History PhD

Language

English

• TOEFL iBT: 90
• IELTS: 6.5

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Belfast, United Kingdom

Disciplines

History

Overview

Within this History PhD programme from Queen's University Belfast, you will engage in original research in a historical subject of your choice, supervised by our internationally recognised scholars. With Queen’s being part of the AHRC Northern Bridge Consortium (with Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland, Teeside and Ulster Universities), there are also opportunities for co-supervised doctoral work with staff at these institutions.

History at Queen's University Belfast is the largest group of historians at any university on the island of Ireland. It is a dynamic research area, with strengths in ancient, medieval, early modern and modern periods, across a wide geographical area that includes Ireland, Britain, Europe, the United States, Africa and Asia. We specialise in oral history, gender and women’s history, urban history, public history, religious history political history, and the history of race.

Research

Queen’s is one of the premier research centres globally for the study of Irish history and boasts a large and active team of researchers in this field, with interests ranging from the middle ages to the twentieth century. We have particular strengths in Irish social history, politics, gender and religion, and Ireland's and Ulster’s relationships with Britain and the wider world.

The dynamic Centre for Public History involves historians with a variety of geographical and chronological interests. A number of current or recent history PhD candidates are engaged in public history related projects, which involve internships and collaborations with bodies such as the BBC, Belfast City Council, Historic Royal Palaces, the Public Research Office of Northern Ireland and National Museums NI.

Other areas of particular research expertise include oral history, 20th-century British social, cultural, political and imperial history, history of the U.S. South, gender history and religious history. There are also specialists in the history of Ancient Rome, Medieval England and Europe, Early Modern Britain and Europe, twentieth-century Europe, modern China, India, and South-East Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Career opportunities

We are proud of the students who have graduated with their doctorates. Where possible we stay in touch so that the link and relationships remain long after a student has left the School. Our graduates have found success in a wide range of careers, including in archives and libraries, public history and heritage, education, journalism, marketing, and civil service.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

• Associated Research: The University's Special Collections also hold important archival and printed primary materials, especially for the history of Ireland, Great Britain and the British Empire, and China. Significant deposits of modern American, Soviet and British military archival materials have recently been acquired.
• Research Projects: We also host annual events including the Wiles Lectures on the history of civilisation and regular conferences on a range of historical themes. A weekly postgraduate seminar is run and organised by research students.

Admission requirements

Academic requirements

• GPA: Upper Second Class

English requirements

• TOEFL iBT: 90
• IELTS: 6.5

Other requirements

General requirements

• The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics.

Fees and funding

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in AUD and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

• International (Applies to you, Non-residents): 42,306 AUD / year (≈ 22,500 GBP / year)

Living costs

Belfast, United Kingdom: 1,055-1,668 AUD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for History.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

• Queen’s University/China Scholarship Council PhD Scholarships — Grant: Various benefits — Deadline: Not specified (Queen's University Belfast) — Merit-based
• Queen's Loyalty Scholarship — Grant: Various benefits — Deadline: Not specified (Queen's University Belfast)
• Queen's Family Scholarship — Grant: Various benefits — Deadline: Not specified (Queen's University Belfast)
• Queen’s Business School Scholarship For Latin America — Grant: 6000 GBP — Deadline: Anytime (Queen's University Belfast)
• Queen’s Business School Scholarship for Middle East and North Africa — Grant: 6000 GBP — Deadline: Not specified (Queen's University Belfast)
• The Queen’s Business School Scholarship for South East Asia Scholarship For South Asia — Grant: 6000 GBP — Deadline: Not specified (Queen's University Belfast)
• Queen's Business School Awards — Grant: 6000 GBP — Deadline: Anytime (Queen's University Belfast)
• Queen's Business School Scholarship For South East Asia — Grant: 6000 GBP — Deadline: Not specified (Queen's University Belfast)
• Queen’s Business School Scholarship For North America — Grant: 6000 GBP — Deadline: Not specified (Queen's University Belfast)
• Fulbright U.S. Student Program — Grant: Various benefits — Deadline: 2026-10-07 (U.S. government) — Merit-based
• Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility — Grant: Various benefits — Deadline: Not specified (OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation)
• ACES Scholarships — Grant: 3500 USD — Deadline: 2026-11-15 (ACES Education Fund)
• ServiceScape Scholarship — Grant: 1000 USD — Deadline: 2026-11-30 (ServiceScape)
• Scholarships for PhD Students — Grant: 19000 GBP — Deadline: Not specified (Junhua Li) — Merit-based
• Boustany Astronomy PhD Scholarship — Grant: Various benefits — Deadline: 2027-02-28 (Boustany Foundation) — Merit-based
• Amberscholar Scholarship — Grant: 6000 USD — Deadline: 2027-01-31 (Amber Scholar) — Merit-based
• Voice Talent Online Scholarship — Grant: 1000 USD — Deadline: 2027-03-01 (Voice Talent Online)
• $1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship — Grant: 1000 USD — Deadline: 2026-10-31 (IvyPanda) — Merit-based
• Dream Chaser Scholarship — Grant: 1000 USD — Deadline: 2027-01-13 (Salvado Law) — Merit-based
• Scholarship for students with disabilities — Grant: 3000 USD — Deadline: 2026-12-31 (Anonymous Hope Fund) — Need-based
• Commonwealth Shared Scholarship – University Bids — Grant: 22500 GBP — Deadline: Not specified (UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO))
• Grants of the Leopold Figl Foundation for students with residence in Lower Austria — Grant: Various benefits — Deadline: 2026-12-31 (Leopold Figl Foundation) — Need-based
• The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship — Grant: 1500 USD — Deadline: Not specified (IELTS from 6 to 9)
• Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme — Grant: 12000 USD — Deadline: 2027-01-11 (The Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme)