Global History

Entry requirements

Subject requirements are a 2:1 undergraduate qualification, with an overall average score of 65% or above, or a GPA of 3.5 or above, or equivalent.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Ours is a richly interconnected world. That was just as true in the past as it is in the present. The MA in Global History equips you with the tools to explore the themes that define an interlinked global past in various regions of the world and from the medieval to late modern eras. You will leave the course with a firm grounding in historical research and an aptitude for approaching it through the distinctive techniques of global history.

Global history is a distinctive method of analysis that considers historical events as they unfold in the context of large-scale political, cultural, social, economic, and environmental contexts that cut across traditional national and regional boundaries. Modern-day challenges, such as the climate crisis and pandemic disease, highlight the benefits of a global perspective, but by no means are the global links that shape these challenges new phenomena. A global historical perspective both puts modern global challenges in historical context and reveals the globally interconnected nature of past cultures and civilisations.

You will encounter the tools for exploring these connections in the module Foundations of Global History. It provides the extensive methodological grounding you will need for further research in global history, or to apply insights from the course to other sectors.

The remainder of the taught modules are selected from options that provide in-depth exploration of topics and themes linked to active research in the Department. The knowledge and skills developed across the taught modules are then integrated into a dissertation, which offers a further opportunity to shape your own path through the course.

The course provides the intellectual skills and conceptual tools to engage with a long and varied history of global integration. You will graduate with a depth of knowledge that enables you to confront historical questions on a global scale, a breadth of subject expertise covering multiple time periods and regions, and the skill to communicate your insights incisively.

Postgraduates play an active part in the academic and social life of the Department with involvement in discussion groups, annual conferences, and guest lectures. The course offers the opportunity for wider academic networking through the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, the Centre for Nineteenth Century Studies, and the Centre for Visual Arts and Culture, among other centres and institutes.

Information for international students

An international community

Studying abroad is a unique and exciting experience. Durham University has a long history of welcoming students from across the globe and is one of the UK’s most historic universities with a unique college system.

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Fees and funding

Scholarships

Durham University is committed to supporting the best students irrespective of financial circumstances. They offer a range of scholarships for undergraduate, postgraduate (taught and research), international and current students.

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