History (PhD) at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada is a doctorate in History programme. The programme runs for 4 years.
At a glance
Degree:Doctorate
Field:History
Duration: 4 years
We have no tuition fees or an application deadline on record for this programme yet — see the official programme page.
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Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The PhD in History at McMaster University, offered through McMaster's School of Graduate Studies, emphasizes the modern world within a global framework, covering political, cultural, social, intellectual, environmental, and medical approaches to history. Research areas include gender, war and society, Canada from 1791 to 2000, Britain from 1688 to 2000, medieval and modern Europe, the United States, Asia, the Atlantic world, urban history, science and technology, and environmental history. The program is offered full-time, over a nominal length of four years, with typical entry in September and a typical application deadline of February 1. Students undertake original historical research under faculty supervision, culminating in a dissertation defended before an examination committee, and develop the research and analytical skills required for independent scholarship. The credential awarded is a Doctor of Philosophy in History.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Applicants normally hold a completed Master's degree with distinction in their previous graduate work, equivalent to at least a McMaster B+ average, along with strong letters of reference. Admission directly from a Master's program without completing the degree, or in exceptional cases directly from a Bachelor's degree, is possible where the applicant shows sufficient promise including at least an A average; such students are reviewed after one year and may instead be registered as a Master's candidate. Official transcripts from every post-secondary institution attended are required. Admission is competitive: meeting the minimum average does not guarantee a place, and the relevant Faculty's Graduate Admissions and Studies Committee makes the final decision. Applicants whose primary language is not English must supply an IELTS score of at least 6.5 overall (minimum 5.5 per band) or a TOEFL iBT score of at least 92, unless exempted for having completed a degree taught in English.
