Research Training

We deliver high-quality training programmes to a wide community of historians and professionals, and provide unique distance learning opportunities.

Each year we run an extensive programme of training in historical research skills for professional historians, independent researchers, and early career scholars. Courses vary in length from one day to one term, and cover a variety of subjects from language learning to digital research practices.

We are also happy to devise and teach bespoke training in all areas of historical research and method for university departments, museums, local studies centres, and specialist and community groups anywhere in the UK.

Contact the research training office

Get in touch to learn more about research training opportunities at the IHR.

Email: ihr.events@sas.ac.uk
Office hours: Monday-Friday (09:00-16:30)

Our courses

Databases for historians

This 4-day course is an introduction to the theory and practice of constructing and using databases.

Designing databases for historical research (free course)

This free module provides an overview of important concepts both in terms of the historical data that might be used in databases and in terms of the design process.

Explanatory paradigms: an introduction to historical theory

This course aims to provide a critical introduction to some of the most influential frameworks of explanation in historical work today.

Historical mapping and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

The ‘spatial turn’ is a now well-established historical concept and practice. This course explains how to apply space as a category of analysis and how to use maps as source materials.

Medieval and Renaissance Latin

The IHR and the Warburg Institute offer two courses in late medieval and Renaissance Latin, each for two terms. The courses are devised to train students to read and understand late Medieval and Renaissance documents.

Methods and sources for historical research

This course aims to equip historical researchers with the skills they will need to find and gain access to all the primary source materials they need for their projects.

Palaeography and diplomatic

The course is designed to help students to work with medieval and early modern manuscripts.

15 mar

New MA History Place and Community

Our new MA History Place and Community, launching autumn 2023, will be taught by our expert academic colleagues, alongside guests from other sectors and profess…

27 feb

BBIH February 2023 update

What’s new in BBIH?  The February 2023 update to the Bibliography of British and Irish History adds 3145 new publications. The new update includes books, journ…

24 feb

Meet Dr Tristan Griffin, new BBIH section editor for Empire and Commonwealt…

In this blog post we meet Tristan Griffin, recently appointed as the Bibliography of British and Irish History (BBIH) section editor for Empire and Commonwealth…

23 feb

Exploring diaries in the IHR library

Susie Tucker, Graduate Trainee Library Assistant in the IHR Wohl Library, discusses the process of finding and choosing diaries in the library's collection to s…

20 feb

Meet Dr Ben Guy, new BBIH section editor for Medieval Wales

In this blog post, Dr Ben Guy reflects on his recent appointment as the Bibliography of British and Irish History (BBIH) section editor for medieval Wales, draw…

17 feb

Call for Section Editor: Ireland before 1640, Bibliography of British and I…

The Bibliography of British and Irish History seeks to appoint one new Section Editor with research and/or teaching expertise in the following areas:  Sect…

25 jan

Creative Repurposing of Heritage Assets

The IHR’s Centre for the History of People, Place and Community recently published the findings of a project on ‘Creative Repurposing and Levelling Up: History,…

13 jan

Announcing the new IHR MA History Place and Community

We’re hugely excited to be launching our new MA History Place and Community from the Institute of Historical Research, with applications now open for autumn 202…