Explore a range of subjects within British, European and world history, from the 15th century to the present day. Benefit from the History team's specialist knowledge and links across the global historical community and develop a deep and systematic understanding of historical research to excel in further studies, or begin your career with confidence thanks to the professional experience opportunities offered.
| Duration | 1 year |
| Course type | Full-time, Part-time route available |
| Location | Plymouth |
Key Debates and Research Methods in History (MAHI700)
This module will provide students both with an understanding of current debates about approaches, theories and methodologies in History and a grounding in research skills such as locating and using primary source material and making effective use of library and database resources.
Public History (MAHI701)
This work-facing module examines the theory and practice of how the past is presented to public audiences. Students will explore, through site-based case studies and written projects, the creation, nature, use and understanding of various forms of public history, for example those associated with heritage and museums, oral history, film and 'popular' historical writing.
MA History Dissertation (MAHI702)
In this module students complete a dissertation on an aspect of history of their own choosing. The topic is negotiated between students and teaching staff, who provide tutorial support and advice about all aspects of the project from initiation to completion.
Piracy and Privateering, 1560-1816 (MAHI704)
This module explores piracy and privateering activity in the seas around the British Isles and further afield from the reign of Queen Elizabeth to the end of the second Barbary War in 1816. This course focuses on the social history of piracy and privateering, the organisation of pirate society, and the economic impact of piracy and privateering.
The Civil Rights Movement (MAHI706)
Examining the African American struggle for civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s.
The French Wars of Religion 1558-1598 (MAHI709)
The module will examine the causes, progress and termination of the French Wars of Religion after 1558. The main topics will be the relationships between Catholic and Protestant, the impact of war on royal authority, the experiences of confessional groups, towns, nobles and peasants, and the resolution of conflict under Henri IV.
The Irish Revolution 1912-37 (MAHI710)
This module examines the political, social and cultural history of Ireland during the period 1912-1937 with particular focus on causes and effects of partition and the nature what is known as the Irish revolution.
America and the United Nations 1945 to the present (MAHI716)
This module provides a detailed examination of the relationship between the United States of America and the United Nations in the management of international relations from 1945 to the present.
Independent Research Project in History (MAHI718)
A research project leading to an essay (8000 words), devised with tutorial supervision, in a field not offered in the History module options, or where the student has previously studied the topic within a module at BA level 6 and is consequently not permitted to take the MA option version (also, in exceptional circumstances where the module option timetable means that a student is unable to choose an option).
From Unification to Reunification: Key Themes in Modern German History (MAHI721)
This module is an introduction to the major themes of political, social and economic development in Germany, especially in the nineteenth and twentieth century. Themes include nineteenth century revolution and unification, Imperialism and WW1, from the Weimar Republic to Dictatorship, WW2, the FRG and the GDR; and revolution and reunification.
Key Debates in Modern Japanese History (MAHI723)
This module is an introduction to the major themes of political, social and economic development in Japan in the nineteenth and twentieth century.
Filth and the Victorians (MAHI726)
In this module students study the Victorian era from the perspective of environment, public hygiene, cultural values of cleanliness and fear of physical, moral and other forms of contamination. Drawing on urban histories, histories of medicine and science, the module also uses a range of literary and artistic sources.
Anglo-American Relations in Maritime Perspective (MAHI727)
This module introduces Masters students to the major themes of the history of British and American maritime strategy, naval competition, and international co-operation between 1775 and 1991. It challenges students to rethink the so-called ‘special relationship’ through a maritime lens, while providing an exploration of naval history and international relations since the beginning of the American Revolution.
Maritime Explorations and Encounters (MAHI728)
This module challenges students to rethink their ideas about the use of navies in exploration, leading explorers such as Sir Francis Drake, Captain James Cook and Charles Darwin, the place of Plymouth in maritime exploration and the nature of encounters with native peoples.
International Relations in the Middle East: A Critical Approach (IRL716)
This module introduces the students to the study of International Relations in the Middle East. It does this by examining processes such as uprisings and revolutions, and concepts such as democracy and authoritarianism. The module’s approach encourages students to think about the relationship between domestic and international politics and the importance of historical context. Crucially, these concepts, processes, and approaches are valid in 21st century politics beyond the Middle East.
