Jump to content
MA, PhD

History

When joining a research programme within History at Kent, you will become an active part of a welcoming, cutting-edge community, that delivers world-leading research.

Apply now

Key information

Start
MA - September. PhD - September, January and April
Location
Canterbury
Study mode
MA 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time; PhD 3 years full-time, 5 years part-time
Typical offer
2.2 or above
All entry requirements

Overview

There are two types of History programme. The MA by Research entails producing a 40,000-word thesis; the PhD programme demands a high level of research and analysis resulting in a 100,000 (PhD) word thesis. We welcome research applications across the range of expertise within the School. 

Reasons to study our History MA by Research or PhD programme:

  • Our staffs research interests and publications cover vast periods of history, enabling you to make use of field leading, professional support during your research and studies with us.
  • We are the only History department in the UK to achieve a perfect score of 100% ‘world leading’ for both the impact of our research and our research environment. This extraordinary achievement has resulted in the Times Higher Education ranking History at Kent 1st in the UK.
  • Kent’s Graduate and Researcher College, co-ordinates the Researcher Development Programme which covers  a diverse range of topics, including subject-specific research skills, research management, personal effectiveness, communication skills, networking and team working, and career management skills.


    About the School of History

    The School of History at the University of Kent offers a great environment in which to research and study. Situated within the beautiful cathedral city of Canterbury, with its own dynamic history, the University is within easy reach of the main London archives and is convenient for travelling to mainland Europe.

    There is a good community spirit within the School, which includes regular postgraduate social meetings, weekly seminars and a comprehensive training programme, with the full involvement of the School’s academic staff. You'll join a lively, research-led department where postgraduate students are given the opportunity to work alongside academics, recognised as experts in their respective fields. 

    Thanks to the wide range of teaching and research interests in the School, we can offer a wide scope for research supervision covering the breadth and depth of world history. Find out more about the School's research centres and staffs specific research interests here.

    The course

    How you'll study

    Postgraduate taught modules are designed to give you advanced study skills, a deeper knowledge of the subject, and the confidence to achieve your ambitions.

    Entry requirements

    2.2 or above

    MA

    A first or second class honours degree in a relevant subject (or equivalent).

    PhD

    A first or upper-second class honours degree in a relevant subject (or equivalent) and, normally, a taught MA qualification.

    All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.

    Fees and funding

    The 2026/27 annual tuition fees for this course are:

    For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.

    Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy.

    The 2026/27 annual tuition fees for UK postgraduate research courses have not yet been set by the Research Councils UK. This is ordinarily announced in March. As a guide only, the full-time tuition fee for new and returning UK postgraduate research courses for 2025/26 is £5,006.

    Your fee status

    The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.

    Funding

    You'll need regular access to a desktop computer/laptop with an internet connection to use the University of Kent’s online resources and systems. We've listed some guidelines for the technology and software you'll need for your studies.

    General additional costs

    Find out more about student accommodation and living costs, as well as general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.

    Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:

    International scholarships

    Unlock your potential with scholarships up to £5,000

    Research

    Kent is a leading research university, meaning that you will be informed about new discussions and developments by the people making them. This means your work will have real potential to make a difference.

    Staff research interests

    Kent’s world-class academics provide research students with excellent supervision. The academic staff in this school and their research interests are shown below. You are strongly encouraged to contact the school to discuss your proposed research and potential supervision prior to making an application. Please note, it is possible for students to be supervised by a member of academic staff from any of Kent’s schools, providing their expertise matches your research interests. Use our ‘find a supervisor’ search to search by staff member or keyword.

    Full details of staff research interests can be found on the School's website.

    Your future

    As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, postgraduate qualifications are becoming more attractive to employers seeking individuals who have finely tuned skills and abilities, which our programmes encourage you to hone. As a result of the valuable transferable skills developed during your course of study, career prospects for history graduates are wide ranging.

    Our graduates go on to a variety of careers, from research within the government to teaching, politics to records management and journalism, to working within museums and galleries – to name but a few.

    Postgraduates earn

    £6,000
    more per year than graduates (Graduate Labour Market Statistics, 2021).

    A degree can boost average lifetime earnings by over

    £300,000
    Graduate employment outcomes - Universities UK

    Ready to apply?

    Learn more about the application process or begin your application by clicking on a link below.

    You will be able to choose your preferred year of entry once you have started your application. You can also save and return to your application at any time.

    Everything else