Pathway available at Bristol and Exeter
The Economic and Social History pathway is open to students working in the field of economic and social history, conceived very broadly. It is appropriate for students working on any of the following areas:
- economic and social history from the medieval period to the present day
- historical research with a significant quantitative element
- historical research that uses social science methodologies to a significant degree
The universities of Exeter and Bristol offer considerable expertise in these areas. Economic and social history is a long-standing specialism at both institutions. We are home to an internationally-recognised group of specialists and the largest grouping of early-modern economic and social historians in the UK. We also have particular strengths in contemporary history, global history and histories of empire. In addition, there are other clusters of research staff who skilled in applying quantitative methods, and who use social science methodologies in their work.
Alongside the wider cohort training offered as part of the SWDTP, students in this pathway have bespoke development opportunities. Provisions made in recent years includes training in ancient and modern languages, GIS, medieval and early modern palaeography, oral history, and engaged research and digital humanities. Many postgraduates have the opportunity to gain teaching experience and to complete an optional assessment resulting in an Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. We also support high-profile internships and placements: recent examples include the International Labour Organization, BBC, Library of Congress and Houses of Parliament.