Entry requirements

You will need an Honours degree, normally in any humanities or social science discipline such as History, Politics, International Relations, Cultural Studies, or Literature, and normally of an upper second-class standard. Relevant equivalent study or professional experience can also be considered for entry, for the MA, PGDip, and PGCert.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Uncover the roots of today’s biggest political issues, from global conflicts to social movements, by exploring the events, ideas and decisions that came before. Understand how the past shapes the world we live in today.

Get the tools to think critically, ask big questions and explore different viewpoints. You’ll build skills in research, analysis and communication to prepare for careers across government, media and charities, or as a strong foundation for further study.

Course highlights

Studying History and Politics together gives you a rich and varied learning experience. You’ll develop advanced skills in research, analysis and communication, with a focus on intellectual creativity, critical thinking and making connections across ideas.

In History, you’ll explore key events, ideas and methods that shape how we understand the past. You’ll also engage with the Department’s wide range of research areas and gain insights into the main debates that influence the field today.

In Politics, you’ll examine important issues and current debates, building a strong foundation in political theory, concepts and research methods. You’ll think critically and apply your knowledge to real-world situations, helping you tackle complex political questions with confidence.

Learn from the expertise of two departments - the School of History and Cultures and School of Government. Both are ranked in the top 10 in the country in the Research Excellence Framework exercise 2021.
Make the most of our outstanding international reputation for research by engaging with events and research seminars in both disciplines.
Enhance your knowledge from a global perspective with our modules covering topics from all over the world.
Join one or more of our research groups, such as British Politics, Asian Politics, Middle East Politics, European Studies, Political Economy, or Parties, Voters and Elections.

Course delivery

At Birmingham, research and teaching go hand-in-hand. Lecturers and professors continue to research in their field, offering valuable expertise in History and Politics.

Taught modules - each module represents a total of 200 hours of study time, including preparatory reading, homework and assignment preparation.
Seminars – modules are mainly taught by small group teaching.
Dissertation – you'll undertake a dissertation in either History or Politics.

You can choose to study a PG Certificate (PGCert) or PG Diploma (PGDip) rather than a full MA. A PGCert and PGDip don't include the dissertation element. The length of your course depends on which type of qualification you choose and whether you choose to study full-time or part-time.

Information for international students

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.

For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:

TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill

Fees and funding

The College of Arts and Law is a vibrant community of students and academics, dedicated to ensuring that excellence is rewarded, and that fears about finance do not constrain current or prospective students. For this reason, in addition to University funding schemes, we offer our own College-specific funding initiatives.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

MA
part time
24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
full time
12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
PGDip
part time
16 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
full time
8 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
PGCert
full time
4 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification

Course contact details

Name: Postgraduate enquiry service

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History and Politics