cambridge history phd funding

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There are many funding opportunities at Cambridge from a wide variety of sources including the Cambridge Trust, Gates Cambridge, Colleges, Departments, Research Councils and central University funds.

The Graduate Admissions Office publish information about the University's central funding competitions for Graduate Students on their website which includes information about how to apply, deadlines and other useful information.

Students are also advised to do their own research on other funding sources including the Colleges. Competition for funding is high so we strongly advise that applicants apply for as many funding opportunities as possible, to maximise the chance of success!

If you have questions about funding, please drop us a line on  [email protected]

CamFunds - Funding Search Tool

There are hundreds of awards available for Graduate Students at the University, but it can be difficult to find which ones you are eligible for. To help with this search the University has developed CamFunds , a funding search tool which allows you to enter some of your details and pull up a list of funding which might be suitable.

Funding Success at History!

The Faculty is pleased to say that our students do exceptionally well in the University's funding competitions, attracting many prestigious awards. In a typical year, the Faculty welcome students who have been awarded funding from all of the major funding bodies such as the UK Research Councils (ESRC and AHRC), Gates Cambridge and the Cambridge Trust.

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Funding to help with your postgraduate studies

Use this search to find funding at Cambridge. It lists most University funding for postgraduates.

You should also look for other University and external funding. Check the funding guidance on the Postgraduate Study website for more information.

If you’re applying for Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) courses , check the ICE Bursaries website for more information.

Please note:

The Postgraduate Funding Search is a live database. Funders may update information if circumstances change. The University of Cambridge does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in this search.

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History Postgraduate Fund

Give online to support History Postgraduate Fund

Understanding our history is central to understanding the world we live in, and to making the right decisions about our future. Studying history also nurtures abilities and skills that include analysing research, structuring and evidencing an argument, independent thought, methodological approaches and fact-based critical reasoning. 

My doctoral studies would not have been possible without funding. It allowed me to undertake numerous research trips to Italy, where I carried out crucial archival and museum work.

Ana Howie (Magdalene College 2019)

The Faculty of History at the University of Cambridge is a long-established and world-renowned department. Currently, we have a population of 600 undergraduates and 500 postgraduates, who are taught and supervised by over 100 academic staff producing a constant stream of leading research. Our work and teaching are consistently rated top in global rankings.  

Cambridge History graduates are highly sought after, and common career paths can include law, politics, business, NGOs, journalism, entrepreneurship and the culture sector. Some forty per cent of Cambridge History undergraduates go on to further studies.  

In 2022, we restructured the History Tripos, enabling us to offer our students a genuinely global perspective on the past. The degree includes a rich array of options across time, geographical region and subject specialisation, allowing our students to investigate almost any aspect of history that interests them at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.  

Every year, there are talented prospective master’s students who cannot take up an offer to study with us because they lack funding. As a Faculty, we aspire to increase the diversity and representation of the applications we receive.  

“It is a privilege to be part of the History Faculty, surrounded by brilliant students and colleagues. History is an endlessly capacious discipline that constantly innovates in its subject matter and its methods. It’s always stimulating to hear what people are working on, and especially inspiring when new historical approaches challenge our assumptions about the past while helping us make sense of the present.”   

— Professor Mary Laven, Chair of the Faculty of History  

Graduate students are a vital source of fresh eyes, new approaches and bold ideas. They learn through research to challenge perceived wisdom, take the initiative, think creatively, show resilience, and show attention to detail. A more diverse cohort of students improves the robustness of debate, research and learning. It broadens the range of ideas, talents and intellects at work and our graduates take this knowledge and skill forward to benefit society. 

Removing the financial barriers to postgraduate study

Only a few students studying History at master’s level receive any form of financial assistance, with the most common barrier to accepting an offer of a place is a lack of funding. We are committed to helping more students be fully funded to ensure that anyone who is committed to, and capable of, further study can pursue postgraduate studies at Cambridge, regardless of their background or financial situation. 

Recent postgraduate students of the Faculty of History have gone on from Cambridge to exceptional roles, for example: 

Eloise Connelly is the Curator of Historic Furniture and Decorative Art at the Houses of Parliament. She secured this role after completing her PhD at Cambridge, where she examined the collecting of Renaissance decorative art in Britain between 1850 and 1914. Eloise’s job involves caring for the collections of around 11,000 objects, (many of which, such as the Despatch Boxes, are still in use daily), researching their histories and making them accessible to audiences through exhibitions, talks, tours and publications.   

Eloise says: “My experience at Cambridge has been critical to my career. The topic of my PhD is relevant to the collections I now work with, but also the broader contexts gleaned at Cambridge through the rich programme of seminars, lectures and workshops shaped my approach to my work. The museum collections in Cambridge provided a wonderful resource for learning; object-handling sessions and exhibitions curated by members of the History Faculty developed my understanding of the use and research of material culture. Practical skills I use every day, such as public speaking, undertaking research or writing about our collections, were all enhanced by my experience at Cambridge.” 

