Research Degrees
PhD
Our PhD programme is aimed at students who have already completed a Masters degree in History or a related field.
The PhD requires a dissertation of up to 90,000 words, to be submitted by full-time students after a period of three years' study (or six years for part-time students), with a further one year allowable for writing up.
PhD by Distance Learning
The PhD by Distance Learning requires a dissertation of up to 90,000 words, to be submitted by full-time students after a period of three years' study (or six years for part-time students), with a further one year allowable for writing up. Students on this programme are required to attend a 5-day induction programme at the beginning of their first year and to visit York in their second and third years (or every other year for part-time students).
MPhil
The MPhil requires a dissertation of up to 60,000 words to be submitted by full-time students after a period of two years' study (by part-time students after four years), with a further one year allowable for writing up.
MA by Research
The MA by Research degree requires a dissertation of up to 40,000 words to be submitted by full-time students after a period of one years' study (by part-time students after two years), with a further three months allowable for writing up.
Study abroad: We have an annual desk exchange scheme with Lund, Sweden, which all our PhD students are invited to apply for.
How to apply
We invite applications from candidates wishing to work in all the areas of interest covered by the department's research expertise. The particular interests of individual staff are outlined on our staff page, and this often includes recently supervised research topics.
Prospective students are encouraged to contact potential advisors early on. They will be pleased to give you advice on the feasibility of your research ideas and offer feedback on a draft proposal before the submission of an application.
Research support
Alongside regular meetings with their supervisor, all research students have a Thesis Advisory Panel (TAP), consisting of at least one member of staff in addition to the supervisor, which meets twice a year and oversees more general professional development and career training.
Additionally, all students receive introductions to the University Library, the Borthwick Institute, and other libraries, archives and research facilities in York and elsewhere.