Main details
Course overview
Module options
Our academics
Entry requirements
Fees & funding
Scholarships
Facilities
Future prospects
Next steps

Postgraduate Taught

History

What's the difference?

A female student standing reading a book in the library

Two students stand alongside each other look at an exhibit in a gallery

A history student sitting in a library reading a book with historical novels on the shelves behind her

A statue on top of a plinth showing a historical figure

Join us on a journey to gain historical knowledge as we seek to tackle today’s most pressing local, national and global challenges.

Benefit from being in a city steeped in history – with access to the Hull History Centre, the Blaydes Maritime Centre, the world-renowned Wilberforce Institute, our own Brynmor Jones Library, and more.

History doesn't just take place in the classroom. You'll be hands-on with local museums, archives and galleries and we even offer an award-winning programme of voluntary placements via our Hull History Network.

We pride ourselves on an inclusive, warm and welcoming student experience where you’ll build excellent relationships with fellow students and staff.

You'll be taught by experts, with 100% of our History research receiving the top grade 4 for Research Impact according to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.

Become part of a proud tradition. As one of England’s oldest universities, we've been teaching History at Hull for almost 100 years.

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.

Study history

in a global context
Tailor your degree

to your interests
90+ years

of teaching History since 1928
World-leading experts

teach this course
Top grade for research impact ¹

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Course overview

Module options

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.

An exterior photo of Hull History Centre

Choose your modules

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.

Thinking Historically

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

Compulsory•30 credits

Dissertation (History)

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

5 Modules

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.

See more academics for this subject

Featured academic

Professor Glenn Burgess

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.

Featured academic

Dr Catherine Baker

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

UK
International

What do I need?

Typical offer

2:2 in relevant subject area

Applicants should hold a 2.2 Honours degree in history or a related discipline (or international equivalent).

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.

What do I need?

Typical offer

2:2 in relevant subject area

Applicants should hold a 2.2 Honours degree in history or a related discipline (or international equivalent).

If you require a student visa to study or if your first language is not English you will be required to provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

This course requires academic IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each skill. See other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by the University of Hull.

If your English currently does not reach the University’s required standard for this programme, you may be interested in one of our English language courses.

Visit your country page to find out more about our entry requirements.

Fees & funding

UK
International

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme. There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make:

Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
Optional field trips
Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
Student visas (international students)
Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PCs on campus, but you may want your own)
Printing and photocopying
Professional-body membership
Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
Optional field trips
Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
Student visas (international students)
Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PCs on campus, but you may want your own)
Printing and photocopying
Professional-body membership
Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

Our 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.

Find out more about our scholarships

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.

International Scholarships and Bursaries

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries for international students.

To find out more and see if you're eligible, please visit the International Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Take a look at our facilities

Hull History Centre

Explore archives dating back to 1299, including papers owned by some of Hull's most notable figures: Amy Johnson and William Wilberforce.

The Wilberforce Institute

The Wilberforce Institute produces world-class research on historic and contemporary slavery and hosts a growing archive of books and electronic collections.

Brynmor Jones Library

Our 7-storey library is home to 1 million+ books, extensive digital resources drawn from libraries and archives across the world, and stunning panoramic views of the city from the 7th floor.

Rare Books

Our collection includes a variety of titles published between 1473 and 2002. Texts are in 18 languages. Places of publication range from Amsterdam to Zwickau, covering 26 countries on 5 continents.

See more in our virtual tour

Look around

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.

Your next steps

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.

How to apply

Not ready to apply?

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.

Discover more

History

About this course