Program Overview

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Naval, Maritime and Coastal History (Distance Learning) MA

Overview

Transform your love of naval, maritime and coastal history into a versatile postgraduate qualification on this Master's in Naval, Maritime and Coastal History, all from the home of the Royal Navy.

Thanks to our partnerships with the National Museum of the Royal Navy, the HMS Warrior and other key maritime heritage institutions, you'll have digital or in-person access to a treasure trove of expertise, archives and galleries to enrich your studies.

With the entire course online via distance learning, you can choose to study full-time over a year or part-time over two years, if you're looking to study alongside work or military service.

You'll embark on a deep dive into the global legacy of developments in the naval domain from 1508 to 1960. Considering factors from strategic to sociological, technological to cultural, you'll explore subject areas including the role of the Women’s Royal Naval Service during the Second World War, debates around the naval battle at Jutland, how Nelson won at Trafalgar, and what contributed to the Boston Tea Party.

You'll learn from a team of naval experts and historical curators who share your passion for the field, and analyse topics with a diverse cohort of fellow students from all around the world.

When you graduate, you'll have specialist expertise in naval, coastal and maritime history as well as enhanced career-ready skills in critical analysis, research, source evaluation and writing. You'll be an ideal candidate for PhD study, or for roles in fields such as journalism, education, museum curation, or the Armed Forces.

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.

Key Information

• Study mode and duration: 1 year full-time by distance learning, 2 years part-time by distance learning
• Start date: September 2025, January 2026

Course Information

Overview

Transform your love of naval, maritime and coastal history into a versatile postgraduate qualification on this Master's in Naval, Maritime and Coastal History, all from the home of the Royal Navy.

Thanks to our partnerships with the National Museum of the Royal Navy, the HMS Warrior and other key maritime heritage institutions, you'll have digital or in-person access to a treasure trove of expertise, archives and galleries to enrich your studies.

With the entire course online via distance learning, you can choose to study full-time over a year or part-time over two years, if you're looking to study alongside work or military service.

You'll embark on a deep dive into the global legacy of developments in the naval domain from 1508 to 1960. Considering factors from strategic to sociological, technological to cultural, you'll explore subject areas including the role of the Women’s Royal Naval Service during the Second World War, debates around the naval battle at Jutland, how Nelson won at Trafalgar, and what contributed to the Boston Tea Party.

You'll learn from a team of naval experts and historical curators who share your passion for the field, and analyse topics with a diverse cohort of fellow students from all around the world.

When you graduate, you'll have specialist expertise in naval, coastal and maritime history as well as enhanced career-ready skills in critical analysis, research, source evaluation and writing. You'll be an ideal candidate for PhD study, or for roles in fields such as journalism, education, museum curation, or the Armed Forces.

Entry Requirements

• UK qualifications: A minimum of a second-class honours degree or equivalent in History or a related subject (International Relations, War Studies, Journalism etc), or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field such as heritage or the Navy and Armed Forces.
• Non-UK qualifications: If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.
• English language requirements: English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.5.

Course Costs and Funding

• Tuition fees (September 2025 / January 2026 start):
  • UK, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man students: £9,400 (full-time), £4,700 per year (part-time)
  • EU students: £9,400 (full-time), £4,700 per year (part-time)
  • International students: £9,400 (full-time), £4,700 per year (part-time)
• Funding your studies: Explore how to fund your studies, including available scholarships and bursaries.

Modules

• Full-time:
  • Dissertation / Major Project (Naval, Maritime and Coastal History) - 60 credits
  • Naval, Maritime and Coastal History Project - 30 credits
  • Naval, Maritime and Coastal History Research Skills - 30 credits
  • The Wooden Walls - The Royal Navy Under Sail, - 30 credits
  • Rise and Fall: Naval Hegemony and Decline, - 30 credits
• Part-time:
  • Naval, Maritime and Coastal History Research Skills - 30 credits
  • The Wooden Walls - The Royal Navy Under Sail, - 30 credits
  • Rise and Fall: Naval Hegemony and Decline, - 30 credits
  • Dissertation / Major Project (Naval, Maritime and Coastal History) - 60 credits
  • Naval, Maritime and Coastal History Project - 30 credits

Facilities

You'll have digital or in-person access to the historical collections of the following maritime heritage organisations during your studies:

• National Museum of the Royal Navy
• HMS Warrior
• Lloyd's Register Foundation
• Legasee Educational Trust
• The Wellington Trust

How You'll Spend Your Time

• Course structure: This Master's degree will take 1 year (full-time study) or 2 years (part-time study).
• Teaching: Master's study is deeper and more specialised than an undergraduate degree. This means you'll focus on something that really matters to you and your career as you work closely with academics committed to the subject.
• Assessment: You'll be assessed through essays, document analysis, book reviews, and dissertation.

Career Development

• Careers this Master’s prepares you for: This MA in Naval, Maritime and Coastal History will enable you to fully understand the role naval activity has played in shaping the world as we know it, as well as Britain’s place within it and the context of geopolitics today.
• Graduates of this course have gone onto areas such as: journalism, law, teaching, administration, archive and museum curation, research, PhD study.
• Graduates of this course have gone on to work for organisations such as: the Civil Service, Armed Forces.

Supporting You

• Personal tutor: Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to postgraduate study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your course.
• Learning development tutors: You'll have help from a team of faculty learning development tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.
• Academic skills support: During term time, Faculty Academic Skills Tutors (AST) are available for bookable 1-to-1 sessions, small group sessions and online sessions. These sessions are tailored to your needs.
• Wellbeing and mental health support: Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.
• Disability advice and additional support: If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.
• Library support: Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources.