The Department of History offers the degree Doctorate of Philosophy in History. Within the limits imposed by the availability of qualified staff, students may pursue their studies in English or in French.

At the doctoral level, the department has five areas of strength:

• Canada and North America
• Europe
• Women, Gender and the Family
• Empire, Colonization and Decolonization
• War, Conflict and Diplomacy

Candidates may be accepted in other areas depending upon the availability of qualified supervisors.

The department participates in the collaborative program in Canadian Studies at the PhD level. For more information on this program, see “Admission Requirements” section of the doctoral program.

Because of its strength in relevant areas, its bilingual character and its location in the national capital, the University of Ottawa is uniquely positioned to offer a collaborative program leading to a specialization in Canadian Studies at the doctoral level. The program is especially designed for doctoral students in selected programs in the humanities and the social sciences who wish to enrich their training in a particular discipline by including an interdisciplinary component. 

The programs are governed by the general regulations in effect for graduate studies. 

For the most accurate and up to date information on application deadlines, language tests and other admission requirements, please visit the specific requirements webpage.

Students must have an MA in history (or the equivalent) with a minimum average of 75 per cent (B+) before they can be considered for admission. The department may require a written or oral entrance examination.

Advisers

On admission, students are assigned an adviser to assist in the choice of courses and fields.

Collaborative Program

Admission to the collaborative program in Canadian Studies at the doctoral level is determined by the coordination committee and will normally take place before the end of the first year of enrollment in the doctoral program. Students must meet the following conditions to be accepted:

• Enrollment in the doctoral program of one of the participating units.
• Enrollment in, or successful completion of, at least one course with Canadian content in the participating unit where the student is enrolled.
• Selection of the thesis topic with Canadian content. The coordination committee will determine, in consultation with the thesis director, if the Canadian content of the thesis meets the requirements of the collaborative program.

The title of the degree will in each case specify the discipline of the participating unit with specialization in Canadian Studies.

Students should be able to understand and read both official languages of Canada in order to participate in the bilingual interdisciplinary seminar CDN 6910.

Language Requirements

All applicants must be able to understand speak and write either English or French proficiently . Applicants whose first language is neither English nor French must provide proof of proficiency in one or the other. The list of acceptable tests is indicated in the “Admission” section of the general regulations in effect for graduate studies. 

In accordance with the University of Ottawa regulation, students have a right to produce their work, their thesis, and to answer examination questions in French or in English.

Doctorate with Collaborative Specialization

The Department of History is a participating unit in the collaborative program in Canadian Studies at the doctoral level. This program has been established for students wishing to enrich their training in history by including an interdisciplinary component in Canadian Studies. In addition to the 12 units required for the PhD program in History, the collaborative program requires completion of either CDN 6910 or CDN 6520.

Students must meet the following requirements:

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Compulsory Courses (HIS):
9 course units from three fields of study in history (HIS) at the graduate level 1		9 Units
HIS 8900	Doctoral Research Seminar	3 Units
Language Requirement:
HIS 5599	Exigence de langue française en histoire
Compulsory Courses (CDN):
3 course units from:		3 Units
CDN 6520	Séminaire sur la francophonie canadienne
CDN 6910	Seminar in Canadian Studies
Oral Examination:
HIS 9998	Doctoral Oral Examination 2
Thesis:
THD 9999	Doctoral Thesis 3

Note(s)

¹

Each doctoral field entails independent reading and written work under the guidance of a director. An outline of the work to be undertaken in each field must be approved by the relevant field director and submitted for approval to the graduate studies committee before the end of the student's first term of enrollment in the program. The field director is responsible for monitoring the student's progress and for grading the student's written work and overall performance. Students may not enroll in any doctoral field for more than four terms.

²

The oral examination, combining all three doctoral fields, is held before a jury presided over by the chairperson of the departmental graduate studies committee, or his representative. Students are required to take the oral examination by the end of their fourth term.

³

The research, writing and defence of the thesis generally require two full years after the oral examination. The thesis must be an original contribution to historical knowledge. It should be 250-350 pages in length excluding notes and bibliography and appendices. It must be defended before a jury normally composed of four examiners.

Transfer from Master's to PhD

However, applicants with an 80 per cent (A-) average in the honours BA may also be accepted after completion of the course work of the non-thesis master's program, provided they have performed at the same level in their master's courses. Please note that the minimal admission average requirements for the doctoral program must also be met. The department may require a written or oral entrance examination.

Language Requirements

Students in both the master's and doctoral programs must understand, speak and write either English or French fluently. In addition, students in both programs must demonstrate their reading competence in Canada's other official language, French or English, at the earliest opportunity, by passing a language examination administered by the department in the fall or winter term. To this end, enrollment in HIS 5599 is compulsory.

Students who take a graduate course in history in the other language may be exempted from this examination, given a favourable report from the professor concerned.

Students working in a field of history where a language other than English or French is necessary may also be required to demonstrate their grasp of that language.

Duration of Program

Students are expected to fulfill all requirements within four years. The maximum time permitted is six years from the date of initial enrollment in the program, or seven years in the case of the students transferring from the master’s to the doctorate.

Minimum Standards

The passing grade in all courses is C+. Students who fail two courses (equivalent to 6 units), the thesis proposal, or the comprehensive exam or whose research progress is deemed unsatisfactory are required to withdraw.

Research at the University of Ottawa

Located in the heart of Canada’s capital, a few steps away from Parliament Hill, the University of Ottawa ranks among Canada’s top 10 research universities. Our research is founded on excellence, relevance and impact and is conducted in a spirit of equity, diversity and inclusion.

Our research community thrives in four strategic areas:

• Creating a sustainable environment
• Advancing just societies
• Shaping the digital world
• Enabling lifelong health and wellness

From advancing healthcare solutions to tackling global challenges like climate change, the University of Ottawa’s researchers are at the forefront of innovation, making significant contributions to society and beyond.

Research at the Faculty of Arts

The Faculty of Arts is proud of the state of the art research conducted by its professors. In the spirit of showcasing its research to the university community as well as to the general public, the Faculty has created three activities: Dean's Lecture Series, Treasures of the Library, and Excellence Lectures.

Facilities, Research Centres and Institutes at the Faculty of Arts

• Centre de recherche en civilisation canadienne-française,
• Institute of Indigenous Research and Studies,
• Institute for Science, Society and Policy,
• Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI) 
• Morisset Library

For more information, refer to the list of faculty members and their research fields on Uniweb. 

IMPORTANT: Candidates and students looking for professors to supervise their thesis or research project can also consult the website of the faculty or department of their program of choice. Uniweb does not list all professors authorized to supervise research projects at the University of Ottawa.

• All the 9000-level courses are reserved for Ph.D. students.
• Up to six units in 9000-level fields may be counted towards the master's program course requirements. HIS 5122 or HIS 5522 is obligatory.
• Students in the master's program may take, at the discretion of the departmental graduate studies committee, one three-unit directed studies course (either HIS 7399 or HIS 7799).
• Master's students may also take, with the approval of the departmental graduate studies committee, three units from among fourth-year seminars.
• All of the 5000-, 6000- and 7000-level courses listed below are for three units each (except for HIS 5199, HIS 5599, HIS 6999 and THM 7999). They are not necessarily offered every year.
• Students should check with the Department or the departmental Web site for annual course offerings.
• All the 9900-level doctoral fields listed below are for three units (except HIS 9998 and THD 9999). Subject to availability of professors, students are responsible for determining their fields and field directors. The language of instruction is decided on mutually between the student and the professor.