History

Awards available	MPhil MLitt PhD
Duration of programme	MPhil: one year full-time; two years part-time MLitt: two years full-time; four years part-time PhD: three years full-time; six years part-time
Number of places	Not fixed

Page contents

• Programme overview
• Entry requirements
• Staff research interests

Programme overview

The Department of History has around 20 members of staff with wide-ranging research interests. Particular strengths lie in medieval and early modern history, contemporary political, social, economic and environmental history, the history of colonialism and imperialism, and public history.

Research groups

Members of the Department participate in a number of the Faculty of Arts' research themes and research centres, most notably Medieval Cultures, Reception and Colonialism.

The Medieval Cultures theme brings together researchers in History and the other Humanities to pursue projects, which focus on the culture and cultural impact of the European Middle Ages.

The Reception theme combines scholars in Classics and Ancient History, with those in Medieval and Early Modern History, English and other literatures who have a common interest in the Classical Tradition and its reception in the post-Classical World.

The Colonialism theme draws together researchers throughout (and beyond) the Arts Faculty to pursue research into the history of colonialism and its legacies.

In addition, the Department has its own research clusters, which provide a forum for discussion of thematic work relating to Medieval and Early Modern, Materialities, Colonial and Contemporary History, as well as a general weekly research seminar and training sessions for research students.

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Entry requirements

MPhil: An upper second-class degree (or international equivalent). MLitt/PhD: A pass at MA level (or international equivalent).

For information on international equivalent qualifications, please see our International Office website.

Admissions statement

Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.

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Key research interests

Dr Kenneth Austin, Late medieval and early modern European history, continental reformations.

Professor Robert Bickers, Modern China; Sino-British relations; social, cultural and political history of colonialism and imperialism; Shanghai, Chinese Maritime Customs Service.

Dr Fernando Cervantes, Intellectual and religious history of late medieval and early modern Europe, especially Spain and Spanish America.

Professor Peter Coates, Environmental history; history of western North America; public history.

Professor Tim Cole, Holocaust history (especially in Hungary) and representation; historic landscapes; public history; digital humanities.

Dr Lucy Donkin, Visual culture and perceptions of place in medieval Europe.

Dr Juliane Furst, Soviet youth in the late Stalin and the Kruschev periods; soviet subcultures.

Dr Anke Holdenried, Aspects of medieval beliefs in the End of the World, their impact on political ideology, devotional context, and artistic representation, and the role of prophecy in medieval culture and society.

Professor Ronald Hutton, Early modern British political, military, religious and social history; the history of the ritual year in Britain and of pagan religions, witchcraft and magic in Europe.

Dr Evan Jones, 15th- to 17th-century British economic and social history; smuggling; late medieval/early modern maritime history, particularly in relation to Bristol.

Dr Josie McLellan, 20th-century German history, especially postwar cultural and social history, the GDR and the history of sexuality and gender.

Professor Roger Middleton, 20th-century British economic history; history of economic thought.

Dr Hugh Pemberton, Contemporary British political and economic history.

Dr Simon Potter, History of the British Empire in the late 19th and 20th centuries, and its relations with the parent country.

Dr Richard Sheldon, 18th- and 19th-century British economic and social history, especially the history of radicalism and protest movements; economic thought; history of famines and famine relief.

Dr Brendan Smith, Medieval Britain and Ireland; medieval frontier societies.

Dr James Thompson, Modern Britain; political, intellectual and cultural history.

Dr Ian Wei, The role of intellectuals in medieval Europe; social history of ideas in Western Europe.

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