Research Focus
Medicine, the body and social power structures (in cross-cultural contexts), including:
- Reproduction, healthcare and state governance;
- Medical knowledge and power structures;
- Social inequality in medical practice;
- Medicine and identity construction (gender/race);
- Health and the body in historical contexts.
Programme Structure and Funding
This is a full-time PhD programme with a duration of 4–6 years (48–72 months). Only 1 place is available.
The university provides full scholarship support for 6 years (through forms such as tuition support, tuition remission and TA).
Entry Requirements
History, world history, history of medicine, Latin American studies, Spanish, area studies, sociology, anthropology, history of science, cultural studies
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Academic background: a bachelor’s or master’s degree in history.
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Grade requirements: an average grade of B+ in undergraduate upper division coursework (approximately GPA ≥ 3.4/4.0); master’s GPA ≥ 3.5.
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Language requirements: TOEFL: 100 (before 21 January 2026) or 5 (on or after 21 January 2026); or IELTS: 7.5. Minimum English requirement for admission: TOEFL 87 or 4.5; or IELTS 7 (if the TOEFL score is between 87 and 100 or the IELTS score is between 7 and 7.5, the applicant must take the ESLPE (academic writing ability) test after enrolment); TOEFL iBT Home Edition and IELTS Online test scores are accepted; Applicants who have obtained a degree in the United States or another English-taught country may apply for a language exemption;
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References: 3 academic letters of recommendation.
Preferred Qualifications
- Students may not use AI when completing academic work;
- Have taken courses in Mexican or Latin American history, as well as courses related to the history of medicine, at undergraduate or postgraduate level;
- Have Spanish listening, speaking, reading and writing skills;
- Have previously travelled to Mexico or Latin America and intend to go again (the key point is that they must be willing to carry out extensive research work in archives in Mexico or Latin America);
- Plan to write a doctoral dissertation on the topic of: transnational history of medicine between China (or other Asian countries) and Mexico (preferred) or Latin America (before 1820);
- Applicants who have completed an excellent master’s thesis and regard UCLA as their first choice are more favourably considered.
Application Materials
- CV;
- 3 academic letters of recommendation;
- Statement of purpose (1,000 words);
- Personal statement (500 words);
- A writing sample of no more than 10 pages, double-spaced (excluding references);
- Language test report within two years;
- Undergraduate and master’s transcripts.
Application Period
Application deadline: 1 December, for entry in the following autumn.
Application Process
From now until early September, applicants submit an English CV and relevant materials, and we will conduct a preliminary assessment. In September–October, those who pass the initial screening will be invited to interview with a potential supervisor. In November, after passing the interview, applicants must formally submit their application materials through the official website. In December–January, shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by the school’s admissions committee. In February–May, offers of admission will be issued.
Tuition and Living Costs
Living Costs
Approximately USD 38,281 per year (depending on individual circumstances).
Insurance Costs
USD 6,882 per year (students who have their own insurance may be exempt).
- Tuition: for the 2025–26 academic year, USD 28,242 per year + fees, totalling USD 37,008.98 per year (note: tuition rises slightly each year).
Career Prospects
PhD graduates of the Department of History at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have relatively broad employment prospects. According to official UCLA data, over the past five years the employment rate of PhD graduates has reached 91.5%, and the median salary after five years is approximately USD 65,000.
More than 70% of graduates enter higher education institutions, including tenure-track and non-tenure-track teaching posts, university research and administrative positions; in addition, some graduates enter primary and secondary schools, government, non-profit organisations, museums and cultural heritage, and consulting. In terms of career choices, PhD graduates mainly move into the following areas:
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Academia: graduates are widely employed by universities in the United States and internationally, covering research universities, state universities, community colleges and others, with particular concentration in California, New York and other places; some graduates go on to teach in Canada, Germany, South Korea and other countries. This is the largest employment direction.
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Public humanities and museums and cultural heritage: graduates work in museums, archives, cultural heritage protection institutions and elsewhere in curating, archival research and compilation, and public education, applying historical expertise directly to public service. - Government and non-profit organisations: alumni have held positions such as diplomats at the US Department of State, programme officers at national museums, and researchers at international consulting firms.
At the same time, PhDs in history are also active in think tanks, policy research institutions and international organisations. - Media and cultural and creative fields: the skills in source criticism, narrative and analysis cultivated by historical training are highly sought after, and graduates take on roles as editors, planners and writers at publishing houses, documentary production companies, digital content platforms and cultural communication institutions.
