West Midlands History

Entry requirements

The normal entrance requirement will be a good honours degree in History or other appropriate discipline. Other qualifications will be accepted, with every application being considered on its own merit.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Have you ever wondered how the cities and counties of the West Midlands developed? Do you want to find out about the changing lives of local men, women and children? This part-time programme provides an opportunity for study if you are interested in any aspect of the history of the region. It is delivered by Saturday schools and taught by leading scholars. Students come from many different backgrounds and previous knowledge of history is not required. It is suitable for students who are retired or have family and work commitments which make full-time study difficult.

Programme content

The programme is broadly chronological and covers the history of the region from the 11th century to the end of the 20th. It does not aim for a complete century-by-century coverage but will allow you to gain a detailed knowledge of social, political, industrial, religious and cultural history.

You will study six core modules (full descriptions available below):

• People and Places in the West Midlands c. 1000-1500
• Reformation, Social Change and Civil War: The West Midlands in the 16th and 17th Centuries
• Transforming the Region: Economy, Society and Politics in the West Midlands in the 18th and 19th Centuries
• Turmoil and Change: Economy, Society and Politics in the West Midlands in the 20th century
• Sources and Research Techniques for the History of the West Midlands in the Medieval and Early Modern Periods
• Sources and Research Techniques for the History of the West Midlands in the 18th, 19th and 20th Centuries

You will take three modules per year, each of which is assessed by a 4,000-word dissertation. You will also complete a 15,000 word dissertation on a topic of your choice, under the supervision of one of the members of the Centre, using the many archival resources available to the region.

To achieve the MA, you will need to complete all of these elements, totalling 180 credits; each module is worth 20 credits (120 in total) and the dissertation is worth 60 credits. However, if you wish to leave the course early, upon successful completion of 60 credits you will be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate, and for 120 credits you will receive a Postgraduate Diploma.

Explore postgraduate study at Birmingham at one of our on-campus open days.

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Fees and funding

Scholarships to cover fees and/or maintenance costs may be available. For more information, please visit the University's Postgraduate Funding Database.

Qualification and course duration

MA