History by Research

Entry requirements

A minimum 2:1 Honours degree in history or a related subject. Applicants without an Honours degree can be considered on prior experiential learning on an individual basis, via the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)/Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) mechanism (University regulations will apply). The course welcomes international applicants and requires an English level of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.

All applicants for research degrees must submit an online application accompanied by a research proposal which will be considered by the Faculty Research Programmes Committee (FRPC). For further information please visit our Graduate Research Office pages.

Months of entry

January, April, October

Course content

The MA by Research in History is your opportunity to conduct in-depth research on a topic of your choice, relative to an area of staff expertise, and produce a dissertation of 40,000 words. This piece of original research will be based on primary sources. You will demonstrate an awareness of the associated historiography and an understanding of the relevant methodological or theoretical concepts.

Your research topic will be determined in consultation with a member of the History team. More details of the team’s research interests can be found on our History Research Unit pages.

Once you have found and consulted with a suitable member of the History team, you will be required to write a research proposal which will serve as your application for the course.

Once a research area has been identified and a research programme agreed, you can begin researching and writing your dissertation. You will determine its content, development and structure in regular consultation with your dissertation supervisor. You will produce a dissertation 40,000 words in length.

The MA History by Research is assessed by a dissertation and a viva voce (oral examination). The dissertation should be 40,000 words in length.

This qualification is an excellent basis for further research in history at MPhil and PhD levels. If you do not want to pursue further research, you will have gained the research skills needed for a range of careers in the arts, industry, the media, administration in the private and public sectors, or further education.

Information for international students

The course welcomes international applicants and requires an English level of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.