Prophecies

A few years back, I was considering a PhD at an American university. But it was never clear whether a Masters was necessary for admission. Never quite understood this. My understanding is that a USA PhD has coursework embedded, compulsory essays and language requirements, exams and a dissertation prospectus. Just sounds like students go through a second masters before progressing to writing their research. Not necessarily criticising, it's just odd to me. Best of luck everyone with the admissions!

Ended up not applying for a Masters in history. Spending this year travelling (Turkey and France) while hopefully getting work experience. Best of luck, everyone!

Hello everyone! I was originally planning to apply for an M.A (Research) at an Australian university next year in Russian history. But I've decided to take a year out for work experience, travel (going to Turkey!), work on languages, maybe visit some archives for the first time etc. I have a topic I'd like to study (Theologies of War in the Post-Soviet Russian Orthodox Church - I hope it's okay for me to share my current research focus here) and have drafted a research proposal. So, I'll apply to begin Graduate Research in January, 2024. That's quite some time away - so I've begun to write and take digital notes from relevant books that interest me and see what suitable primary sources are out there (for example, I looked at the Petit Palace, Florence's collection of Early Russian Orthodox Icons from the 18th century). But is there anything else I should do? Are there any advantages in reading and notetaking at this stage? (beyond improving the proposal). I have time to spare next year, and I'd like to make the most of it to assist my eventual research degree. The Masters thesis is 37,000 words (max) and there is an opportunity to 'upgrade' it into a PhD (I'm unsure about my path yet). Please note that Australian Research Masters / Phds have very, very limited coursework. Thanks for any tips!

Yeah, sadly true. I know many Ancient historians were really set back (and upset) by the Syrian Civil War, especially the attacks by ISIS. In many ways, it's not just the inability to conduct research, but seeing your field be twisted and morphed into something to be destroyed. I'll never forget the archeologist from Syria who gave up his life to protect artefacts and art. A true hero. Many of us pick our historical specialisations not just for ourselves, but to communicate our love and interest with others. I've never been to Russia, but since 2017, I developed a strong interest in it. I have the utmost respect of the literature, theology and art. Before Russia invaded Ukraine, many of my peers were losing interest in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. There aren't many Russian historians in Australia. But I fell in love with St. Basil's Cathedral, Vladimir The Great, Ivan IV, Golden Horde's strategies, Tsardom, Russian literature, etc. Russian's invasion of Ukraine is so ghastly and ugly. Still, Russia commands further study and analysis. I'm trying to remain in good spirits about my research but again, I must be smart.

I can agree with that. For Russia, I'm luckier than I thought for archives and primary sources. Many universities in the UK and USA invested in Eurasian programs / research thanks to the Cold War and World Wars, so some options include: Ohio State, School of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies (UCL), the medieval collections at the University of Leeds. Harvard is excellent for Byzantinum. Of course, Russia is the premier place: the libraries in Moscow and St Petersburg are truly excellent, with documents dating from the Rus as well as trade / liturgical documents relating to Constantinople diplomacy. A potential problem is that it's against Australian law to use government or university funding towards individuals / organisations under Sanctioned countries. So yep, must get creative for those really hard to find sources. I'm sure post-Soviet countries like Georgia have archives but I must check.

Hello everyone - hope you are all enjoy this weekend! I'm curious to hear perspectives from historians about the importance, and benefits, of travel. I'm not talking about conferences, libraries / archives or other universities, but locations relevant to one's research. Have you travelled for research? Is travel important to one's research? My Masters thesis is on the Post-Soviet Russian Orthodox Church. Obvs I can't go to Russia rn and this situation won't change for a while. My Master's program doesn't make travel necessary, either. But it would be nice to visit some of the Churches - it would benefit my research as it takes an art history frame. Seeing some of the statues up close would help. But alas, I must make do with other ways. Also, much of my broader research (Religion in Modern Europe) is animated by previous trips to Europe (which were done for tourism / fun). So even if travel isn't necessary, it can certainly shape your interests and ideas. Thanks!

