Economic and Social History PhD
Awards: PhD
Study modes: Full-time, Part-time
Funding opportunities
Programme website: Economic and Social History
We host one of the largest economic and social history research groupings in the UK.
Staff research interests are wide-ranging, including the study of:
- economic development
- financial history
- energy policy
- globalisation
- slavery
- urban history
- consumption
- material culture
- museums and collecting
- leisure
- religious belief
- popular culture
- medicine and disease
- gender
- sexuality
- the family
The diversity of our research means we can support students’ economic and social history study in a vast range of time periods and geographical regions and from the early modern period to the present day.
Particular areas of expertise available for research are:
- Culture and society in early modern Britain
- slavery in the Atlantic world since 1700
- the material culture of gender in 18th-century Britain
- urban society and civil society in historical context
- clothing cultures in comparative historical contexts
- cinema and society in modern Britain
- gender, crime and deviancy: Britain 1860–1960; energy policy in Britain since 1920
- the economic history of China in the 20th century
- the history of health and medicine in Britain since 1750
The University’s economic and social historians host three research groups: material and visual cultures of the past; enlightenment and popular culture; and economic and social history.
Find out more about compulsory and optional courses
We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
PhD | Economic and Social History | 3 Years | Full-time | Programme structure 2023/24 |
PhD | Economic and Social History | 6 Years | Part-time | Programme structure 2023/24 |
You will be assigned two supervisors who will provide expert academic guidance on your chosen research topic. You will meet regularly to discuss your progress and research plans, as well as drafts of your thesis/dissertation chapters, conference papers and potential articles.
In addition to individual supervision, all our PhD students pursue an individually tailored programme of research and professional skills training agreed with their supervisors.
Our building offers you exceptional, modern facilities, resources and study spaces, in a stunning location.
Our postgraduate students have access to:
- A dedicated study and computing lab with printing, copying and scanning facilities, overlooking the Meadows, one of the city’s best-loved green spaces.
- Two research rooms, shared with undergraduates, housing some of our impressive book collections and a small selection of computing facilities.
- A large common room overlooking the Meadows, shared by graduate students and staff.
- Our PhD study room. Subject to available desk space, you may apply after your first year.
- A number of small-scale teaching rooms, well-equipped with facilities such as data projection and smart boards.
- Exhibition areas, filled with artefacts and artwork from our collections.
All of our facilities are in addition to the multiple libraries and computer labs provided across the University’s estate. Many of our rooms overlook the Meadows.
Our location, right in the heart of Edinburgh, means you will be based close to the city’s cultural attractions and facilities, including a wealth of libraries, archives, museums and galleries, which provide uniquely rich support for the disciplines we teach.
Our PhD students develop a highly valued set of research and professional skills which enable them to go on to a wide variety of careers.
Many of our PhD students wish to pursue an academic career, and we have an excellent record of helping our students obtain research and teaching posts in universities in the UK and overseas.
PhD students also develop a portfolio of skills which are highly desirable across a wide range of sectors, from museums and heritage to the civil service, banking and the law.
These entry requirements are for the 2023/24 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2024/25 academic year will be published on 2 October 2023.
A UK 2:1 honours degree in a relevant discipline and a relevant masters degree with an overall mark of at least 65%, or international equivalent.
We may also consider your application if you have relevant professional experience; please check with your potential supervisor before you apply.
You must submit a research proposal demonstrating your knowledge of your field of research, which will be closely scrutinised as part of the decision-making process. Guidance on writing a research proposal can be found online:
Two supervisors (sometimes more) will be appointed to work with you on the project. You must contact a prospective primary supervisor before applying: they will be required to provide a brief statement of provisional support, which should be included with your documents. This statement of support is provisional, pending assessment of your application and your performance at an interview. Details of members of staff at HCA can be found online:
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 59 in each component.
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
PhD | Economic and Social History | 3 Years | Full-time | Tuition fees |
PhD | Economic and Social History | 6 Years | Part-time | Tuition fees |
Featured funding
- School of History, Classics & Archaeology scholarships
- Research scholarships for international students
- Principal's Career Development PhD Scholarships
UK government postgraduate loans
If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.
The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:
- your programme
- the duration of your studies
- your tuition fee status
Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.
Other funding opportunities
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Graduate School Office,
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 3772
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Programme Director, Dr Felix Boecking
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 3844
- Contact: Felix.Boecking@ed.ac.uk
- School of History, Classics & Archaeology
- Graduate School Office, Room 2.29, William Robertson Wing
- Teviot Place
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9AG
- Programme: Economic and Social History
- School: History, Classics & Archaeology
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
PhD Economic and Social History - 3 Years (Full-time)
PhD Economic and Social History - 6 Years (Part-time)
Programme start date | Application deadline |
---|---|
11 September 2023 | 1 August 2023 |
If you are applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.
You must submit two references with your application.
You must submit a research proposal demonstrating your knowledge of your field of research as outlined under the entry requirements.
Two supervisors (sometimes more) will be appointed to work with you on the project. You must contact a prospective primary supervisor before applying: they will be required to provide a brief statement of provisional support, which should be included with your documents.
Start dates outwith September and January might be available but only in exceptional circumstances. Please begin your application using the closest date and contact the Graduate School to discuss the matter.
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Graduate School Office,
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 3772
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Programme Director, Dr Felix Boecking
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 3844
- Contact: Felix.Boecking@ed.ac.uk
- School of History, Classics & Archaeology
- Graduate School Office, Room 2.29, William Robertson Wing
- Teviot Place
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9AG
- Programme: Economic and Social History
- School: History, Classics & Archaeology
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences