PhD in Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

A PhD in arts, humanities or social sciences is a research degree. You spend several years investigating a question that has not been fully answered, using archives, texts, fieldwork, interviews, surveys or theoretical argument, and present your findings in a thesis examined by specialists. In many fields the thesis runs to tens of thousands of words. Along the way you are expected to present at conferences, publish articles where possible and become an expert in a narrow area of your discipline.

The structure differs by country. In the UK and Australia, a PhD usually takes three to four years and begins with research, normally after a master's. In the United States, programmes commonly last five to seven years, starting with coursework, comprehensive exams and sometimes language requirements before the dissertation. In Germany, many candidates work with an individual supervisor, sometimes while employed as a research associate, while others join a structured graduate school. Anthropology and geography doctorates often include extended fieldwork, which adds time and travel costs to plan for.

Funding is central to the decision. Doctoral study in these subjects is commonly paid for through studentships, scholarships, teaching or research assistantships, or positions on funded projects, and competition for them is strong. Choosing a supervisor whose interests match yours matters as much as choosing a country. Read potential supervisors' recent work, contact them before applying with a short outline of your idea, and ask current doctoral students about support, training and where recent graduates have gone.

Applicants usually need a master's in a relevant subject, often with a strong dissertation grade, although US programmes commonly admit able bachelor's graduates directly. Universities look for evidence of research ability, such as a dissertation or published writing, references from academics who know your work and a clear, workable research proposal. Many humanities programmes also ask for a writing sample, and some history or literature projects require reading knowledge of the languages your sources are in.

Deadlines are often tied to funding, and scholarship rounds can close many months before the start date, sometimes in the autumn or winter of the previous year. English test requirements apply as at other levels unless you qualify for a waiver. In Germany, the usual first step is finding a professor willing to supervise you, and doctoral posts on funded projects may be advertised like jobs. Some US programmes still ask for the GRE, while many have made it optional or dropped it.