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We welcome applications to undertake research towards MPhil and PhD degrees in History.

We offer students either an MPhil (Master of Philosophy) in History or PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in History.

More information about MPhil and PhD degrees can be found here.

Overview

Overview

Key insights about a research degree in History

  • Supervision by experienced and research-active experts
  • Strong focus on real-world historical impact
  • Opportunities for collaboration with museums, archives, and heritage organisations
  • Expertise in British, Irish, American, and imperial histories
  • Emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches including Medical Humanities
  • Tailored supervision and support through the Researcher Development Programme (RDP)
  • Supportive research community 

Our History team brings together a wide range of academic expertise and practical experience to support your research journey. We encourage research that engages with public history and has real-world relevance, including partnerships with historical societies, museums, and archives. Our researchers are committed to fostering inclusive, critical, and impactful scholarship. Students are supported in developing their own original research projects that contribute meaningfully to the field.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Entry qualifications

For MPhil

  • First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree or an approved equivalent award

or

  • Research or professional experience which has resulted in appropriate evidence of achievement

For PhD

  • Postgraduate Masters Degree in a discipline which is appropriate to the proposed programme of study

or

  • First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree or equivalent award in an appropriate discipline

or

  • Research or professional experience at postgraduate level which has resulted in published work, written reports or other appropriate evidence of achievement

International applicants

International applicants will be required to demonstrate that they have the appropriate level of written and spoken English.

For MPhil/PhD this is an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.0 in every component.

Programme structure

Programme structure

After receiving your application, we will establish if we have the expertise to supervise your project. This will normally consist of a Director of Studies (DoS), who will be your lead supervisor, and at least one other supervisor, who will offer you additional support and guidance throughout your studies. If you are offered a place as a student, your programme of study will look like the outline below.

At the start of your MPhil or PhD

At the start of your MPhil or PhD, you will complete a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) in Research Methods, a mandatory taught part of MPhil and PhD programmes at Worcester. Full-time students complete the PG Cert in 9 months and part-time students in 12-15 months depending on your month of registration (September or January).

The PG Cert is designed to set you up for your research degree, and focuses on establishing your development needs, developing your research proposal, and preparing you for the planning and delivery of your programme of research. You will be taught through a combination of in-person seminars and online delivery. You can also engage with our online researcher development programme workshops.

You will engage with three modules as part of your PGCert:

  • RSDP4001: Developing as a Researcher
  • RSDP4004: Planning Your Research Project
  • RSDP4005: Approaches to Research

Throughout these early stages of your research degree, you will work with your supervisory team to regularly discuss your progress. At the end of each year, you will reflect on and formally review your progress with your supervisory team and Doctoral Programme Leader. We call this annual meeting an Annual Progress Review (APR).

If you are enrolled on an MPhil programme, the remainder of your programme of study will follow a similar pattern as our PhD programme structure outlined below but in a shorter timeframe. Data collection will typically begin in your first year (full-time) and years 2-3 (part-time). Writing of thesis chapters, dissemination and your viva will typically occur in year 2 (full-time) and years 3-4 (part-time).

During your MPhil or PhD

In your second year (full-time) or years 3-4 (part-time), you will be collecting data and working on your research project with the support of your supervisory team through regular meetings.

You may at this point have research papers ready to publish and attend conferences to present your research to other experts in your field. You will be able to apply to our Research Student Conference Support Scheme for some funding for this purpose.

You can also present your work as part of the annual Postgraduate Research Student Conference and our Images of Research event; seminars based within your academic school and our Postgraduate Network Present and Share series in addition to a range of online workshops as part of our researcher development programme.

At the end of the year of your registration, you will go through an Annual Progress Review.

Final stage of your MPhil or PhD

Throughout the final stages of your degree, you will be working with your supervisory team to discuss your progress through supervisory meetings. In year 3 of your PhD (full-time) or year 5 (part-time), you will be writing up your thesis and preparing for your viva voce (viva) examination.

Your viva will take place after you have submitted your final thesis. After the viva, the examiners may ask that some amendments be made to your thesis before the final award is confirmed, and you will have additional time to do this.

