PhD Intellectual History

University of Buckingham

The PhD in Intellectual History is an advanced research degree, awarded on the basis of a thesis and an oral viva voce examination. The primary purpose of the PhD is the preparation and presentation of a substantial piece of independent and original academic research, completed in three years if studying full-time and usually six years if studying part-time. There is also the possibility of early submission in cases where the student makes particularly rapid progress.There is an enormously broad range of possible thesis subjects in Intellectual History, including any field of human intellectual endeavour. This could range from the history of philosophy or the development of scientific inquiry to the formation, transformation, and practical utilization of any brand of political ideology or economic theory. Given sufficient evidence to illuminate it, almost any aspect of the history of ideas may potentially form an appropriate focus of study. The definition of the PhD subject is an iterative process, and it is usual for the candidate’s first thoughts on the topic to be modified in the course of the first year of study.Available start datesApr 2024Sep 2024Jan 2025Apr 2025Duration3 Years6 Years