MPhil/PhD FAQs
Applying for an MPhil/PhD
It is essential that you contact potential supervisors about your proposed project before submitting an application, so that they can read and offer feedback on your proposal, as well as confirming that they are able to supervise you. You can find details about supervisor interests in the list of academic staff with their areas of expertise
Full details of how to submit your Warwick application can be found on the University
PG AdmissionsLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window
pages. There is an online application, initially dealt with by the Postgraduate Admissions Team. The application form will then be forwarded to the History Department for a decision.
The following documents should be submitted with your application:
Essential:
- Transcripts and degree certificates for your BA and MA degree (a partial transcript or list of modules being taken will suffice for any students still completing their MA).
- Two satisfactory academic references
- Evidence of meeting English Language requirements where required (please see:Admissions Requirements).
- A detailed research proposal (see "What should my History research proposal include?")
Advised:
- An academic CV
A personal statement is not required for a History MPhil/PhD application.
Any students planning to apply for fundingLink opens in a new window for their studies should carefully check the deadlines and eligibility for each award and use this as a basis for when to submit their Warwick MPhil/PhD application. Many funding awards have an early January deadline, and candidates applying for funding will therefore normally submit their Warwick MPhil/PhD application in November or December, but deadlines can vary from year to year.
Candidates who would require a visa to study at Warwick should apply by no later than 31st July in order to allow time to complete the visa application process.
Self funded home applicants should generally apply no later than 6 weeks prior to the course start date to allow adequate time for submission of references and consideration of the application.
For the application we would expect a detailed research proposal of approximately 2,000 words (excluding footnotes and bibliography). This should give an overview of your research questions and why they are important; how these build on, challenge or supplement with existing research; the methodology you plan to adopt; and the sources you might use. Please add a short bibliography of key relevant works. Please upload all this as a single supporting document in Word or PDF document.
Please be advised that certain funding bodies may set a different word limit so care should be taken to check the individual funding bodies application criteria on your funding application (which is often a separate process from the general PhD application system).
You are also expected to identify a potential supervisor and discuss your research proposal with them before application. You should also indicate potential supervision arrangements in your application.
Guidance about what to include in your research proposal is available from our PG Admissions Team. Details of our academic staff and their research expertise can be found on our Academic Staff web page.
Yes, it is essential that you contact potential supervisors about your proposed project before applying so that they can read and offer feedback on your proposal, as well as confirming that they have capacity and are able to supervise you. You can find details about supervisor interests in the list of academic staff with their areas of expertise.
If you would like more general advice about your proposed research you can contact the PGR Director.
For advice on how to submit your application, please contact the PGR Coordinator
New applications open around October of the year before commencing the course e.g. October 2024 for October 2025 entry, and you can begin to apply soon after that. Applications will be accepted throughout the year, but if you are interested in applying for funding, you should apply in the autumn or in early December. - see the funding section for funding competition deadlines.
We occasionally admit research students at other times of the year under certain circumstances.
For alternative start dates, we would normally expect you to apply at least two months before you wish to commence your course, particularly if a Student Visa is required.
Note that new MPhil/PhD students are required to attend aGraduate Research Forum, which begins at thestart of term 1each academic year. Any students with a non-standard start date will be expected to attend any missed Graduate Research Forum sessions when they take place again the following academic year.
Should you wish to begin outside the academic year start date (October), pleasecontact usto discuss this.
The Department can normally make a decision within 10 working days of receipt of your application, although in some cases it may take longer based on individual circumstances. Decisions can be delayed if required transcripts or certificates have not been provided, or if there is a delay in academic references being submitted.
If candidates have not contacted their potential supervisor to discuss the research proposal in advance of applying, this can also cause a significant delay whilst the research proposal is discussed and queries about the proposal resolved.
If you are successful, you will receive an official offer letter from the Admissions Office shortly thereafter. Applicants may be contacted by the Department with a request for further information prior to a decision being made.
The History Director of Postgraduate Research, in conjunction with the potential supervisor(s), decides on whether your application can be accepted.
The Admissions Team will also check that applicants English Language ProficiencyLink opens in a new window and that MA and UG degree equivalenciesLink opens in a new window has been met before making an offer.
Yes, you can. There is technically no limit to the number of programmes you can apply for. We hope, of course, that your application is serious, and that you will choose to come to Warwick!
Yes! We have many students who come to Warwick from different walks of life, and if you think PhD study is for you, we would encourage you to apply!
