Programme Description
The Department of History and Civilisation offers a distinctive four-year Ph.D. programme of transnational and comparative European history supported by a uniquely international and multicultural faculty.
Our vision
We encourage Ph.D. researchers to think beyond boundaries, offering them exceptional opportunities to study global connections within early modern and modern European history.
Our Department encourages a culture of conversation among researchers and faculty. Professors and researchers work together to develop ideas and each year we invite experts from around the world in numerous fields to visit our department to discuss their research.
We have a strong commitment to equality, diversity, and above all, to inclusivity in all aspects of life. The international character of our community of scholars with its amazing wealth and diversity of academic interests and training is our particular asset. Researchers are challenged to rethink their background assumptions in a fascinating learning experience.
Structure of the programme
In the first and second years doctoral researchers study historiographical and methodological issues and focus on an in-depth exploration of selected central themes of European history. In the third and fourth years, researchers focus on their individual research, and are invited to present the results of their work at seminars and workshops
Supervision: Researchers are followed by a supervisor in the development their own doctoral project. The supervisor is responsible for advising on research and career development while a second reader is also appointed to offer another perspective on the researcher's work. In order to help researchers in the process of designing and writing their PhD thesis, the Department provides a series of individual thesis monitoring sessions.
Seminars: The first and second years of the doctoral programme are based on a combination of coursework and research activities. Interdisciplinary and training skills, and academic writing courses are organised Institute-wide. Within the Department the teaching programme includes Departmental, Research, and Training Seminars, and other academic activities (conferences, workshops, lectures, courses on digital tools for academic research).
Fieldwork: Historical research is essentially based on consultation of sources and archives. In order to foster fieldwork and the exchange of ideas the Department contributes to the expenses for research trips or for the participation in international conferences.
Working groups: Researchers are encouraged to join and set up working groups in order to share common interests. Working groups give the opportunity to contemplate the fields covered by research seminars but also to profit from the possibility of peer-to-peer learning and open and flexible working conditions.
The policy of the EUI is not to offer individual guidance and advice on dissertation proposals. Do not contact potential supervisors but read the information on research themes and indicate one or more professors who could supervise your dissertation in the application form.
The EUI is committed to providing equitable and inclusive conditions for all candidates and is keen to attract, encourage and retain a diverse and highly qualified community of scholars.
Candidates with disabilities or specific educational needs are encouraged to register their needs with the Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies (Email: [email protected]) for the coordination of reasonable adjustments at the stage of application, selection, and admission to the programme.
Additional Information
Download our brochure and receive a reminder when the application call opens.