History Research

Alice
History Research MPhil/PhD, option of joint PhD with HKU/NUS
I wanted to continue my studies in order to improve my technical and theoretical knowledge, and London seemed the best place to do this because of the sheer quantity of archives and cultural collections within easy access. I chose King's above other universities because of the strong teaching and research reputation of the History Department, as well as the range of modules on offer in the Early Modern History MA really appealed to me: they were interesting, interdisciplinary, and encouraged exploration – perfect for someone who loves History and wants to study all they can!

It is a very friendly and fun department – staff are open and approachable, and students are expected to strive, succeed and support one another. The work is challenging and the seminar discussions stimulating – not only that, but there are lots of opportunities to learn new skills and be involved in exciting new projects. It was an incredible experience, and I gained an enormous amount from the rather steep learning curve of my graduate course, both academically and personally.

I was encouraged to apply for a specific AHRC-funded project called Reconstructing Sloane: Texts, Images, Objects, and I am thrilled to be remaining in the department as a collaborative doctoral student in partnership with the British Library for the next three years. I am looking the manuscript letters held there of the famous early modern collector Sir Hans Sloane and exploring how he used his correspondence to build up a vast network of contributors and admirers. I doubt I would have had the confidence to even apply if not for the support at King's and the eye-opening experiences of my MA year here.

Ian
History Research MPhil/PhD, option of joint PhD with HKU/NUS
As someone researching medieval London, having the opportunity to study at King’s is ideal. The fact that my supervisor is a giant in his field, and the department is so highly rated just add to the allure of being based here.

As a postgraduate at King’s though, one’s horizons are far broader than just life at the college itself. For me as a historian, I am able to take advantage of the wonderful Institute of Historical Research, situated a short walk from the College. I have the National Archives, along with many smaller collections on my doorstep. The British Library with its overwhelming collections is also close by. All of these, whilst being independent of King’s, are actually an integral part of the research experience one has at the College.

And the opportunities at King’s themselves are fantastic, going far beyond just the language and skills classes offered elsewhere, which of course are all promoted at King’s. Where else for example are medieval history MA and PhD students encouraged to take part in the annual Latin play? A chance to develop the language skills one needs as a medievalist, in a creative environment, which not only builds one’s own confidence, but also a camaraderie amongst fellow students.

I was a mature undergraduate student, so as a postgraduate, I suppose I am even more mature! I have always felt as much a part of student life here as anyone. With a family to support as well as research to carry out, I probably would not be able to research, and indeed teach full-time, without having the funding support I have from the college.

Philip
British
History Research MPhil/PhD, option of joint PhD with HKU/NUS
Having completed my undergraduate History degree at Oxford University, I felt I wasn’t quite finished with the intellectual challenges afforded by academic study – but I was also very ready for a change of scene. As I wanted to pursue imperial and global history specifically, King’s seemed the obvious place to take my studies further as an MA student, given the illustrious heritage of the subject within the department here, and the international renown of teaching and research in the area today.

Following my MA I decided it was time to try something different, and so pursued for the best part of a decade a hectic yet fulfilling career in the weird and wonderful world of contemporary art. The nagging feeling that my academic interests in historical study still hadn’t been satisfied never went away however, and indeed worsened to the point that I felt compelled to take the plunge and study for a PhD. Returning to King’s to do my thesis was, again, the natural and obvious decision.

My research project, funded through an AHRC doctoral studentship, focuses on the earliest English colonial experiments in the Americas, in the Caribbean and South America in particular, and is conceived as a contribution to broader debates about early modern European overseas expansion and the making of the ‘Atlantic world’. The History Department at King’s is distinguished by the astonishing geographical and thematic range of expertise on offer, with everything from pre-colonial West Africa and early modern Brazil to nineteenth-century Australia and twentieth-century China covered, which provides an incomparably stimulating environment for anyone interested in world history. Unquestionably it is this opportunity to discuss your subject with many of the finest scholars currently working in History and adjacent disciplines that distinguishes a postgraduate experience at King’s.

There is also a truly impressive and sincere commitment to encouraging interdisciplinary engagement as epitomized by the number of vibrant research clusters and institutes that bring scholars together from difference departments across the university. Of particular interest to my work are the regional institutes, including the King’s Brazil Institute, the India Institute, and the Institute of North American Studies, which drive an extremely lively and dynamic seminar culture and provide excellent opportunities for the exchange of ideas in the humanities and social sciences.

Discussing my work with other postgraduates and academics pursuing research in fields as diverse as Musicology, Spanish Literature, Geography, and Defence Studies, as well as other Historians, has hugely enriched my thinking about my project (and taught me a great deal about subjects on which I know almost nothing!), and this has been perhaps the most special and rewarding aspects of my time at King’s thus far.

Philippa
History Research MPhil/PhD, option of joint PhD with HKU/NUS
I am a first year PhD student in the Department of History, studying the sea as a category of scientific inquiry in the early Royal Society, c. 1660-1700. By the late seventeenth century, the sea had emerged as the centre of England’s colonial, economic and military activity, developing the nation’s status as a leading maritime power. This coincided with the first systematic scheme of investigation into the oceanic environment as eminent natural philosophers sought to expand and develop their understanding of this distinctly unknown portion of the natural world which had come to define English power.

My thesis will explore how the Fellows of the Royal Society developed both a theoretical knowledge of the sea, an understanding of its physical properties and ecology, and a practical knowledge of the sea which encouraged advancements in seafaring, such as shipping and navigation. It will investigate the sea as a site of scientific collaboration not only between the Royal Society and the state, but between the Royal Society and maritime communities too. I have found that London is a fantastic place to study a PhD, particularly due to the wealth of archives and libraries located in the city.

A great aspect of studying the PhD is the amount of control you have over the content and direction of your project; while at the same time, you are given expert guidance and support from your supervisor. There is a strong research culture at King’s with a varied programme of seminars and conferences offered in many departments and at the Institute of Historical Research, along with a fantastic researcher’s development programme run by the Graduate School. This is particularly useful because studying a PhD has the potential to be quite a solitary experience.

As well as expanding and developing your own knowledge and skills, these events and programmes give you the opportunity to share your ideas and network with other students. I am very fortunate to receive AHRC funding to study my PhD. This was very important in my decision to embark on the course and has allowed me to fully focus on my project free of financial pressures and concerns. I am so pleased that such schemes are available for they allow enthusiastic, hard-working students who may not have had the resources to self-fund to further their studies.

Ludmilla Jordanova
History Research MPhil/PhD, option of joint PhD with HKU/NUS
I've recently joined the History Department at King's and have rapidly become involved with a number of master's programmes. I am a cultural historian working across the early-modern and modern periods, and I use both images and objects in my research and teaching. It's thrilling to be located in a part of London where so many important collections are just a few minutes walk away. For example, I take my students to the National Portrait Gallery, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral, Trafalgar Square and the Royal College of Surgeons, so that we are working with pictures, sculptures, objects and buildings right in front of us.
My special interest is portraiture, and especially the ways in which groups, such as occupationally-based institutions, use images of leading figures to form their identities. I am just as fascinated by individuals and the creation of heroic reputations. King's is a marvellous base for such research and teaching. I also love doing master's level teaching here because we offer stimulating core modules in which we think about historical practice - a vital part of any graduate training. The friendly informal atmosphere makes working with graduates a real joy, and especially through the dissertation we get to know our students well, and probably learn as much from them as they do from us!