Postgraduate research
PhD with UK Fee Waiver in the field of holocaust and genocide studies and/or Jewish history
Qualification: PhD
Department: History
Application deadline: 30 April 2025
Start date: 1 October 2025
Overview
Supervisors:
- Dr Svenja Bethke sb744@leicester.ac.uk
- Dr Paul Moore pm294@leicester.ac.uk
The Stanley Burton Centre for Holocaust and Genocide Studies (SBC) is an interdisciplinary and collaborative research centre based in the School of History, Politics and International Relations at the University of Leicester. It is the oldest existing Holocaust research centre in the UK, established through an endowment from the Burton Trust to pioneer research, teaching and engagement with the history of the Holocaust and Jewish History. The Centre’s name was changed to Stanley Burton Centre for Holocaust Studies and Genocide Studies in 2011 to reflect the broadening of its research focus towards a comparative perspective.
The SBC is inviting applications for a PhD with a UK fee-waiver.
Eligible PhD proposals should engage with the SBC’s research agenda in the field of Holocaust and other Genocide Studies and Jewish History. The SBC promotes a comparative and cultural history informed approach to Holocaust and Genocide Studies and is particularly interested in questions of memory and conflict, concepts of race and ethnicity, and identity formation in the context of post 1945 European and world history.
The SBC provides an inclusive and inspiring environment that nurtures the next generation of researchers, being home to a large cohort of funded postgraduate students. The Centre engages in contemporary debates and is dedicated to outreach and dissemination activities related to its research focus and expertise.
For further information about the SBC, its research agenda, and its programme of activities, please see our webpages.
Please prepare your research proposal on our Proposal Form and follow the application advice to apply.
Funding
Funding
This scholarship is open to suitable new UK and International applicants.
Please note that the award covers tuition fees at the UK rate (currently £5,006 per year) only.
It studentship does not include a stipend or living costs so applicants need to ensure they can fund their own living costs for the duration of study.
International applicants (and those not eligible to pay UK tuition fees ) must demonstrate at the time of their application that they can fund the difference in tuition fee rates. The difference in fees required is £12,554 per year.
The scholarship is for full or part-time* study (paid pro-rata in the case of part-time study).
*Owing to UK visa restrictions, international applicants are not normally able to study part-time.
Applicants must be able to commence their studies on 1 October 2025
The scholarship will be renewed annually subject to the student successfully passing yearly evaluation.
Students will be encouraged to apply for sources of additional funding such as the Midlands4Cities scheme, and will be offered support through this process.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
Applicants must have a first-class or high upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent qualification) in history or a related discipline and meet the University's standard English language entry requirements.
It is expected that applicants should also have a Masters degree with merit or distinction in History or a related discipline or be able to show evidence that they will achieve this before October 2025
Applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong interest in research.
Presence in Leicester and involvement in the activities of the Burton Centre is a requirement.
Informal enquiries
Informal enquiries
Project and funding enquires to:
Dr. Svenja Bethke (Director, Stanley Burton Centre) email: sb744@le.ac.uk
How to apply
How to apply
To apply please use the Apply link at the bottom of this page and select September 2025
Applications should be accompanied by a thesis proposal of no more than 2000 words outlining the area to be studied, key debates within the field, and initial ideas on potential research methods and primary sources
- Research proposal form
- CV
- Personal statement explaining your interest in the project, your experience and why we should consider you
- Degree Certificates and Transcripts of study already completed and if possible transcript to date of study currently being undertaken
- Evidence of English language proficiency if applicable
- In the reference section please enter the contact details of your two academic referees in the boxes provided or upload letters of reference if already available. Project supervisors are not able to act as referees.
Eligibility
Eligibility
UK and International* applicants may apply.
*Please refer to the funding sections for funding restrictions.