Please note that our standard entry requirement is a 2:1 (or equivalent) in History or a related discipline.
Ideally, you should find two academics who have seen your academic work. If that is not possible, it would be best to get in touch with the Admissions Team, see the Guide to Providing Academic References for further information.
As far as we are concerned, we deal with all applicants in exactly the same way. If English is not your first language, please take into consideration this information on English Language Requirements.
Yes, a number of our students each year enrol on a part-time basis. A part-time PhD normally takes five years, but you will be registered with the University for seven years and expected to devote any time required in the final two years to writing up your research.
Successful applicants are admitted in the first instance to the MPhil degree, and are expected to pass through an Upgrade procedure from MPhil to full PhD status (held towards the beginning of the second year for part-time).
Entry requirements
Requirements are:
- 2:i undergraduate degree (or equivalent), normally* in History or a closely related subject
- MA degree in a history / history related discipline (we would normally expect a Distinction or Merit level for PhD).
- Two satisfactoryacademic references
- Evidence of meeting English Language requirements:English Language Information and Entry Requirements.
- A detailed research proposal (see “What should my History Research Proposal Include?”)
- A personal statement is not required.
*Many of our students come from history or history-related disciplines, but an undergraduate/postgraduate degree in history is not an inflexible requirement for our programme. We will consider each application on a case-by-case basis.
Any applicants who have not yet completed their full MA course can still apply for a PhD and PhD funding.
Funding applications can normally be made based on a conditional MPhil/PhD offer
In order to receive an unconditional offer, the Admissions Office will ask MPhil/PhD applicants to provide an official certified transcript showing that you have successfully completed the taught elements of your Masters degree. The letter/transcript needs to contain your details, confirm successful completion of the taught elements of your Masters programme and be signed &/or stamped by your current University.
Fees and funding
The fees change on a year-by-year basis. Please check our PG Research Fees web pages for the details of the fees for the coming year. You will also need funds to pay for accommodation and subsistence.
Yes - many of our students receive funding from the major research councils (ESRC and AHRC), as well as from the University. We are sometimes able to offer a number of departmental studentships every year.
For details, please see our information pages on Funding for PhD Study.
Accommodation
Yes, but there is a limited amount of space for postgraduate students so the sooner you apply to the accommodation office, the better.
Please visit Warwick Accommodation for details of the accommodation on offer, and how to apply.
You may also like to investigate the option of serving as a Residential Community Assistant.
Warwick Students Union has a Student Advice Centre that can help with various aspects of housing including house-hunting, checking tenancy agreements, repairs, recovering deposits and security.
To find out more, please visitSU Housing Support.
For advice on on-campus accommodation, please contactWarwick Accommodation.
There is a lot of private accommodation available to rent in the areas local to the University such as Coventry, Leamington Spa, Kenilworth or Warwick.
Whilst you can conduct your own search for accommodation, the University offers an exclusive property search platform,Warwick Studentpad, to help you search for properties if you need a helping hand.
If you are finding it overwhelming and need some help deciding, please contact pghistoryoffice@warwick.ac.uk and one of our friendly current PhD students will normally be able to talk with new students via email or Teams to offer tips on how they decided, and which areas they would recommend.
General questions
If your supervisor is in research leave they should be able to continue supervising you as usual. If they are not then your supervisor will arrange, following discussion with you, for an interim supervisor to be appointed.
There is no formal limit to the numbers on our programme. We accept students on the basis of merit and on our ability to offer relevant and proper supervision.
Some supervisors are in particular demand and may not be able to take on new students, so you should always check with prospective supervisors before making an application.
Many students embark on a doctorate because they wish to pursue a career in academia. In that case the next step after completing a doctorate might be a permanent academic position, but in many cases the next step is likely to be a series of temporary appointments, or a research fellowship. Your supervisor will be able to advise on likely opportunities, and will doubtless write you references for these positions.
Not everyone, however, wishes to follow this trajectory. Warwick history doctorates hold positions in museums, archives, schools and a variety of other venues.
The History Department strongly supports both those students who want to continue in academia, and those who wish to work outside the academy.
The fees change on a year-by-year basis. Please check our PG Research Fees web pages for the details of the fees for the coming year. You will also need funds to pay for accommodation and subsistence.
Yes. It is possible, but there is only a limited amount of space for graduate students. The sooner you apply to the accommodation office, the better. You will need your university ID number to apply which can be obtained from PG admissions or our Postgraduate Coordinator.
You may also like to investigate the option of serving as a residential tutor.