History, MA, PGCert, PGDip

The MA in History represents an exciting opportunity to study new areas of historical enquiry and undertake your own primary research in a field of your choice. The course is structured thematically around the core principles of historical study allowing you to gain the ability to apply this practical structure to your own unique historical interest area.

Teaching on the course directly reflects the world-leading research expertise of our staff that includes; medieval and early modern British and European history; modern and contemporary history; public history; and global history. The course combines the coherence and support of a taught MA with the challenges of a research degree. This makes it ideal for those wishing to pursue a historical interest beyond undergraduate level or as a preparation in research skills for those aspiring to PhD study.

Throughout the course you will actively research, interpret, analyse, and write alongside our team of experts. The history team at NTU pride themselves on their accessible, student-centred approach to teaching and are available for one-to-one tutorial support and guidance. To further support your learning throughout the year we run a series of history and heritage workshops delivered by a wide range of visiting experts.

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Approaching and Doing Research

Making History - Methods

This module covers:

• the basic principles of research design and strategy, including how to identify and formulate researchable problems and alternative approaches to research
• research methods and tools.

Making History - Archives

You will explore:

• the varied and complex nature of historical evidence as a tool for interpreting the past
• new theories on archives and archival history of new archival forms.

Making History - Relations

This module covers the different:

• schools of historical thinking that have engaged with the problem of interpreting social, political, economic and cultural relations over time
• forms of analysis available for the study of human relationships.

Making History - Space

• You will reflect on the recent spatial turn in historical studies and how this has influenced the study of space over time.
• You will also interpret the different forms of space that have been studied by the discipline of history including: individual and social; urban and rural; secular and religious; national, regional and local; imperial; colonial and post-colonial; real and remembered.

Dissertation

Assessment
Assessment on the course involves course work, report writing, presentations and group work. There are also class tests, critical reviews, and critical bibliographies to prepare. There are no formal examinations on the course. All candidates for the MA write a 15,000 word dissertation, and prepare work on research methods including an assessed dissertation proposal as part of the research training element of the degree.

Study and support
Teaching is by a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, archive visits and one-to-one tutorials. There is a programme of regular research seminars and lectures delivered by visiting specialists. The course encourages, supports, and requires substantial independent study. Students are allocated a personal tutor. Additional support is offered via the University's Virtual Learning Environment and through email contact with members of the teaching team.