It is possible to complete a full-time PhD in three years, but many students do take four years to complete. Similarly, it is possible to complete a part-time degree in 4 years, but it is likely that it will take you five years to complete.

Programme specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and how these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please download the latest MPhil programme specification or PhD programme specification document.

Research areas

Research areas

Research expertise

  • Sixteenth and seventeenth-century religious history, including witchcraft and the supernatural
  • The First and Second World Wars (with a focus on women and the home front)
  • Modern British Political History
  • Irish History
  • The Atlantic Slave Trade and Empire
  • Twentieth-Century American History
  • Medical Humanities.

Research supervisors

Professor Neil Fleming
Expertise: twentieth century Britain; metropolitan imperialism; British foreign and imperial policy; Northern Ireland.


Expertise: The Home Front in Britain during the Second World War and immediately afterwards, the influence of social class and the impact this has on the lived experience, twentieth century British history in general.

Dr Anna Muggeridge
Expertise: the history of modern Britain with a particular specialism in women’s and gender history

Professor Darren Oldridge
Expertise: religion and the supernatural in early modern England; witchcraft; the Devil.

Professor Suzanne Schwarz
Expertise: the Atlantic slave trade; slavery; abolitionism; Sierra Leone; British colonial policy in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

Dr Wendy Toon
Expertise: the United States in the era of the Second World War; Americanization; enemy image creation; propaganda; twentieth century Germany and Japan; foreign relations of the United States; the “study of culture at a distance.”

Research groups

Postgraduate Research Students are encouraged to join Research Groups at the University.

Research Groups incorporating a focus on medical humanities with an historical perspective include the Arts and Health Research Group.

Careers

Careers

Career benefits of pursuing a PhD or MPhil in History at the 成人B站:

  • Real-world impact and public engagement:
    Engage in research that connects with museums, archives, and historical societies, equipping you to influence public understanding and cultural policy.
  • Interdisciplinary and inclusive scholarship:
    Explore themes such as medical humanities, gender history, and the supernatural, fostering critical and socially relevant research that resonates across disciplines.
  • Professional development and research training:
    Benefit from a supportive research community and structured development programmes that enhance your analytical, project management, and communication skills.
  • Access to expert supervision and networks:
    Work with leading historians and join research groups such as the Arts and Health Research Group, building your academic profile and collaborative opportunities.
  • Flexible study options for career integration:
    Choose full-time or part-time pathways that accommodate professional commitments while advancing your research and career goals.
Fees

Fees and funding

Fees

The current fees can be found within the tuition fees document on our figure out finances page.

Accommodation

Finding the right accommodation is paramount to your university experience. Our halls of residence are home to friendly student communities, making them great places to live and study.

We have over 1,000 rooms across our range of student halls. With rooms to suit every budget and need, from our 'Traditional Halls' at £136 per week to 'Ensuite Premium Halls' at £236 per week (2026/27 prices).

For full details visit our accommodation page.

Postgraduate and doctoral loans

The Government will provide a loan of up to £12,858 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2025 per eligible student for postgraduate Masters study. It will be at your own discretion whether the loan is used towards fees, maintenance or other costs. For more details visit our postgraduate loans page.

If you are pursing a PhD, you may be eligible for a doctoral loan of up to £30,301 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2025. For more information visit our .

To help with the financial responsibility of students, we offer a range of scholarships and alumni discounts. Find out more about these on our .
How to apply

How to apply

Additional information

Please see guidance on Applying for an MPhil or Applying for a PhD to include application and interview deadlines.

If your research involves working with vulnerable adults and/or children then you may be required to obtain an Enhanced DBS check. There will be a small charge for this. For more information please contact research@worc.ac.uk.

We are committed to making reasonable adjustment. If you require an alternative format for making your application due to a disability, please contact us to discuss your needs on 01905 542182 or research@worc.ac.uk.

How to apply

Please make your application via our online application form. If you have any questions, please contact the Doctoral School on 01905 542182 or research@worc.ac.uk

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