糖心原创

Triangle

Course overview

Are you fascinated by history? Do you want to understand more about the way people lived, worked, and thought in the past? Are you interested in why the past is so important to the way we live now? Our expert staff will support you to explore those very questions, while developing your own historical research into an area of your choice.

You can tailor your studies through optional modules spanning the seventh century CE to the modern day, and covering a wide geographical range including Britain, India, China, Russia, Italy, and the USA.

The key themes which we will explore include:

  • Identity formation and difference
  • Nationalism, nostalgia, and memory
  • Authoritarianism and power
  • Everyday life, religion, and culture

You are encouraged to engage with different theories and approaches for studying the past, so that you can develop your own methodology.

A specially tailored core module will develop your research skills, including hands-on sessions with archival material, and determine the theoretical and methodological approaches that best match your chosen dissertation topic.

Hear from our staff 

"This MA enables you to choose from a wide range of modules, which we guarantee will cater for your interests, no matter what they may be! We take pride in supporting our MA students with all the guidance they require for completing exciting and ground-breaking research."

- Dr John Condren, Director of the MA in History

Why choose this course?

3rd

most targeted university by top UK employers, and have been top 10 since 2013

The Graduate Market, High Fliers Research 2026

99% of our research

is considered 'internationally important'

(Research Excellence Framework 2021)

Top 100

university in the world

Get involved

participate in our regular departmental research seminar, and engage with the friendly academic and postgraduate community

Find archive material

take advantage of our Manuscripts and Special Collections, including fascinating sources such as the Portland Collection

Course content

The total credits for this course are 180.

Part-time students will typically take three modules each academic year, spread across the year.

You can receive support for your dissertation throughout your studies, but the bulk of supervision and writing will take place over the final summer of your degree programme.

All classes take place during weekdays.

Modules

Arts in Society

This module helps postgraduate students recognise the range of careers and opportunities that an Arts and Humanities MA/MRes can provide.

It highlights the skills and abilities present within these programmes and provides examples of the successful application of these skills. Students will explore how subjects within the arts can be ‘applied disciplines’ that serve to be impactful in wider society through research and engagement.

Through ‘live brief’ assessments, students work in groups, utilising their Arts and Humanities skill sets, to present and produce a consultancy report for a range of organisations, including SMEs/Third-sector.

Research Methods in History

This module teaches you how to construct theoretically-informed arguments and to engage critically with primary material.

You will gain the skills needed for advanced historical research, both in methodology and conceptual approaches. These include:

  • bibliographical searching
  • locating primary sources
  • using archives
  • writing research proposals

We will also consider how historians engage with more theoretical and conceptual texts, and how they borrow from other disciplines. This includes exploring a wide range of sub-disciplines, approaches and individual thinkers.

This module is worth 20 credits.

History Dissertation

During the summer, you will complete a 60-credit dissertation (12-15,000 words) based on primary sources and supervised by a member of staff with expertise in your chosen field.

You will have regular meetings with your supervisor.

Conflict and Coexistence in the Past

We use the theme of conflict and coexistence to examine topics across a wide European geography and early modern chronology.

By studying comparative frameworks (i.e. England and France), case studies (i.e. The Thirty Years’ War), and broader international environments, you will encounter conflict in multiple forms. This includes:

  • political
  • religious
  • military
  • ideological
  • mercantile
  • public

The avoidance of conflict and coexistence are also central to this module. Peoples and governments of the period often looked to peaceful resolutions and solidarity at the same time as they sharpened their wits (and swords) for polemical (and political) combat.

Daily Life in History
The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

  • Seminars
  • Group study

You are taught in small seminar groups, so there is plenty of opportunity for discussion of ideas and development of our students as researchers.

You will be allocated a personal tutor, who will monitor your academic progress, provide feedback on your work, help with module choices, and assist with pastoral support if needed.

How you will be assessed

  • Examinations
  • Presentation
  • Essay
  • Dissertation

Most modules are assessed by written work of varying lengths, corresponding with the content and weighting of the module. Your course tutors provide detailed comments on assignments.

