History

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)



Meet Charan Mandur, PhD candidate in History

What is it about your grad program that enables you to thrive and be successful?
I think what enables me to thrive and be successful is the faculty since they are really supportive.

Describe your research.
My research focuses on environmental history, and more specifically, it is an environmental history of the Halifax Explosion, a blast that devasted Halifax in 1917.

What’s your favourite book?
If we’re talking about an academic work, then Vicious by Jon T. Coleman, it’s a book about the history of wolves and people in America. But if we’re talking a work of fiction, I like the book The Mystery of Mr. Nice by Bruce Hale. It’s a children’s book, I read it a lot as a kid, but I did read it again last summer for the fun of it.

What’s the best advice you could give to someone considering applying to your graduate program?
The best advice I would give to someone applying to my graduate program is (1) have a research topic in mind, and (2) reach out to the professors you would like to work with on that topic. I think all the professors in the department are great, but at the end of the day, it’s important to mesh well with your supervisor because they’ll be with you for the entirety of your degree.

Program Websites


Program Contact

Kara Brown (kbrow@uwo.ca)
Graduate Program Advisor

Department of History

Western University
Lawson Hall Rm 2201
London, Ontario N6A 5B6

t. 519-661-2111 ext. 84961
f. 519-661-3010

The Doctoral Program in History at Western trains select graduate students to be professional historians—world-class researchers, teachers, and scholars. Our faculty has deep strengths in Canadian history, the history of international relations and conflict, environmental history, and public history, with courses and eminent scholars in many other areas as well. And we are a recognized leader in the new digital history and digital humanities.


The Own Your Future doctoral professional development program will help you become a career-ready graduate with the skills necessary to excel in your studies and achieve your future goals. By participating in the program, you will assess your own strengths and opportunities for growth, choose what skills you want to enhance during your time at Western, and learn how to articulate the skills you gained in your degree to optimize your future career opportunities. To learn more, visit www.uwo.ca/ownyourfuture.

Program Length

  • 12 Terms

Program Design

  • Full-time study
  • Thesis-based

Funding Information

Applicants are encouraged to apply for the following scholarships (if eligible):

Admission Requirements

  • M.A. degree in History from an accredited university.
  • 80% average or better on all graduate courses.
  • Evidence of strong research potential.

Application Deadline

  • February 1
Acceptance notification begins in March.

The Graduate Committee will begin reviewing applications on February 1 and will stop reviewing applications on April 30. Applications received on or before February 1 will receive full consideration for scholarships.