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) fully funded Eloise’s PhD, and she is clear that without this funding, she would not have been able to embark on a PhD. She also received financial support for travel to collections, archives and conferences in the UK, France, Italy and the United States which were key to her research.   

Ana Howie began her PhD in History in 2019 with Professor Ulinka Rublack. After completing her studies, she took on a position as an Assistant Professor of Early Modern Art at Cornell University, New York, teaching undergraduate and graduate students about the dimensions of the early modern artistic and material world. Her teaching covers the art of Europe, Africa, and the Americas. 

Ana’s PhD project explored cultures of dress and portraiture in seventeenth-century Genoa from a gendered and decolonial perspective, focusing on the oeuvres of Flemish painters Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck. Her work situated Genoa within global trade networks and demonstrates how elite Genoese women used globalised dress and painted portraits to negotiate their social arenas. As a state aligned with the Spanish Empire, much of Genoa's wealth was derived from participation in exploitative systems and structures. Ana argued that women's material consumption, as evidenced through their portraits, implicates them in empire-building and the formation of racial ideologies.  

Ana says “My studies were generously supported by the Prince of Wales International Scholarship, Cambridge Trust. My doctoral studies would not have been possible without this funding. It allowed me to undertake numerous research trips to Italy, where I carried out crucial archival and museum work. Further, I received funding from the History Faculty to support my language learning and to attend overseas conferences. These activities allowed vital skill-building to take place during my programme and allowed me to share my work with an international community of scholars. A PhD should not be completed in isolation, and conferences truly enriched the quality of my research. The Faculty’s funding options gave me important access to this crucial part of academic life.  

It is immensely fulfilling to introduce a new generation to new ways of understanding the past. My History PhD at the University of Cambridge gave me the tools, skills, and knowledge to do this work effectively, and I am proud to pass these on to my students.”

Support the History Postgraduate Fund

To help more exceptional students like Ana and Eloise study history at Cambridge, you can help support the History Postgraduate Fund. Gifts at all levels will help to support our students and will be gratefully received. 

You can donate online, or if you are interested in fully funding a student or setting up a fund in perpetuity, please contact: 

Make a gift now

Make a gift now to support History Postgraduate Fund by credit or debit card, or set up a direct debit:

Give online

Or, find out about other ways to give .

Mark Williams

[email protected]

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Qualifications

Further information, when should i apply.

We will accept applications from 4 September 2024 for admission in October 2025.

The deadline for applications is 28 February 2025 for the MPhil and 16 May 2025 for the PhD.

However, there are earlier deadlines for applicants who are applying for funding . See the table below:

Is there an interview?

Yes, admission is subject to an interview. The interview, with one or two senior members of the Department, can be conducted online or by phone if it is not practical for you to travel to Cambridge.

Should I submit three academic references?

No, we will not accept more than two academic references.

Can you tell me if I am sufficiently qualified to be admitted to the MPhil course?

The best way for us to assess your suitability is for you to submit a complete application. We are unable to give you a preliminary assessment of the chances of your application being successful.

Our normal requirement is a first class honours degree from a university in the UK, or a degree of an equivalent standard from an overseas university.

• Postgraduate Admissions: International qualifications

Can I be admitted straight to PhD studies or do I have to complete the MPhil first?

Applicants are not normally admitted as a PhD student unless they have completed either the MPhil or Part III course in the Department or a similar course at another university. If you apply for the PhD we may offer you a place on the MPhil course instead if we judge that it would be more appropriate for you.

My first language isn't English. Do I have to take an English language test before I can apply?

No, you do not have to submit an English language test result with your application, but you may be required to pass an English language test before you can start the course.

• Postgraduate Admissions: Competence in English

Do I need to take a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test?

No, this is not a requirement; we are unable to accept GRE test results.

Can I study HPS as a part-time student?

We offer a part-time PhD , but the MPhil can only be taken as a full-time course.

Should I apply to start in Lent Term?

Although it is possible to start the PhD in Lent Term (January), we strongly recommend that all PhD students should start in Michaelmas Term (October). Please note that you will not be eligible for any University funding if you start in Lent Term.

You cannot apply to start the MPhil course in Lent Term.

Can I study by distance learning or online learning?

No, we do not offer any distance learning or online learning courses.

Where can I find information about the number of applicants?

• Postgraduate admissions statistics for the Department of History and Philosophy of Science [PDF]
• Postgraduate admissions statistics for the University

Who should I contact if I have any other questions?

Please contact the Department .

• Postgraduate Admissions: Frequently asked questions

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