Historical Studies (MA, PgDip, PgCert)

The MA in Historical Studies provides students with a degree which fits the changing landscape of academia and society at large. It offers students the chance to develop their understanding of various historical themes, topics and eras, and to harness methodological, technical and research skills that characterise the study of history at postgraduate level and beyond.

The MA is research-led and rooted in lecturers’ professional interests and expertise. The programme focuses on the ways in which the past has been narrativised, represented and contested in various media and settings (e.g. film, memorials, museums, websites). Students have the chance to take modules spanning the ancient medieval and modern periods. They will also explore how technological advances in the field of digital humanities are impacting knowledge and understandings of the past.

The programme offers an engaging syllabus which allows undergraduate students to take their studies to the next level.

Course Overview

The programme draws together lecturers’ expertise in broad areas of ancient, medieval and modern history. While led by lecturer’s research interests, the programme maximises the opportunities for students to develop and explore their own particular interests and passions. Modules on fiction and history, memory and history, and film and history are sufficiently open-ended that students can choose to complete assessments that fit their individual intellectual pursuits. For instance, a student who wishes to specialise in the modern or medieval periods could opt to complete assessments relating to films, novels and commemorative practices associated with those historical eras. Likewise, a student with a particular passion for one nation’s history (e.g. France) could tailor their assessments towards that particular interest (e.g. write essays on French cinema, literature and memorials).

The curriculum is designed to encourage students to explore independent research interests and to take increasing ‘ownership’ over the design of their studies. The programme places special emphasis on equipping students with the knowledge and skills required to undertake a 15,000 word dissertation based on original research. To this end, there is a specific module on research methodology, with other relevant approaches (e.g. literary and film theory, digital humanities techniques) also embedded throughout the syllabus.

Assessment

The programme draws upon a wide range of assessment techniques, which aim to produce historians with a multifaceted set of skills and knowledge. Modules concentrate in particular on essay-writing, but also include the following assessments: book reviews; reflective journals; posters; group and individual presentations, web programming and design exercise; source commentaries and film analyses.

The core assessment is the final 15,000-word dissertation. The dissertation places a premium on originality and independent research. To equip students with the necessary knowledge and techniques for dissertation work, they are required to take a research methodology module early in their degree. This grounds students with the essential skills that are then finessed in other modules, culminating with the dissertation itself.

Students can also exit with PGCert and PGDip awards.