Our expertise ranges from the medieval to the contemporary, including African, American, Asian, British and European history. We are particularly well-known for our strengths in cultural, intellectual and political history.
We practise well-established and innovative forms of historical research as individual scholars and in research groups. Whilst the work of our historians and doctoral researchers crosses many historical borders, it is carried out under three major research clusters: Society, Culture and Belief; History of Thought, Emotion and Knowledge; and National and International Society and Governance. We have world-leading research centres in the History of Political Thought and the History of the Emotions. We are also home to particularly prominent research groups in Medieval and Renaissance History, the Eighteenth Century, Modern Jewish Studies, as well as centres specialising in public policy and public engagement. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2021), the School of History was ranked 7th overall among every higher education institution in the UK, according to Times Higher Education – and Queen Mary’s own calculations show that we are #2 for the percentage of research outputs rated at the highest quality level (4*) and #5 for overall research output.
Our MA History is taught across our School – directed by Dr Martyn Frampton.
Informing Policy
As an historian of the Troubles in Ireland as well as of Islamist extremism, Dr Martyn Frampton is ideally qualified to comment on the nature of terrorism and government policy responses to this pressing issue. In 2016, Martyn led a project that produced the most extensive survey to date of British Muslim views across the UK, and, in 2017, he directed a major study into the scope and availability of extremist material online. The School of History is home to other renowned historians at the leading edge of their research. In recent years, the renowned cultural historian Professor Amanda Vickery wrote and presented two prestigious BBC television series based on her research – The Story of Women and Art and Suffragettes Forever: The Story of Women and Power – highlighting the role of women in art and politics and attracting a global audience. Dr Tom Asbridge wrote and presented a BBC Two documentary, based on his bestselling biography of the celebrated medieval knight, William Marshal, that drew in millions of viewers and was praised by the likes of The Guardian and The Times. In 2017, Tom also served as the historical consultant for a major exhibition commemorating Marshal’s victory in the 1217 Battle of Lincoln. Our MA History of Political Thought and Intellectual is taught across both Queen Mary and UCL, both of whom have academics with world leading research to their name.
Read more about research at the School of History