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The University of Edinburgh: History
| Institution | The University of Edinburgh View institution profile |
|---|---|
| Department | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
| Web | https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying |
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
Summary
The PhD in History offers you the opportunity to study history at an advanced level through independent research.
The PhD is our principal research degree. The size of Edinburgh’s history department, and the breadth of expertise available from our staff, means that we can offer supervision for research projects in a wide array of fields.
Research interests within History are extremely wide-ranging. In particular, we host expertise in:
-
Medieval history: Our research interests lie in the social, political, religious and cultural history of Britain, Europe, the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean – with particular emphasis on gender, saints, medicine, crusades, trade, economic history and Islamic law.
-
British and Irish history: We have particular interests in early modern religion, belief and intellectual history (including the Scottish Enlightenment); social and political history; Second World War Studies, relations between Britain and Ireland; and international relations.
-
European history: Specialisms include the Renaissance, early modern political and intellectual history; genocide; Russia and the Soviet Union; modern political and intellectual history of France, Spain, Germany, Greece, Czech Republic; historical memory and public history; histories of gender and sexuality.
-
US (American) history: Expertise includes revolutionary and early national America; the Civil War; US diplomatic history in the 19th and 20th centuries; politics in the 20th century; African-American history and the civil rights movement; and history of labour.
-
African history: We have expertise in West, East and South Africa, and specialisms include intellectual history; environmental history; comparative African history; history of Islam; urban history; print culture; history of nationalism and decolonisation.
-
Asian history: We have expertise in the Middle East, South Asia and East Asia, with specialisms in histories of print and archives; intellectual history; diplomatic history; economic history and history of economic thought; cross-cultural interactions; histories of religion and philosophy; nationalism and colonial resistance.
-
Latin American and Caribbean history: Specialisms include history of slavery; colonialism; histories of race, gender, and the body; Indigenous history; and material culture studies.
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 12 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Summary
The PhD in History offers you the opportunity to study history at an advanced level through independent research.
The PhD is our principal research degree. The size of Edinburgh’s history department, and the breadth of expertise available from our staff, means that we can offer supervision for research projects in a wide array of fields.
Research interests within History are extremely wide-ranging. In particular, we host expertise in:
-
Medieval history: Our research interests lie in the social, political, religious and cultural history of Britain, Europe, the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean – with particular emphasis on gender, saints, medicine, crusades, trade, economic history and Islamic law.
-
British and Irish history: We have particular interests in early modern religion, belief and intellectual history (including the Scottish Enlightenment); social and political history; Second World War Studies, relations between Britain and Ireland; and international relations.
-
European history: Specialisms include the Renaissance, early modern political and intellectual history; genocide; Russia and the Soviet Union; modern political and intellectual history of France, Spain, Germany, Greece, Czech Republic; historical memory and public history; histories of gender and sexuality.
-
US (American) history: Expertise includes revolutionary and early national America; the Civil War; US diplomatic history in the 19th and 20th centuries; politics in the 20th century; African-American history and the civil rights movement; and history of labour.
-
African history: We have expertise in West, East and South Africa, and specialisms include intellectual history; environmental history; comparative African history; history of Islam; urban history; print culture; history of nationalism and decolonisation.
-
Asian history: We have expertise in the Middle East, South Asia and East Asia, with specialisms in histories of print and archives; intellectual history; diplomatic history; economic history and history of economic thought; cross-cultural interactions; histories of religion and philosophy; nationalism and colonial resistance.
-
Latin American and Caribbean history: Specialisms include history of slavery; colonialism; histories of race, gender, and the body; Indigenous history; and material culture studies.
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 12 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
MSc
Summary
This comprehensive programme allows you to take full advantage of the breadth of our research expertise.
Taught by one of the largest groups of historians in any British university, you will encounter a stimulating environment to further your interest in practically any era of history and many regions of the world.
You will advance your knowledge and understanding of selected topics in history, as well as enhance your skills in independent research, critical analysis, and both oral and written presentations.
On this programme, we will help you to:
-
develop a specialised knowledge and understanding of history and its central issues
-
examine historical sources
-
evaluate existing research
-
work towards a specialised research project of your own.
You’ll have a range of courses to choose from, enabling you to tailor your degree to your interests and ambitions.
By joining the MSc History, you’ll also take part in a rich programme of events featuring our renowned academic staff and distinguished visitors from all over the world.
Breadth of expertise
The University of Edinburgh is home to one of the largest groups of historians in the United Kingdom. Our research interests and the courses we offer, cover just about every major area of historical inquiry.
As a student on the taught MSc in History, you can take full advantage of this breadth, studying medieval Scotland, revolutionary America, modern India, and much else.
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Summary
This comprehensive programme allows you to take full advantage of the breadth of our research expertise.
Taught by one of the largest groups of historians in any British university, you will encounter a stimulating environment to further your interest in practically any era of history and many regions of the world.
You will advance your knowledge and understanding of selected topics in history, as well as enhance your skills in independent research, critical analysis, and both oral and written presentations.
On this programme, we will help you to:
-
develop a specialised knowledge and understanding of history and its central issues
-
examine historical sources
-
evaluate existing research
-
work towards a specialised research project of your own.
