History (PhD)
Master your craft as a historian. In our PhD program, you’ll study your era or subject of interest alongside our renowned faculty.
We divide our courses along geographical and topical or thematic lines. Once you’ve completed your courses and written your comprehensive exams, you’ll embark on original research in your dissertation field.
You can also take part in the interdisciplinary Cultural, Social and Political Thought program.
| Expected length | Project or thesis | Course-based |
|---|---|---|
| 5 years | Yes | No |
Quick facts
- Program options:
- Doctorate
- Study options:
- Full-time study, Part-time study
- Program delivery:
- On-campus
- Dynamic learning:
- Co-op optional
Outcomes
Students in this program will:
- master multiple topical and geographical fields of historical knowledge
- engage in advanced research in both published and unpublished records
- make an original contribution to the understanding of the past
- develop oral and written communication skills appropriate to both academic and non-academic audiences
- acquire pedagogical skills through experience as a teaching assistant
Find a supervisor
PhD students must have a faculty member who serves as their academic supervisor. When you apply:
- you must list a potential supervisor on your application
- this faculty member must agree to be your supervisor and recommend your admission
- include an email from your supervisor with your application
To find a supervisor, review the faculty contacts. When you’ve found a faculty member whose research complements your own, contact them by email.
Adebisi Alade
Assistant Professor and Undergraduate Advisor African History, Environmental History, History of Health and Medicine, Climate Change
Andrea McKenzie
Professor Early Modern Britain, Crime and Legal History, Conspiratorial Politics, Manuscript Culture
Andrew M. Wender
Associate Teaching Professor and Director, Religion, Culture and Society Program Middle Eastern History, World History, Religion and Law
Beatriz de Alba-Koch
Associate Professor Colonial and Early National Latin American history, Intellectual History, Global Cultural History
Christine O'Bonsawin
Associate Professor and Graduate Advisor Indigenous History, Colonialism, Decolonization, Sport and Olympic History
Cynthia Milton
Professor Modern Latin American History, Human Rights and Memory, Truth-Telling and Transitional Justice
David Dolff
Lecturer Modern European History, History of Soviet Union (Not available to supervise)
David Zimmerman
Professor Modern Canadian and European History, War and Technology, Immigration and Academic Refugees
Elizabeth Vibert
Professor African History, World History, Race and Gender, Sustainable Economies and Food Systems, Community Responses to Climate Change
Georgia Sitara
Assistant Teaching Professor Modern Canadian History, Racism and Antiracism, History of Sexuality, Identity and Social Justice
Jason Colby
Professor and Department Chair Environmental History, Pacific Coast History, Humans and Climate Change, Modern American History, US International Relations
Jill Walshaw
Associate Professor and Honours Adviser Early Modern European History, French History, Political Culture, Crime and Counterfeiting
John Lutz
Professor British Columbia History, Pacific Northwest History, History of Indigenous-Settler Relations
Jordan Stanger-Ross
Professor, Provost’s Engaged Scholar, 2020-2025 Modern Canadian and American History, Urban History, Immigration and Dispossession
Kristin Semmens
Associate Professor and Undergraduate Coordinator Modern European History, German History, the Holocaust, Public History, History of Tourism
Loren McClenachan
Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair Environmental History, Historical Marine Ecology, Fisheries and Marine Conservation, Climate Change
Lynne Marks
Professor Modern Canadian History, Women’s and Gender History, North American Religion
Mariel Grant
Associate Professor Modern British History, Social and Cultural History, Mass Media, Propaganda, Tourism
Martin Bunton
Professor Modern Middle Eastern History, World History, Colonial Land Policies
Neilesh Bose
Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair Modern South Asia History, Global History, Cultural and Intellectual History
Norm Fennema
Lecturer Canadian History, American History, North American Religion (Not available to supervise)
Oliver Schmidtke
Professor Modern European History, Germany History, Migration and Identity
Paul Bramadat
Professor Modern Canadian History, Religion, Secularism and Radicalization
Penny Bryden
Professor Modern Canadian History, Political and Constitutional History, Scandal
Perry Biddiscombe
Professor Modern European History, Political, Social, and Military History
Peter Cook
Associate Professor Early Canadian History, Settler-Indigenous Relations, Immigration and Identity
Rachel Cleves
Professor American History, History of Sexuality and LGBTQ2S+ History, Food History
Sara Beam
Professor Early Modern European History, Social and Cultural History, Criminal Justice, Gender History
Serhy Yekelchyk
Professor Modern European History, History of Ukraine, History of Russia and the Soviet Union
Simon Devereaux
Professor and Undergraduate Advisor Early Modern British History, Criminal Justice, Political and Constitutional History
Tim Haskett
Assistant Professor Medieval European History, Legal and Social History, J.R.R. Tolkien’s Created Medieval History, Manuscript Studies
Zhongping Chen (陳忠平)
Professor History of Late Imperial and Republican China, Chinese Diaspora, Environmental History of China, Climate Change
Program details
Providing you accurate admission requirements, application deadlines, tuition fee estimates and scholarships depends on your situation. Tell us about yourself:
Program details
Application deadlines
September entry – apply by January 15. Applications after this date will not receive funding.
Note: In certain circumstances, it may be possible to enter the program in January. Contact the graduate secretary for more details.
September entry – apply by January 15. Applications after this date will not receive funding.
Note: In certain circumstances, it may be possible to enter the program in January. Contact the graduate secretary for more details.
Admission requirements
Program specific requirements
- A statement of intent outlining research interests and goals
- Two letters of reference
- A writing sample
Program-specific language requirements
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System): A minimum Overall Band Score of 7.0, with no score of less than 6.5 on each individual component on the Academic IELTS or equivalent
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): A minimum score of 610 on the paper-based test or 101 on the internet-based test
Program specific requirements
You must also include:- a statement of intent outlining research interests and goals
- two letters of reference
- a writing sample
Program-specific language requirements
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System): A minimum Overall Band Score of 7.0, with no score of less than 6.5 on each individual component on the Academic IELTS or equivalent
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): A minimum score of 610 on the paper-based test or 101 on the internet-based test
Completion requirements
Funding & aid
Tuition & fees
Estimated minimum program cost*
* Based on an average program length. For a per term fee breakdown view the tuition fee estimator.
Estimated values determined by the tuition fee estimator shall not be binding to the University of Victoria.
Ready to apply?
You can start your online application to UVic by creating a new profile or using an existing one.
Faculties & departments
Related programs
Need help?
Contact Heather Waterlander at histgrad@uvic.ca or 250-721-7384.