Economic & Social History PhD

We are internationally recognised for research excellence in modern economic and social history, with exceptional strengths in business and financial history, the history of medicine, social and gender history.

PhD: 3 years full-time; 5 years part-time; Thesis of 70,000-100,000 words

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Overview

Economic and Social History represents the historical approach to the social sciences. As such, it encompasses a wide array of intellectual approaches and brings the particular rigour and demands of historical enquiry to a range of social science methodologies.

As a PhD student, you will be undertaking your project as part of the largest group of Economic and Social Historians in Scotland. We are internationally recognised for research excellence in modern economic and social history, with exceptional strengths in

business and financial history
the history of medicine
social and gender history

These are reflected in the projects currently undertaken across our postgraduate research (PGR) community of around 20 PhD students. This includes full-time and part-time students, from international and local backgrounds, and supported by funding from a variety of organisations including the ESRC and AHRB.

The University of Glasgow is a large, multi-disciplinary university, providing excellent opportunities to engage with a broad spectrum of postgraduate and research activities within the School of Social & Political Sciences; the College of Social Sciences (eg. the Adam Smith Business School) as well as in other areas of the university (eg. History within the College of Arts & Humanities).

Study options

PhD: 3 years full-time; 5 years part-time.

Entry requirements

Our regular standard of admission is usually a Master's degree at Merit, with a significant component in Economic and Social History or another social science discipline. Candidates will also usually be expected to have a 2.1 honours degree.

Required documents

Applicants should submit:

Academic Transcripts and Degree Certificates
CV
Research Proposal
Two References
Named Supervisor information

English language requirements

For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English language proficiency level.

Accepted English language tests

We accept a wide range of English language tests for entry to this programme. Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date, and requirements must be met using a single test.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)

7.0 overall with no subtest less than 6.5
IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
We do not accept General Training

TOEFL iBT (Including MyBest and Home Edition)

Tests taken up to 20 January 2026

96 Overall, no subtest lower than Reading 23; Listening 23; Speaking 23; Writing 24

Tests taken from 21 January 2026

98 overall with no subtest less than Writing and Listening at 5 and Reading and Speaking at 4.5

Pearsons PTE Academic (test centre only)

70 overall with no subtest less than Reading 62; Listening 62; Speaking 75; Writing 68
We do not accept the online PTE Academic

Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency

185 overall, no subtest less than 176

Oxford ELLT

8 overall with Reading and Listening no less than 7 and Writing and Speaking no less than 8

LanguageCert Academic SELT/Academic/Academic Online

75 overall with two subtests at 75 and no subtest less than 70

Password Skills Plus

7.0 overall with no subtest less than 6.5

Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II

105 overall with no subtest less than 105

Kaplan Test of English

Any two subtests at 510 or higher, and any two subtests at 480 or higher

PSI Skills for English

C1 Pass

Duolingo English Test

130 overall with Writing at 130 and no subtest less than 120

Oxford Test of English Advanced

146 overall with no subtest less than 136

Alternatives to English language qualification

Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)

Students must have studied for a minimum of their final year at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within 6 years of programme start.

TNE degree for UK University taught at a campus outside of the UK.

Students must be awarded the degree by the UK university and must have completed the degree within 6 years of programme start.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:

direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS)
essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University
flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.

For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see:

Pre-sessional courses

We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:

Heriot Watt
Kingston Upon Thames
Middlesex University
Manchester University
Reading University
Edinburgh University
ST Andrews University
UCL
Durham

Fees and funding

Fees

2027/28

UK: To be confirmed [26/27 fee was £5,238]
International & EU: £28,275

Fees are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Tuition fees for part-time study will be charged at half the full-time annual fee.

Irish nationals who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and Internationals with Indefinite Leave to remain status can also qualify for home fee status.

Fee status and policies

Alumni discount

We offer a 15% tuition fee discount to eligible self-funded alumni starting a Postgraduate Taught (PGT) Masters or Postgraduate Research (PGR) programme in the 2027/28 academic year.

This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Study Abroad programme, Exchange programme, International Summer School or Erasmus programme with us. This discount can be awarded alongside most University scholarships. No additional application is required.

Full details of our Alumni Discount

Possible additional fees

Re-submission by a research student £540
Submission for a higher degree by published work £1,355
Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed £350
Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship £790

Depending on the nature of the research project, some students will be expected to pay a bench fee (also known as research support costs) to cover additional costs. The exact amount will be provided in the offer letter.

Funding

Postgraduate research projects in Economic & Social History have received funding from a variety of sources including:

The ESRC via the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science pathways. If you are interested in making an application you can discuss this with the SGSSS pathway convenor for ESH: Dr Angus Ferguson

Fully funded scholarships

Support

Postgraduate research students will have regular opportunities to participate in the research culture of the subject through:

subject seminars, with external guest speakers
WIP (work-in-progress) sessions where research staff and students can discuss work at different stages of development
writing retreats designed to support productivity through structured writing sessions
an annual one-day conference where every student can present their work to peers within the subject area.

Individual reviews take place each year with supervisors and postgraduate research convenor. Where each student may reflect on development to date and set goals for the next year.

There will also be opportunities to develop research training and skills across the social sciences Researcher Development Programme. And to gain experience in teaching and assessment eg. as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA).

How to apply

Identify potential supervisors

All Postgraduate Research Students are allocated a supervisor who will act as the main source of academic support and research mentoring. You may want to identify a potential supervisor and contact them to discuss your research proposal before you apply. Please note, even if you have spoken to an academic staff member about your proposal you still need to submit an online application form.

You can find relevant academic staff members with our staff research interests search.

Gather your documents

Before applying please make sure you gather the following supporting documentation:

Final or current degree transcripts including grades (and an official translation, if needed) – scanned copy in colour of the original document.
Degree certificates (and an official translation, if needed): scanned copy in colour of the original document.
Two references on headed paper and signed by the referee. One must be academic, the other can be academic or professional. References may be uploaded as part of the application form or you may enter your referees contact details on the application form. We will then email your referee and notify you when we receive the reference. We can also accept confidential references direct to pg-research-admissions@glasgow.ac.uk, from the referee’s university or business email account.
CV
Name of potential supervisor
Research proposal. Candidates are required to provide a single page outline of the research subject proposed (approximately 1000 words). This need not be a final thesis proposal but should include:
- a straightforward, descriptive, and informative title
- the question that your research will address
- an account of why this question is important and worth investigating
- an assessment of how your own research will engage with recent study in the subject
- a brief account of the methodology and approach you will take
- a discussion of the primary sources that your research will draw upon, including printed books, manuscripts, archives, libraries, or museums
- an indicative bibliography of secondary sources that you have already consulted and/or are planning to consult