Thanks guys for the excellent advice - Russian is not technically a requirement for Masters, but there's an expectation at most Aussie universities you'll learn it while doing graduate research. Speaking of which, I've just finished Russian Babbel! This is an odd research proposal so far, it's longer than most (2,500 words!) which is actually a blessing, as there's something helpful about seeing your ideas written down (further scrutiny is always required, imo). I'm questioning one aspect of my proposal so far - the Byzantium angle. It may detract from the core aspects of the thesis (Analysing theologies towards war in the Post-Soviet Russian Orthodox Church). So I bit off more than I can chew. A shame, really - one of the core aspects of being a historian that excites me is connecting events, people, civilisations, wars and religions across different times and places. I'm not ignoring Byzantine (it's too important for any thesis on the Russian Church) - it just won't result in a secondary supervisor or many chapters. Narrowing down is always a challenge - it's not just the topic, but also the examples / sources used.

Welp, change of plans. I'm no longer interested in non-Australian universities for my Masters (mostly due to funding, Australia is pretty good in this regard). I'm applying to the University of Melbourne for a Master of Arts (thesis only) with a focus in Modern Russian History, specifically on the Orthodox faith. There's alot I need to arrange: references, a writing sample, research proposal and CV. As my research has a Byzantine angle, I need a secondary supervisor from a different university - my alma mater has good ones. A question: I've been learning Russian these past 18 months, and have reached a Beginner to Immediate level. I am self-taught. What's the best way to convey this in my application?

That Star Wars class sounds awesome! I'd teach the following hypothetical classes (there's quite a few, I had fun with this!): Angels and Demons: A History of the Russian Orthodox Church It's hard to find a comprehensive overlook of the R.O.C. There are some excellent historians working in the field, but few communicate the rich history, art and theology to students. Unfortunately, the R.O.C is prone to simplifications and treated as an oddity- as opposed to a faith that Russia has fully embraced. Special attention is given to warfare and the interesting perspectives of Russians on it. 'Tis The Season: A History of Christmas From Antiquity to The Culture Wars Okay, I love Christmas. Yet perhaps we can observe European history through Christmas-themed sources: choirbooks, Christmas cracker wrappings, Children's literature, the visual arts, newspaper articles and letters. The primary sources are quite terrific for those into Christmas history, although this course would consider perspectives from the Middle East, North America and my home country, Australia! I'd use this course to teach students the variety of sources a historian encounters as well as dwelve into religious history. Glitch In The Matrix: The Intellectual Roots And Reality of Neo-Nazism, Nouvelle Droite, The Alt / Dissident Right Much of the focus on Neo-fascism / Nazism works in a comparative way and understands current far-right movements as an extension of the 'same old fascism.' In this course, I will convey to students that as the wheels of history turned... so did Nazism. This course focuses on intellectual history and the thinking of far-right contemporary figures (as well as the differences between pre-WWII fascists and National Socialists to Neo-Nazis and far right figures). There's also a focus on globalism, diplomacy, communications, Islam (+ other religions), and technology. The Salman Rushdie Affair In Its Historical And Geopolitical Context The Salman Rushdie affair is the most notorious event in modern English-language publishing. Fatwas, murder, protests, book burnings, diplomatic breakdowns... are all present in the Rushdie Affair. But there are other stories, too. Muslims in the UK, postcolonialism, the English language, free speech, media history and the Iranian revolution are all interesting topics, worthy of interrogation by young scholars. They'll also read The Satanic Versus and try to make sense of the Rushdie affair. Just War Theory: A Discussion Discussions over the morality of war have always existed - but some thinkers are validated, whilst others are left to the dust. This course is about these ideas, juxtaposed against a variety of conflicts. Students will work on a nuanced understanding of how to consider warfare in the 21st century. Special attention is given to medieval theologians and post WWII thinkers. As you can probably gather, I'm a modernist who focuses on religion in Europe. Although my time period begins after the French Revolution, I'm quite interested in the Middle Ages and Classical World (and how modern individuals perceive them).

