Australia’s first World History PhD student

With Macquarie University one of only five universities in the world to offer a PhD program in World History, 28-year-old Nicola Myton has the distinction of being Australia’s first World History PhD student.

From hairdresser to historian

Nicola Myton

When Myton dropped out of high school in Year 10, she never dreamed that she would study at university one day. After tackling a number of jobs including hairdressing and dog grooming, Myton returned to study at the age of 21, completing her HSC at Granville TAFE.

“I undertook my HSC with the explicit goal of going to university but I had no idea of what I wanted to do when I got there,” says Myton.

For Myton, who admits to having an innate nosiness, history was the perfect choice. After completing her undergraduate degree at Macquarie, she went on to gain honours in historiography, and after a period of paid employment, Myton returned as a full time PhD student.

Writing ethics, writing the world

The topic of Myton’s thesis is Writing ethics, writing the world, which follows on from her honours piece. “World History is broad and general and thanks to its popularity world historians tend to lose a bit of credibility,” explains Myton. “But it’s actually an interesting and highly developed field.”

Myton is proposing that when historians prescribe how to ‘do’ history, they make an ethical statement – explaining how history should, or ought, to be done.

“Historians tend to favour approaches that hold the individual as central to their ethical methodologies,” she says. “I want to argue that moving away from a view of ethics that is centred on individuals is not unethical, but can be beneficial to the field of world history. If broader themes such as human relationships, gender, or the environment are used, historians could increase the scope of their field and produce new and exciting histories."

Breakthrough research

“Nicola is engaged in breakthrough research, drawing together ideas from ethics, history theory and world history and challenging us all to think about our relationships with people near and far, past and present,” says Myton’s supervisor, Dr Marnie Hughes-Warrington. “Ethical issues are increasingly occupying the attention of professional historical bodies such as the Australian and American historical associations, and I believe that she will have much to say that will augment and challenge research and teaching practices.”

Personal Gain

Discipline, a happy ‘work life’, great facilities and exciting research are among the top benefits of undertaking a PhD according to Myton. She has been fortunate to receive two awards that are allowing her to complete her PhD full time.

“My most important goal is to write a thesis that I’m proud of and that the University will be proud of,” says Myton.

For further information contact Nicola Myton’s supervisor: marnie.hughes-warrington@mq.edu.au

December 2004

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