Interested in historical research? You’ll learn cutting-edge theoretical approaches and methodologies from world-leading experts with our MA in History.
Reflecting on complex contemporary global challenges like climate change, social justice, conflict, political and economic change, you’ll ask questions that matter just as much to a medievalist as to a historian of the present. And, you'll widen your analytic lens to explore new topics and seek answers in areas you are passionate about.
We pride ourselves on an inclusive, warm and welcoming student experience where you’ll build excellent relationships with fellow students and staff.
About this course
This MA will see you join a community of postgraduate research students and benefit from the direct supervision of world-leading experts in historical research.
The full-time programme is scheduled over 45 weeks, divided into three 15-week trimesters.
Most of our modules use our innovative ‘block’ system, putting you in control of how you combine topics.
All our research is driven by both individual excellence and larger collaborative projects that have received significant amounts of external funding and which generate impact across a number of communities.
With expert supervision, you’ll be supported through your dissertation. At 15,000 words, it’s the finale of your postgraduate study and needs a greater analytical depth and source material than anything you will have experienced as an undergraduate.
You’ll benefit from the resources of a city that’s steeped in history.
Hull History Centre offers a treasure trove of archive material, and our Maritime Historical Studies Centre is globally recognised as a centre for maritime history research. We also contribute to Hull’s Wilberforce Institute for the Study of Slavery and Emancipation.
Module options
For a full Masters degree, you'll study 180 credits over the duration of your course. Some programmes offer a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) qualification or a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) qualification. For a PGDip, you'll study 120 credits, and for a PGCert, you'll study 60 credits.
Filters
Thinking Historically
The module will focus on developing the critical thinking skills particular to the discipline of history. It will also serve as an introduction to the discipline for international students and for students who have not done an undergraduate degree in the discipline, at a level appropriate to Masters students. It will cover three key things: 1. Key historical concepts (time, context, causation, moral judgement, historical rhetoric); 2. Major contemporary issues in history (e.g. gender, race, empire, ideas in time - the list is indicative only and will vary from year to year), which will use the diverse expertise of colleagues to talk to students about their own approaches to the past; and 3. An introduction to designing a research project. This will be the final part of the module, operating in conjunction with Practising History and individual supervision to take students through the initial design of their dissertation project.
compulsory
30 credits
Practising History
You will carry out activities based on the handling or historiography of a number of key problems ranging from the medieval and early modern periods to modern and contemporary history. The available topics cover a broad range of current issues.
compulsory
30 credits
Power, Authority and Freedom in History
This module comprises of 4 thematic blocks, from which you will choose 3 at the beginning of the module. Each block is built around a key problem in the study of power, authority and freedom, covering a broad chronological range.
compulsory
30 credits
Memory, Public History and Heritage
This module looks at memory as a key historiographical issue in different historical contexts, with an overall emphasis on the ways in which memory and commemoration feed into public history and heritage. As such, it explores a key feature of what it means to think historically: how can a balance be achieved in the public understanding of the past between the search for contemporary relevance and the historian’s task to understand the past in itself?
compulsory
30 credits
Dissertation
The dissertation is an opportunity for you to create your own piece of historical research. The choice of dissertation topic is linked to the subject of the your special subject workshop theme. As such, the primary sources that underpin the investigation and the availability of a subject specialist to supervise the project will vary each year.
compulsory
60 credits
Our academics
100% of at Hull received the top grade of 4* for Research Impact.1
Under the guidance of our world-leading experts, you’ll journey to gain historical knowledge and develop skills to help shape a different future for yourself and our world.
Professor Glenn Burgess
Professor of History
Professor Burgess’s research interests include the history of Tudor and Stuart England and the history of political thought. His current work includes the political thought of George Orwell and the history of free speech.
Dr Catherine Baker
Reader in 20th Century History
A specialist in post-Cold War history, international relations and cultural studies, Dr Baker’s initial research explored the politics of national identity and popular music during and after the Yugoslav Wars.
Entry Requirements
What do I need?
When it comes to applying for this Postgraduate Taught degree, you'll need an Undergraduate degree (or equivalent). For this course, you'll need a 2:2 from a relevant bachelor's degree.
The programme is designed for graduates who have a studied a subject that is relevant to this course.
If you’re an undergraduate student at Hull, you’re guaranteed a fast-track route to this postgraduate degree, as long as you meet the entry requirements.
In order to ensure our students have a rich learning and student experience, most of our programmes have a mix of domestic and international students. We reserve the right to close applications early to either group if application volumes suggest that this blend cannot be achieved.
Typical offer
2:2 in a relevant subject area
Fees & Funding
How much is it?
Scholarships
We offer a number of awards, bursaries and scholarships for eligible students. They’re awarded for a variety of reasons including academic achievement and/or to help those on lower incomes.
Scholarships and bursaries are separate to student loans. And the best bit is, you don’t pay a penny back.
Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship
University of Hull undergraduates progressing to a taught masters course may receive a 20% discount on the cost of their tuition fees.
Find out if you’re eligible by visiting the University of Hull Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship page.
See more Scholarships
We offer a range of scholarships and awards to students at the university to help with their financial load.
To view all of our scholarships and determine whether you're eligible, please visit our Scholarships and Awards page.
Our facilities
Future prospects
Students studying our MA History programme often continue into doctoral research. Those who use their level 7 qualification as a springboard to a career often go into commercial research, teaching, management, law, or the Civil Service.
A History speciality also opens career options in heritage work, for example in museums, galleries, or archives.
The programme develops key skills for the workplace, including the ability to defend ideas confidently when challenged by others, to challenge accepted practices or ideas with reasoned arguments and to propose solutions to problems using knowledge as the foundation.
Take your career to the next level
Like what you’ve seen? Then it’s time to apply.
Make your application online now, and our admissions team will get back to you as soon as possible to make you an offer.
Not ready to apply yet?
We regularly deliver virtual and on-campus events to help you discover your perfect postgraduate course, whether it’s a subject you already love or something completely different. Our events are an opportunity for you to chat to tutors and current students and find out about the career options a postgraduate degree could lead to.
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100% of History at Hull received the top grade of 4* for Research Impact, and is also 18th for Historical Research in the UK, according to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
All modules on this course page are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.