Researching with us

Tutor and student.

A supportive environment 

Your research supervisor(s) will ensure you are fully supported throughout your research degree and regular meetings will help to ensure you are on track with your independent research.

The dedicated Student Support Officer for the School can also offer advice and guidance on any issues you may be experiencing whilst studying here. 

At the beginning of your studies, and in each subsequent year, your supervisor will work with you to identify any training you might need to support you in your research degree. This might include training related to languages, oral history methods, statistics or advanced library skills. We provide free classes in advanced academic French and German to help you to improve your reading abilities if you are studying an area that requires you to interpret texts in other languages.

As a postgraduate researcher you can apply to our school fund for small grants to help with research trips or conference attendance for example. Grants are also available for group activities such as organising an event or a trip. We will also help you apply to external bodies for additional funds.

Leeds Doctoral College

All postgraduate researchers are members of the Leeds Doctoral College which brings together the support and enhancement opportunities available to you from across the University.

In addition, the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures Graduate School offers facilities, social space and seminar rooms for students to mix, exchange ideas and create interdisciplinary networks.

Research culture

As a Russell Group university, research is at the heart of the University of Leeds. We have a large community of postgraduate researchers who are encouraged to actively participate in the academic life of the School of History.

Our seminar series is a great way to network with academic staff, students and postgraduate researchers. Academics from Leeds as well as other national and international universities are invited to deliver papers on a wide range of topics.

Recent subjects have included:  America, Renaissance and Early Modern, Eighteenth Century, Modern Economic and Social History, Colonial, Military and South Asian.

You'll be able to be involved in our research groups

Vibrant student community 

The Historians' Workshop is run by our postgraduate students and is a good opportunity for you to meet with other postgraduate researchers to share ideas and experiences.

Our dedicated space for postgraduates, includes a designated PC cluster, allows you to work closely with other postgraduate researchers. 

The History Society is run by students and open to anyone in the School.

The Society organises social events, day trips to historical sites, social events, sports teams, and an annual summer trip, which in the past has included cities such as Amsterdam, Prague and Krakow.