History MA

Our MA course will allow you to build upon existing historical interests, while also acquiring new expertise in a range of exciting historical topics. At the same time, the course places great weight on key research techniques, helping you to develop and enhance the skills that historians use when approaching the past.

The MA in History is taught by a range of different historians, all of whom possess expertise in the latest historical theories and approaches. Our academics also have broad chronological and geographical interests, which help to make this both a stimulating and varied course.

You will be able to dip into the history of the Medieval and Early Modern periods or, if you so wish, explore more recent examples of the past. British, wider European and American history also feature prominently in the course, which confirms the Department’s belief in exploring the multiplicity and variety of history.

One of the real strengths of the course is that it is easy for students to track a pathway through the course based on their own interests. Option modules, dissertation topics and assessment themes can all be tailored to suit. So, whether you want to concentrate on the history of medieval Europe, more recent experiences of war and conflict, or something completely different, the choice is yours.

The MA History course runs across three terms with the fourth (summer) term dedicated fully to the research dissertation.

MODULES

• Advanced Research Skills: This module examines the skills and methodologies required for advanced archaeological, historical and heritage research. You will gain the opportunity to explore a range of skills and to build on your existing knowledge and expertise, including how to identify relevant resources, how to appraise and critique research publications, and how to construct and analyse historical and archaeological evidence. This module therefore lays the groundwork for larger research projects, such as the dissertation. Through this module, you can engage with the practicalities of undertaking research in the archive and the field, considering varying approaches to active and proactive research. You will learn how to work with historical and archaeological practitioners, organisations and digital resources, honing your craft with cutting-edge research methods and practice.   
• Global Histories of the City: The local and the global have repeatedly come together in the urban environment throughout history. This module explores the city as a space for global interactions and flows of people, goods, ideas and objects. Starting with the medieval and working through to the modern period, you will delve into questions of immigration, trade, food and culture. At the heart of the module is the issue of identity and belonging, themes that are imprinted into the very fabric of the city. For assessment, you will be able to choose from the case studies on offer in the module or choose your own case study. These modules provide a firm foundation for both the second topic modules and the research dissertation, as well as giving you an opportunity to collaborate with students on our other MA pathways in History and Archaeology.
• Histories of War, Conflict and Society: War and society have always been deeply entangled. Beyond the battlefield, civilians often experience violence, displacement and loss; sometimes even the home fronts themselves become the centre of conflict, such as during the bombing campaigns of the Second World War. This module explores key case studies from the medieval era through to the present, with each weekly topic examining how war has shaped politics, society and the lives of ordinary people. You will be able to choose your themes and periods relating to histories of war conflict and society to focus on for assessment. 
• Critical Perspectives on the Past: Why and how does the past matter? Why and how do academic researchers tackle the human journey and its significance in today's world? Spanning the disciplines of history, heritage studies and archaeology, this module provides an advanced-level introduction and engagement with current theoretical and applied debates on the meaning of the human past and its significance in today's world. These modules provide a firm academic foundation for research in your specialist topic modules and the research dissertation, as well as allowing you to collaborate with students on our other MA pathways in History and Archaeology.
• Professional Project: This module offers experiential learning opportunities in the form of bespoke placements, or experiential or research projects that are embedded in professional practice. Projects allow you to develop applied skills in public archaeology, history, museums and heritage through a closely defined piece of work. There is considerable flexibility in the design and scope of these professional projects, but they may include digital work, placements or research projects undertaken either internally or externally. Each project will enable you to understand the demand, design, purposes, commissioning and delivery of specialist research and practice across the heritage and public engagement sectors. Archaeology, History, Heritage and Museum Studies all place a high value on research project work and the communication of that work to the public.  The skills and capacity to carry out and present subject research according to required professional formats, accessibly and concisely for a range of audiences is an essential skill of the researcher. Demonstrating desk-based, collection-based, heritage or public engagement research expertise is also a key aspect of professional practice. Projects will be arranged to reflect your interests and, according to your pathway of study, may reflect on: 
  • Curation and collections management 
  • Material culture studies or archives 
  • Museums and heritage learning and public engagement 
  • Digital research or development 
  • Educational resources 
  • Relationships between archaeology and the public 
  • Archaeological, museums or heritage research practices, such as display 
  • Sector research and strategy  
• Mnemonic Landscapes and Digital Worlds: This module interrogates specialist approaches to a shared endeavour of history, archaeology and heritage studies: to tell the story and to critique the stories we tell, about past worlds. In the 21st century, this now encapsulates a host of digital and virtual environments, as well as more traditional engagements with tangible spaces and places. Material culture studies and social memory are pivotal concepts in this innovative field, allowing us to explore how people create the past through their engagements with physical as well as digital environments. We facilitate tackling these critical approaches outside of traditional subject-specific silos, through this module you will engage with interdisciplinary and specialist frameworks to enhance your chosen Master’s pathway. Here, you will have the opportunity to work with dedicated members of staff to explore topics in-depth and to develop your skills as a professional in your particular field. The module allows you to explore a wide range of chronological and geographic landscapes and environments, virtual or physical, through one of two critical lenses, either:
  • Tangible pasts: exploring landscape, material culture and memory in the past and present (incorporating archaeological, historical and heritage theory, method and practice) 
  • Digital pasts: evaluating and utilising digital and virtual environments for public history, heritage and public archaeology. 
• Research Dissertation: Each student researches and writes a 12,000-word dissertation on a historical, archaeological, museum or heritage-related topic of their choosing. The topic and title are negotiated between the student and the supervising tutor. The research dissertation is based upon guided, but largely independent, research and upon substantial use of a range of primary source materials. The dissertation module includes taught elements on dissertation prep and design and one-to-one individual supervision.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

Job Prospects

Students may go on to find meaningful employment in the industry or pursue a research degree. Destinations include heritage organisations, museums, and the civil service or education sectors. 

Careers Service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.