Towards the end of your studies, you will complete a 12-15,000 word dissertation. This is a major piece of independent research, and you will be allocated a supervisor who is a specialist in your chosen area.

Your dissertation supervisor will provide advice and guidance to help you select your area of study, and offer close supervision and support as you complete your research.

"[My dissertation is] going to be on Arsenal football club! It’s about the changing nature of fandom in a social media era and how we interact with games. David Laven has been really helpful when I have a topic that I’m interested in which is not stereotypically history. He will work with you and give his feedback and genuinely engage with you. The staff really care about their students."

– Christos Mouis, History MA

Contact time and study hours

You will typically have six hours of face-to-face timetabled contact a week. Your tutors will also be available during office hours to discuss your work, address any issues, and help you develop your understanding.

Our seminar groups are typically small, which encourages discussion and debate in a friendly and supportive environment.

糖心原创 hours

One credit is approximately 10 hours of student work, so a 20-credit module will be around 200 hours of work. On average, you will spend around 10 to 12 hours per module per week on independent study.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2027 entry.

Undergraduate degree2:1 in history or a related subject

Applying

Our step-by-step guide covers everything you need to know about applying.

How to apply
Manuscripts and Special Collections 鈥� History

Where you will learn

Manuscripts and Special Collections 鈥� History

You will be introduced to the wide range of archival material held in the University's Manuscripts and Special Collections, including medieval manuscripts, letters and diaries from British imperialists in India, and a wide collection of historical children's literature and games.

Play video

Where you will learn

University Park Campus

University Park Campus covers 300 acres, with green spaces, wildlife, period buildings and modern facilities. It is one of the UK's most beautiful and sustainable campuses, winning a national Green Flag award every year since 2003.

Most schools and departments are based here. You will have access to libraries, shops, cafes, the Students’ Union, the sports village and a health centre.

You can walk or cycle around campus. Free hopper buses connect you to our other campuses. Nottingham city centre is 15 minutes away by public bus or tram.

Hallward Library

Where you will learn

Hallward Library

Benefit from Hallward Library's extensive collection of physical books and journals, online repositories of ebooks and ejournals, and study spaces, meeting rooms and computer labs.

Digital Transformations Hub - researcher

Where you will learn

Digital Transformations Hub

As a researcher you have full access to the Digital Transformations Hub and can use our equipment and software for free.

Fees

Qualification MA
Home / UK £11,600
International £26,900

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using .

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

Books

You'll be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to buy your own copies of core texts. 

Funding

Funding opportunities for Faculty of Arts students

There are additional funding opportunities available to you as a Faculty of Arts student.

There are many ways to fund your postgraduate course, from scholarships to government loans.

We also offer a range of international masters scholarships for high-achieving international scholars who can put their Nottingham degree to great use in their careers.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Postgraduate funding

Careers

We offer individual careers support for all postgraduate students.

Expert staff can help you research career options and job vacancies, build your CV or r茅sum茅, develop your interview skills and meet employers.

Each year 1,100 employers advertise graduate jobs and internships through our online vacancy service. We host regular careers fairs, including specialist fairs for different sectors.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the 糖心原创 include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Graduate destinations

During this course you will develop skills in data analysis, presentation, communication, teamwork, negotiation, and time management.

As a result, our graduates have built careers in a diverse range of industries, including:

  • planning and policy
  • law
  • communications, media and journalism
  • archives and museums
  • teaching
  • libraries and museums

You will also have the necessary skills to begin doctoral research and work towards a PhD, if desired.

Visit our careers webpage.

Two masters graduates proudly holding their certificates
" The biggest difference I鈥檝e noticed with the MA has been the interdisciplinary feel. You鈥檙e having to engage with not just the information, but the theory that goes behind it and the different approaches 鈥� whether from a sociological, political, historical or psychological perspective. It鈥檚 learning where history fits within a broader understanding. "
Christos Mouis, History MA

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This content was last updated on Friday 03 July 2026. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur given the interval between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.