PhD Biography in Buckingham United Kingdom | University of Buckingham

Established in 1996, Buckingham's pioneering MA in Biography continues to offer the only historical biography specialization of its kind. Over time, we've expanded our offerings to include a PhD in Biography, catering to growing student interest. Students can pursue these programs either full-time or part-time.

Our faculty brings expertise spanning historical eras from Early Modern times to contemporary periods, with a strong focus on examining biographical subjects within their historical, social, and political frameworks. We welcome scholars interested in life writing or literary biography to collaborate with our cross-disciplinary team, including experts like Dr. Pete Orford (author of a Charles Dickens biography) and Dr. Peter Sloane (specializing in refugee memoirs and life narratives).

Program structure
During their initial year, students participate in the same weekly seminars as MA by Research in Biography candidates. These foundational sessions develop crucial critical perspectives and run as follows:

Autobiography Studies (September-December)
Advanced Biography Seminar (January-June)
Research Methodology (January-June)
The Biography and Autobiography components examine both seminal works and modern texts, while the Research Methods module delivers specialized training tailored for biographers.

Intake periods
September 2024
January 2025

Program length
3 Years (Full-time)
6 Years (Part-time)