PhD Biography

Quality teaching

This course has consistently been rated ‘excellent’ by external examiners and inspectors. We offer high quality, traditional Oxbridge-style teaching, which leads to our degrees being recognised around the world. The standards of degrees and awards are safeguarded by distinguished external examiners – senior academic staff from other universities in the UK.

Teaching methods

One-on-one supervisions are held at least twice a term while the research proposal and then thesis is being prepared. While the thesis must be the candidate’s independent work, it is the supervisor who offers advice, as needed, on refining the topic, on primary sources, on secondary reading, on research techniques, and on writing and structure. Typically, our students have two supervisors, one of whom has expertise in the period or persons studied in the thesis, and with the other supervisor focusing more on the student’s writing and presentation. Classes and regular group discussions between research students at all degree levels (MA and PhD) create a mutually supportive community of peers and allow for the exchange of research experiences.

Assessment methods

Degrees by research require an original contribution to the body of knowledge in a particular academic or professional discipline, and a substantial engagement with primary sources.

PhD students without relevant MAs may be asked to complete the short pieces of coursework of the Biography MA, and all doctoral students are assessed by a thesis of up to 80,000 words that conforms to the MHRA style guide.

All research degrees are regulated by the Research Committee and students are required to conform to guidelines laid down in the Research Degrees Handbook.

Programme Director

Ophelia Field is the author of a critically acclaimed life of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough (1660-1744) titled The Favourite, first published in 2002 and in revised edition in 2018. In 2008, she produced a group biography, again set in the early eighteenth century, titled The Kit-Cat Club: Friends Who Imagined a Nation, which was one of the Financial Times’ History Books of the Year. She has also written and taught extensively on the essay form, including a chapter on political essays in On Essays: Montaigne to the Present (OUP, 2020). In parallel, Ophelia has worked for over 30 years as a policy analyst and communications consultant for a range of human rights and refugee organisations. She has been teaching on The University of Buckingham’s Biography Programme since 2019, and previously taught biography at the University of London’s Centre for Editing Lives and Letters (CELL).

Location

All teaching takes place at the University’s central London premises at Gower Street, though 1:1 supervisions may also take place online and at other mutually convenient times.
51 Gower Street
Bloomsbury
London
WC1E 6HJ

What our students and alumni say

“Taking an MA in Biography at the University of Buckingham literally changed my life. I had been writing and researching some families who lived in South London in the 1860s, and had written a book about one of them, and had plans to write another, but I simply could not find a publisher, although people made lots of nice noises about the subject and my style. Apparently, I was told, I did not have the ‘credentials’ to get a book deal. I took that as a challenge and with my 60th birthday approaching decided it was time to go back to school.

The course that Buckingham offered was perfect for me – a regular day a week in Gower Street, the heart of London academia, a chance to meet like-minded enthusiasts, and expert tuition from Professor Ridley and Ophelia Field, two masters of the biographical craft. It completely rebuilt my confidence and gave me the tools to tackle my subject more professionally. By the time my degree came through, I had an agent, and a book deal on the way.”
– Sarah Harkness

“I joined the MA Biography course because I already had a book in mind and needed to learn how to do the research, including digital research of foreign archives, and the vital business of completing references.

When it came to the final dissertation, I was fortunate to benefit from the informed advice, support and wise counselling of my supervisor, Ophelia Field […] Ophelia’s literary skills were invaluable to me in the drafting and structuring of my work and to acquiring command of the necessary academic style of writing.”
– Gillian Jones

A well-structured course which covers all aspects of biography. It analyses both the historical evolution of the genre as well as contemporary developments. Whether your main interest is in biography, autobiography, letters, diaries or memoirs, the teaching highlights well-chosen examples which benefit too from group discussion. The overall platform provides a sound basis for individual research into an historical, literary or more contemporary figure, whether it’s someone famous, obscure or with whom you have a connection.

The lectures and individual tutorial support help orient your archival and other research and ensure too that your dissertation is academically structured. Working under university auspices can also help provide reassurance to people you might approach as possible contacts or research leads.

The participation of guest speakers adds real zest to discussions. Established writers generously offer insights into their own research and writing methods, as well as pitfalls to avoid. They can also sometimes offer advice on getting work published […] All this is particularly useful if you hope to expand your thesis into a full-length work that might be publishable.
– David Campbell

“[W]hen I saw the advert for the Buckingham course I was immediately intrigued. As an avid reader of biographies, I was excited by the prospect of studying the history and development of biography writing and, more importantly, by the opportunity to write a biography of my own, under the guidance of a respected and prize-winning biographer.

[…] My fellow students were a fascinating mix of people, both younger and older and from all walks of life. The course has given me access to agents, publishers and many well-known biographers. I am so glad that I made the decision to study Biography at Buckingham, I now have a book that I’m hoping to publish. The course is fascinating, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone wanting to do an MA, but one that’s a little bit different to the rest.”
– Anna Thomasson

“The Biography MA gave me the tools to launch out on a career as a biographer: the theoretical framework; a knowledge of the major biographical figures, texts and techniques; an exposure to British research resources and an introduction to agents and publishers, one of whom published my book. Above all, it gave me a thirst to write.”
– Nigel Collett

“[I]n many ways [Buckingham’s Biography MA] is perhaps as close as it is possible to get nowadays to a Platonically ideal notion of what being at university is for.

I heartily recommend this course to anyone with an interest either in themselves or in someone else: it will demonstrate that biography is not simply a way of seeing an individual, but is also a way of seeing the world.”
– Wynn Wheldon

Applicants are normally expected to have a first or second class, upper division degree or significant experience. A Master’s degree is preferred.

Mature students

Age is no barrier to learning and we welcome all applications from suitably qualified students. Due to their flexibility, our London-based MAs by research attract a wide variety of applicants from a range of backgrounds, including people in full-time employment and retirees.

International students

We are happy to consider all international applications and if you are an international student, you may find it useful to visit our international pages for details of entry requirements from your home country.

The University is a UKVI Student Sponsor.

English levels

If English is not your first language, please check our postgraduate English language requirements. If your English levels don’t meet our minimum requirements, you may be interested in applying for our Pre-sessional English Language Foundation Programmes.

Selection process

Candidates apply online, sending in their supporting documents, and will be assessed on this basis by the Programme Director. Students enter, technically, with the status of MPhil student in their first year, with the aim of being upgraded to PhD student at their first annual review. The Programme Director or Admissions Assistant will be happy to answer any enquiries. Call us on +44 (0)1280 820227 or get in touch via our online form.

Student Contract for prospective students

When you are offered a place at the University you will be notified of the student contract between the University and students on our courses of study. When you accept an offer of a place on the course at the University a legal contract is formed between you and the University on the basis of the student contract in your offer letter. Your offer letter and the student contract contain important information which you should read carefully before accepting an offer. Read the Student Contract.

The University reserves the right to increase course fees annually in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI). If the University intends to increase your course fees it will notify you via email of this as soon as reasonably practicable.

Course fees do not include additional costs such as books, equipment, writing up fees and other ancillary charges. Where applicable, these additional costs will be made clear.