Country House Studies

Entry requirements

The minimum entry level required for this course is as follows:

• a first or second-class honours degree from a recognised university or,
• a recognised professional qualification with relevant work experience

Months of entry

September

Course content

Discover the history, culture and influence of Britain’s great estates with the MA and PhD in Country House Studies at the University of Buckingham. These distinctive research programmes explore the country house not simply as architecture, but as a social, political and cultural institution that shaped British life for centuries.

The MA in Country House Studies by Research offers the opportunity to pursue an in-depth investigation of a topic of your choice, from individual houses and their architects to the wider role of country houses in politics, literature, art and society. The course centres on a 25,000-word dissertation supported by close one-to-one supervision, allowing you to develop advanced research and writing skills while exploring your own historical interests.

Alongside independent research, students take part in an engaging seminar programme featuring leading historians and heritage specialists. These events provide a unique opportunity to discuss new scholarship, debate ideas and connect with experts working in the field of architectural and social history.

For those seeking to make an original scholarly contribution, the PhD in Country House Studies allows you to undertake sustained research culminating in a doctoral thesis that advances knowledge in the discipline. Doctoral students work closely with two supervisors and develop their research within a supportive scholarly community while producing work that demonstrates original insight into the history of the country house and its wider context.

Based at Buckingham’s London campus and drawing on expertise from leading historians and heritage professionals, these programmes provide an exceptional environment for studying Britain’s architectural and social heritage.

If you are fascinated by the stories behind Britain’s historic houses - from their design and decoration to the lives lived within them - the MA or PhD in Country House Studies at the University of Buckingham offers the expertise and guidance to turn that interest into original research. Explore the programme and start your application today.

Information for international students

We are happy to consider all international applications and if you are an international student, you may find it useful to visit our international pages for details of entry requirements from your home country.

The University is a UKVI Student Sponsor.

English Levels

If English is not your first language, please check our postgraduate English language requirements. If your English levels don’t meet our minimum requirements, you may be interested in applying for our Pre-sessional English Language Foundation Programmes.

Fees and funding

Please check our website for current tuition fees, scholarships and bursaries.