Remembering Things Past: Literature and Memory, 1780 to Present (MAEL711)
This module examines the interrelationships between literary culture and memory from 1780 to the present. Students will engage with a diverse array of texts including fiction, poetry, film, and theory in order to examine issues such as the role of literature in constructing national memory, the historical tensions between the written word and orality, and contested sites of memory in postcolonial contexts. In doing so, the module investigates current debates in the broader interdisciplinary field of Memory Studies.
Inter-War Britain 1919-40 (MAHI733)
The module examines Britain in the period 1919-40 with an emphasis on Government and politics. The social, economic and foreign challenges facing Britain are examined for their ability to impact on policy and politics.
Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.
The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:
The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.
| Student | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Home | £8,300 | £9,250 |
| International | £15,700 | £16,500 |
| Part time (Home) | £450 | £510 |
We offer several scholarships for international students who wish to study postgraduate taught (PGT) degree programmes.
Telephone: +44 (0)1752 585858
Email: admissions@plymouth.ac.uk
For historians, books are a window into the minds of their readers. We can see the ideas that they were introduced to and sometimes their responses to them, good and bad
"As well as offering a flexible learning structure, the MA provided me with the opportunity to study subjects that I was interested in. I learnt about the origins of the civil rights movement and the role of lesser-known activists such as Ella Baker. I was also given the confidence to develop my own ideas. Through the encouragement of my tutor Dr Harry Bennett, I was able to turn a research trip to The National Archives into a dissertation about Devonport Dockyard in World War Two."
You can study MA History either full time or part time. While much of your study and research is self-led, there’ll still be many opportunities to work closely with the history team, attending lectures and seminars on campus.
"Completing an MA History has been the most positive and rewarding experience. Having achieved my undergraduate degree in History there, the MA course allowed me to deepen and expand my knowledge through a variety of modules and a dissertation. The support and guidance from the lecturers were second to none. I was able to take modules in maritime exploration, modern German history and public history to name a few. All the modules offered me the opportunity to progress in my written work and gain confidence in verbal communication and expression of ideas to an audience through presentations. What the History department at Plymouth do particularly well is emphasise the utilisation of our skills in the wider world to ensure we are employable. They encouraged us with internships to build on the skills we were learning and place them in a professional setting. I would not be where I am today without the support and guidance of the History department at Plymouth."
Research students have access to a host of e.resources for undertaking primary research, in addition to our large and growing collection of secondary sources on the Library’s open shelves, as e.books and e.journals, and the diverse historical material in our Rare Books collection.
The databases are extensive but include JISC Historical Texts, covering Early English Books Online, Eighteenth Century Collections Online and Nineteenth Century Books; key newspaper sources from the Burney Newspapers collection, 19th century British Library Newspapers, Times Digital Archive to contemporary history source such as Nexis. Periodicals collections include 19th Century UK Periodicals Online, and Vogue Archive. Our specialist databases range from Victorian Popular Culture (covering such topics as spiritualism and music hall) to modern history through Mass Observation Online, while wider perspectives can be found in India, Raj and Empire, and The Grand Tour. A rich array of audio-visual sources is also available.
The School of Society and Culture is home to around 40 researchers working across a number of disciplines: history, art history, anthropology, English, creative writing, music, computer music, theatre and performance.
"The MA History at Plymouth was a fantastic and valuable experience for me, supplementing and enhancing what I learned through my BA and equipping me with the skills required to feel confident in taking on a PhD project. The course was well balanced between developing us as historians and giving us the facilities and opportunities to pursue other topics. I worked with a lot of 18th and 19th century maritime history and also studied the history of modern Japan. Together, these set me up well for my doctoral research, which will be grounded in 19th century maritime history in China and East Asia. All of my tutors were passionate about their topics and often very involved with our learning, always quick to help in person and virtually when needed, and genuinely interested and involved in our work. My experience during the MA was hugely positive thanks to the fantastic history staff, great library facilities and lovely city."
Postgraduate history students will be able to benefit from the new flagship heritage centre in Plymouth, called The Box. This will bring together the Plymouth Museum and Art Gallery, Plymouth and West Devon Record Office, South West Film and Television Archive and South West Image Bank, in one exciting heritage hub.
A history masters will provide you with a range of options upon graduation - whether you’re looking to continue your studies or begin your career, you’ll be equipped with the analytical skills and knowledge to excel.
I’ve often been drawn to more marginal figures. More recently I’ve been trying to understand – in exploring ‘integrity’ and ‘mercy’ – virtues or qualities which most people would have endorsed, but have often had varied political uses.