You’ll have a range of courses to choose from, enabling you to tailor your degree to your interests and ambitions.
By joining the MSc History, you’ll also take part in a rich programme of events featuring our renowned academic staff and distinguished visitors from all over the world.
Breadth of expertise
The University of Edinburgh is home to one of the largest groups of historians in the United Kingdom. Our research interests and the courses we offer, cover just about every major area of historical inquiry.
As a student on the taught MSc in History, you can take full advantage of this breadth, studying medieval Scotland, revolutionary America, modern India, and much else.
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
MSc (Res)
Summary
The MSc by Research in History is perfect if you have a specific topic of interest you wish to research in depth.
In History, we can offer supervision across an exceptionally wide chronological and geographical range.
We have strong research concentrations in Scottish history, American history, global and transnational history, Irish history, intellectual history, and medieval history, and colleagues who can supervise topics spanning two millennia and five continents. Colleagues in the department welcome the opportunity to discuss their research topics with potential applicants.
This programme is assessed by means of a long dissertation of 30,000 words.
We provide structured research training while at the same time enabling you to pursue a research project that you design yourself, in consultation with supervisors. It serves as both a self-contained research degree and preparation for further study for the PhD degree.
Research interests within History are extremely wide-ranging. In particular, we host expertise in:
-
Medieval history: Our research interests lie in the social, political, religious and cultural history of Britain, Europe, the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean – with particular emphasis on gender, saints, medicine, crusades, trade, economic history and Islamic law.
-
British and Irish history: We have particular interests in early modern religion, belief and intellectual history (including the Scottish Enlightenment); social and political history; Second World War Studies, relations between Britain and Ireland; and international relations.
-
European history: Specialisms include the Renaissance, early modern political and intellectual history; genocide; Russia and the Soviet Union; modern political and intellectual history of France, Spain, Germany, Greece, Czech Republic; historical memory and public history; histories of gender and sexuality.
-
US (American) history: Expertise includes revolutionary and early national America; the Civil War; US diplomatic history in the 19th and 20th centuries; politics in the 20th century; African-American history and the civil rights movement; and history of labour.
-
African history: We have expertise in West, East and South Africa, and specialisms include intellectual history; environmental history; comparative African history; history of Islam; urban history; print culture; history of nationalism and decolonisation.
-
Asian history: We have expertise in the Middle East, South Asia and East Asia, with specialisms in histories of print and archives; intellectual history; diplomatic history; economic history and history of economic thought; cross-cultural interactions; histories of religion and philosophy; nationalism and colonial resistance.
-
Latin American and Caribbean history: Specialisms include history of slavery; colonialism; histories of race, gender, and the body; Indigenous history; and material culture studies.
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Summary
The MSc by Research in History is perfect if you have a specific topic of interest you wish to research in depth.
In History, we can offer supervision across an exceptionally wide chronological and geographical range.
We have strong research concentrations in Scottish history, American history, global and transnational history, Irish history, intellectual history, and medieval history, and colleagues who can supervise topics spanning two millennia and five continents. Colleagues in the department welcome the opportunity to discuss their research topics with potential applicants.
This programme is assessed by means of a long dissertation of 30,000 words.
We provide structured research training while at the same time enabling you to pursue a research project that you design yourself, in consultation with supervisors. It serves as both a self-contained research degree and preparation for further study for the PhD degree.
Research interests within History are extremely wide-ranging. In particular, we host expertise in:
-
Medieval history: Our research interests lie in the social, political, religious and cultural history of Britain, Europe, the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean – with particular emphasis on gender, saints, medicine, crusades, trade, economic history and Islamic law.
-
British and Irish history: We have particular interests in early modern religion, belief and intellectual history (including the Scottish Enlightenment); social and political history; Second World War Studies, relations between Britain and Ireland; and international relations.
-
European history: Specialisms include the Renaissance, early modern political and intellectual history; genocide; Russia and the Soviet Union; modern political and intellectual history of France, Spain, Germany, Greece, Czech Republic; historical memory and public history; histories of gender and sexuality.
-
US (American) history: Expertise includes revolutionary and early national America; the Civil War; US diplomatic history in the 19th and 20th centuries; politics in the 20th century; African-American history and the civil rights movement; and history of labour.
-
African history: We have expertise in West, East and South Africa, and specialisms include intellectual history; environmental history; comparative African history; history of Islam; urban history; print culture; history of nationalism and decolonisation.
-
Asian history: We have expertise in the Middle East, South Asia and East Asia, with specialisms in histories of print and archives; intellectual history; diplomatic history; economic history and history of economic thought; cross-cultural interactions; histories of religion and philosophy; nationalism and colonial resistance.
-
Latin American and Caribbean history: Specialisms include history of slavery; colonialism; histories of race, gender, and the body; Indigenous history; and material culture studies.
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Edinburgh. Extraordinary futures await.
The University of Edinburgh is one of the world's top universities, consistently ranked in the world top 50, and placed 34th in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Our position as one of Britain’s leading research universities was reaffirmed by the results of the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). The University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s top research-intensive universities, ranked 4th in the UK for research power (Times Higher Education, Overall Ranking of Institutions), with 90% of our research activity classified as world leading or internationally excellent in the 2021 Research …
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