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DPhil in History
University of Oxford

UK

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About this course

What will I learn?

About the course

The DPhil in History is an advanced research degree, awarded on the basis of successful completion of an individual research thesis and an oral examination.

If studying full-time, you are expected to submit your thesis three, or at most four, years from the date of admission. If studying part-time, you are expected to submit your thesis six, or at most eight, years from the date of admission.

You will be expected to attend and to contribute to the wide range of research seminars, conferences and workshops organised by the division and faculty. You will also have access to specialist training courses offered by the Bodleian Libraries and IT Services. Your supervisor will advise you on what seminars will be more beneficial for your chosen research area. You can attend any lectures, across the University, that you wish to (subject to any specific restrictions), and we encourage students to take advantage of this and explore areas outside of their specific research topic.

Assessment

Your thesis will be based on extensive original research and engagement with current scholarship. You will be expected to pass Transfer of Status by the end of your first year on the course, and Confirmation of Status in your third year (these deadlines are doubled for part-time students). These milestones are designed to ensure that you have identified a sound research topic and timeline for completion, as well as giving you the opportunity to receive feedback from academics in your field. They will also help prepare you for your viva voce examination when you have submitted your thesis.

Graduate destinations

A survey of the destinations of doctoral students who completed theses in 2001 shows that about half are in academic posts in nine countries; some are working in museums, or as freelance historians; others are primarily in higher administrative positions. in the civil service, university administration, banking, occasionally in publishing or law.

A preliminary survey of those who completed their doctorate in 2011 shows that around 40% are currently in academic teaching or research positions on collaborative projects or as Junior Research Fellows.

Which department am I in?

History

Study options

Full Time (3 years)

Tuition fees
£34,980.00 (38,11,288) per year
This is a fixed fee
Start date

October 2025

Venue

University of Oxford

University Offices,

Wellington Square,

Oxford,

Oxfordshire,

OX1 2JD, SOUTHERN ENGLAND, England

Entry requirements

For international students

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the equivalent of the following UK qualifications or their equivalent: a master's degree with distinction or a high pass; and a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in history or cognate disciplines. However, entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a first-class degree or the equivalent. Applicants without a prior degree in history or history of art should be aware that competition for a place on the DPhil is extremely tough and even some of Oxford's own master's students may not secure one. You should consider that most of your competitors will have a solid background in the discipline and the appropriate training for academic research in a historical context, with a first class or distinction grade. If you decide to apply without a prior master's degree in history, please ensure that you link your proposed thesis topic with your previous expertise when you present it in your application. You should also show that you have already done a considerable amount of background research into the topic. Your submitted written work should show your writing and research skills in their best light as it will be important to show that you have the necessary skills for historical research and writing. Many applicants will be enrolled on a master’s course at the point of application, in which case any offer made will be conditional on completing that master’s course to the level specified in the condition. For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.75 out of 4.0. However, entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a cumulative GPA of 3.8. Applicants need to have an IELTS score of 7.5 with a minimum of 7.0 per component; TOEFL iBT score of 110 with a minimum component score of 22 in listening, 24 in reading, 24 in writing and 25 in speaking.

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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