History

Entry requirements

You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in Humanities, Arts, or Social Sciences, and a minimum mark of 60% in your final-year dissertation. In cases where an undergraduate transcript does not contain a research element such as a dissertation, we may ask applicants to provide an example of their academic writing that demonstrates capacity for independent research.

If you are currently completing a degree, we understand that your final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades you have achieved during your studies to date.

We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. Specific module requirements would still apply.

We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing details of your relevant qualifications:

• evidence of significant, relevant work experience in Creative industries; Journalism, Teaching, Curating, Museum work, Professional careers (eg Law, Accounting, private business, Medicine);
• a relevant postgraduate qualification.

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Months of entry

September

Course content

The MA in History offers you the opportunity to explore a variety of historical approaches, and many different periods and places. This MA is characterised by a high degree of choice, both in what and how you learn. It offers unique opportunities to get hands on experience for students looking to move into work in heritage and research.

You can opt to take specialist master's level units, join third-year undergraduate units, or undertake independent solo research projects. Several units also offer the chance to engage with external partners such as the SS Great Britain, BBC History Magazine, or the National Trust.

The wide range of research and teaching expertise in the department means that we are confident you will find units that reflect your own interests, whether that's medieval notions of the apocalypse, the English Civil War, maritime empires, race in North America, or something else entirely.

Across the year, students can choose to specialise by following pathways through our programme that reflect our strengths in:

• medieval and early modern history
• contemporary British, European and American history
• global history (with particular focus on African and Asian history)
• histories of colonialism, empire, and race
• environmental history
• public history
• histories of gender, sexuality, and the body.

Alternatively, you may prefer to obtain a broad knowledge of different historical subjects, themes, debates and methodologies.

As well as benefitting from the research expertise of our staff, you will be immersed in a vibrant postgraduate community at Bristol. This is underpinned by regular seminar series, guest speakers, and skills workshops, as well as social events organised by our History Society and student reps. You will also be connected to a number of prestigious research groups in the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences in which the Department of History plays a prominent part. This includes our centres for Medical Humanities, Black Humanities, Environmental Humanities, and Medieval Studies.

Information for international students

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Fees and funding

Funding and studentship opportunities are listed on the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences funding pages.

Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.