Hello everyone. I'm curious about thoughts on a Masters degree. I believe a Masters degree is the right path for me - I can narrow in on my interests, develop helpful skills, start a language, get advanced feedback on ideas and write a dissertation. There are several courses that interest me (all in the UK - please note that I qualify for a Youth Mobility Visa and can take it part time, which means I can work and according to the Australian government, I get a tax deduction on fees. However, I still pay international rates) M.A in History from the School of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies, UCL. Tuition will cost (in USD) around $34,000 over two years. There are no scholarships. Supervisors are amazing with special interests lying in Germany and Russia. There are opportunities to take modules for other interests - French and medieval history, eg. M.A in Modern History from KCL. Some scholarships are available and the fees are slightly cheaper than UCL. The teaching seems less intense (fewer compulsory modules) and the modules interest me less. However, the selection of academics is fantastic. One focuses on Modern Germany, specifically Bavaria and the SS. The degree is also broader than the SSEES one. Get good vibes from KCL. Not really interested in Oxbridge rn - too narrow. Which one sounds better? Any suggestions for preparation before a Masters is surely welcome. I still read academic journals, for example.

@YorgoThoughts on just getting an Mphil / MA in history?

Thanks everyone. Public history in the UK is surely interesting, because you have individuals such as Tom Holland (without Phd) who hosts a podcast with Dominic Sandbrook (Phd). One of my favourite non-fiction books (about the Dresden bombings) was written by a contemporary British journalist, yet I enjoyed The SS Officer's Armchair, by an academic Jewish historian. One book I plan to read is 'The Man In The Red Coat' by Julian Barnes, who has a language and literary fiction background, which honestly, appeals to me. Very interested in bringing narrative and literary techniques to public history. As for Telkanurur's comments, there is plenty of expertise in Australian universities regarding public history, particularly at ANU. I've just enrolled in a subject (currently doing a certificate there) in biography and history. Yorgo, I once considered an Oxbridge Masters, but they seemed quite focused on specialisation and prep for an academic career, and I'm unsure that's my path. There are some great academics working there, however. I did find a Masters program in the UK (yeah, no funding, I know) that really piques my interest: MA in History from the School of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies, UCL. You can take elective modules in other departments, some narrowing in on public history. I appreciate the direction towards Pannapacker. Best of luck with your DPhil, us Modern European historians deal with such diverse sources and questions! Won't plan a Phd in the next decade after all. A Masters should help.

What will?

Hello everyone. I've noticed threads warning about history phds in the USA. The academic job market is dead, public history is struggling, the degree is long and time-consuming. All valid points, but I'm curious about 3 year phds from the UK or even Australia. Does the same advice apply? I'm considering a Phd in history, following a Masters degree (all from the UK; I'm Australian). My field is Modern European History, with emphasis on Russia (culture, art, religion). Currently I tutor creative writing and run a growing YouTube history channel. I am very passionate about teaching history, outside schools and universities, to those without the opportunity. One of my dreams is to write a popular history books. I believe a Phd and Masters will equip me with the skills to write high-quality history. But much of the advice online steers towards American Phd programs, which seem more intense and longer. Any advice on UK History phds would be appreciated. Obviously I haven't even touched on funding regarding UK / Aus.

Hey everyone. Thank you for your replies. I'm also under the impression that certain jobs- academic editing, university administration- require PhDs anyway (to my knowledge). A job that really appeals to me- annotating books- tends to go to PhD holders. But, I should consider maybe another academic path (perhaps a Masters in Literature). If I complete a PhD and return to Australia or to go to the UK, I will be eligible for plenty of positions in publishing. Part of me is really passionate about research and my ideas, but this thread has given me valuable advice. I could always look at PhDs in Canada, Australia, UK- where they have part-time options and less of a stigma against alternative academic paths.