Overview

The International History programme at the London School of Economics and Political Science is one of the UK's leading centres of historical research. With its emphasis on the international and transnational context of historical developments, it provides a supportive, but challenging environment for those individuals interested in undertaking a research project leading to a PhD in international history. The Department currently has about 20 faculty engaged in innovative research who are ideally placed to supervise research students on a wide range of subjects. The Department of International History at LSE can offer a comprehensive range of special areas for research, ranging from the early 16th century to the late 20th century.

Each year we receive a large number of applications from prospective PhD students from across the globe. The Department currently has over 35 graduate research students, from virtually every corner of the world, who provide a vibrant and friendly community at the heart of the PhD process. You will benefit from partaking in research training alongside your academic research, attending and participating in workshops and specialised research seminars, and from access to an unparalleled diversity of archival resources in London. Our graduates teach in some of the best university departments in Britain and overseas, or work in the media, civil service or private and voluntary organisations.

Careers

Our graduates teach in some of the best university departments in Britain and overseas, or work in the media, civil service or private and voluntary organisations.

The department is committed to supporting students' options after graduation in the world of work or futher studies by organising a careers programme tailored specifically to International History students with the help of LSE Careers. Also, many leading organisations give careers presentations at the School during the year, and LSE Careers has a wide range of resources available to assist students in their job search.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

International History Research Student Workshop

International History Research Seminar

Cold War History Research Seminar

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 36 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-29 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-05-22 00:00:00

Language

English

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

London, United Kingdom

Disciplines

History International Relations Modern History View 48 other PhDs in International Relations in United Kingdom

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Academic requirements

GPA

Required

English requirements

We are not aware of any English requirements for this programme.

Other requirements

General requirements

Taught master’s degree (or equivalent) in a related discipline with at least 67 per cent overall and in the dissertation.
Competition for places at the School is high. This means that even if you meet our minimum entry requirement, this does not guarantee you an offer of admission.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

23500 GBP / year

≈ 23500 GBP / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

5006 GBP / year

≈ 5006 GBP / year

Living costs

London

United Kingdom

1137 - 2157 GBP / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

The School recognizes that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

Find out more about financial support.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for International History.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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