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 postgraduate 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.
Assessment method
Thesis / Dissertation The primary purpose of PhD study is to prepare and present a substantial piece of original research in the form of a thesis. From the very beginning of the PhD course, the student focuses primarily on writing 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, no less than 70,000 words, and not exceed a maximum of 80,000 words. 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. Essays At the end of the first year, all PhD students will complete a 'Registration Assessment Exercise'. This involves the preparation of an essay of up to 10,000 words and a meeting to discuss your work in progress and project plans. Students may also complete a second review exercise in the third year, on request by either the Supervisor or the student. Practical assessment All students will defend their PhD thesis in a viva voce examination.
Entry requirements
Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Masters (Merit). If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country. 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 Postgraduate Admissions Office (see the International Qualifications page on the Postgraduate Admissions website). Candidates for the PhD are also normally expected to hold a master’s degree in a subject relevant to the intended topic of study. Occasionally the Faculty may require a student to successfully complete one of the Faculty's MPhil Courses before embarking on the PhD Programme. Candidates will normally be expected to have taken a substantial number of history courses at the university level and to have a sound background in the period covered by the course. Each application is considered on a case-by-case basis.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
University of Cambridge
The Old Schools
Trinity Lane
Cambridge
CB2 1TN