Are you an undergraduate student who is the first generation in their family to attend university? Are you interested in pursuing further education after your undergraduate degree?
Our Widening Histories Programme might be the perfect opportunity for you to experience what postgraduate study and beyond is like!
Queen Mary's Department of History has one of the most diverse undergraduate populations in the UK. We want our postgraduate students and lecturers to reflect that too.
Through this programme, students with intellectual potential will be equipped with knowledge and skills to map their own path to an academic future. They will be ready to become serious researchers, amazing postgraduate students, or, someday, inspirational professors and mentors.
About the programme
The programme begins at the end of your second year and continues through the final year. If your application is successful, you will receive a bursary to participate in a week of full-time activities as part of the programme. This prepares you to fully realise your intellectual potential in your final year!
Next, you will continue to gather for specialised training sessions, talks and activities. Talks will include, for example, work in progress from researchers that demonstrate how to build a research project.
Activities include: 
- A one-day archival visit to Oxford University Special Collections
- Writing sessions with writing tutors
- Research sessions: moving from idea to project, using primary sources
- Talks with UK professors and our Queen Mary global professors of BAME background
- Practical sessions on postgraduate study in the UK and internationally: how programmes work, what the expectations are, and how they can be funded.
Overall, the programme is based on shared mentoring and community building. While it does not remove all the barriers to academic study, it will openly discuss these barriers and share ideas for challenging them.
Current student Matheus shares his experience
Matheus found value in the Widening Histories Programme, as he could showcase the value of higher education to his mum and feel empowered in his decision.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the programme, students must:
- Be prepared to enter their final year of study at Queen Mary in 2025-26
- Be fully enrolled for the 2025/26 academic year
Participation in the Summer School covers:
- A daily bursary of £80/day
- Lunch and coffee each day
- Travel to/from Oxford for archival visits
- Closing reception for family
Submitting an application
Details will be updated here when the next application process is open.
For queries, please email the Director of Education, Dr Leslie James, at leslie.james@qmul.ac.uk
Student testimonials
- Listen to Aleisha's highlights of the Widening Histories programme.
- Hear why Arista thought the Widening Histories programme was a valuable experience.
- Check out Hudhayfa's thoughts about the Widening Histories programme.
"This was a really once-in-a-lifetime experience. From the coordination to the overall theme. I truly felt that I was given more than what I looked for and could not recommend this programme more."
"This has been an incredible experience and really validating. I don’t think the possibility of doing a masters/PhD felt realistic for me until this week!"
"Being able to go to Oxford and see the archives first hand, along with meeting esteemed historians [from outside QMUL] were such great honours and very valuable experiences. I also really appreciated how it felt like a practice run for postgrad life and gave a practical insight into what to expect. Honestly, all that only scratches the surface of how beneficial the whole week was, and what a privilege it was to be able to participate."
"This was a unique experience of support and guidance, which will undoubtedly prove invaluable for next year’s dissertation and future postgraduate studies."
"This was a lovely experience, I can’t find the words to describe how much it meant to me."
Frequently asked questions
Question:
Am I obliged to apply for postgraduate study afterwards?
Answer:
No. This programme will nurture your intellectual interests, academic skills, and practical knowledge. At the end of the day, you will then be equipped to navigate the right path for you.