Postgraduate Research

The Centre for Business History in Scotland (CBH) is an ideal environment for those wishing to study by research for a higher degree in this field, irrespective of whether their interests are predominantly centred on Scotland, the UK, the EU, or the broader international community. The Centre encourages the study of all aspects of business history and looks to develop the subject in a variety of ways, not least through the supervision of research students and by helping them to build on and extend their skills in order to foster future career development. Supervision is available not only from within CBH, but also from the academic staff of the Department of Economic and Social History with which the Centre has close and constant links.

PhD Studentship: "Business, Banking or Financial History"

The Centre for Business History in Scotland are pleased to announce the award of a three year PhD Studentship to Mr Enea Gjika, an EU student from Greece. The studentship commenced in September 2008 and will finish in June 2011.

Research resources

The University of Glasgow's Archive Services provides access to one of Europe's largest holdings of business records, the Scottish Business Archive, which numbers over 400 separate collections constituting the world's most comprehensive archive on regional industry. In addition, CBH has its own research library which comprises over 7000 books as well as a unique collection of business pamphlets formerly in the possession of the Business Archives Council. The main University Library is a European Documentation Centre and a depository for Council of Europe publications, which combined with its extensive book and periodicals stock, together with electronic resources, makes it one of the finest in the UK.

Accommodation

CBH is located within Lilybank House, a handsome Victorian building which recently underwent an extensive refurbishment, conveniently close to both the University Library and the University Archive Service. The building is also the home of the Department of Economic and Social History, and postgraduate research students share their own dedicated office with networked PCs, photocopying and other facilities. Students at CBH have the opportunity to share in both the academic and social life of the Department, which includes a regular Seminar programme with invited speakers from other academic institutions.

Application for funding

The Centre is happy to advise on funding availability and to assist with the preparation of applications. There are a number of opportunities for UK, EU, and International students to pursue, and the Centre urges those interested to contact us as soon as possible for guidance on how best to proceed. For instance, UK and EU students can apply to the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) for 1 + 3 year funding for appropriate projects, and the University of Glasgow offers a number of Postgraduate Scholarships which are equivalent to an ESRC scholarship (grant plus cost of home/EU fees). These are available to both home and overseas students. International students can apply through the University for an ORS award to cover the difference between domestic and international fees. In some cases the Centre itself is able to provide support for travel and research for current students. Also the Economic History Society offers travel grants for postgraduate students.

Further advice on preparation and submission of material for publication is also available.

Current research students in Business History

As an indicator of the range and variety of interests covered within the Centre, individual research projects currently being carried out by postgraduate students include:

Duncan Connors 'The Role of Political Decision Making in the Decline of the Shipbuilding Industries on the Clyde in comparison to its international competitors, 1945-1977'. (Supervisors Dr Neil Rollings and Dr Duncan Ross).

Alison Gilmour 'An Examination of Industrial Relations at the the Linwood Car Plant, 1963-1981'. (Supervisors Dr Jim Phillips and Dr Arthur McIvor, University of Strathclyde).

Catriona Haston 'A Comparison of the Effects on Economic Growth of the Expansion of the higher Education Systems of East and West Germany, 1945-1990'. (Supervisors Professor Ray Stokes and Professor Catherine Schenk).

Michael Hughes
'Will be updated shortly'. (Supervisors ).

Iain McTavish 'UK Defence Policy, the Defence Industry and European Integration in the 1950s and 1960s'. (Supervisors Professor Ray Stokes and Dr Neil Rollings).

Matthias Puehl 'The History of Industrial Gases'.(Supervisors Professor Ray Stokes and Dr Neil Rollings).

Robert Reid 'The Rhetoric of Americanisation: Social Construction and the British Computer Industry'. (Supervisors Professor Ray Stokes and Dr Neil Rollings).

Campbell Wilson 'The UK Renewable Energy Sector: origins and development, 1973-1988'. (Supervisors Professor Ray Stokes and Dr Neil Rollings).