2 years after graduating, to help them plan their next steps, whatever they might be. We also offer CV, cover letter, and application advice as well as mock interviews with the SAS Careers Consultant who will empower you to feel more confident in your interview performance.