Intellectual History (MLitt)

Program Overview

Intellectual History (MLitt) 2025 entry

Overview

The MLitt in Intellectual History is an interdisciplinary taught postgraduate programme run by the School of History. The course explores major historical, historiographical, and methodological aspects of intellectual history alongside an individually tailored programme of directed reading.

Highlights

• Learn from experts from across the University with a common interest in researching and contextualising key ideas in their subject areas
• Examine the different kinds of intellectual history being practised today, as well as the relationship between intellectual history and philosophy, literature and literary studies, international relations, law, politics, economics and theology
• Make connections between ideas, traditions, and methodologies across different disciplines and understand their application in different contexts
• Critically analyse complex ideas from a variety of perspectives and develop and evaluate arguments
• Understand how and why ideas change and the consequences of change

Teaching

• Weekly seminars and fortnightly tutorials for directed reading
• Class sizes: up to 12 students

Dissertation

• A 15,000-word dissertation
• Student dissertations will be supervised by members of the teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process
• The completed dissertation of not more than 15,000 words must be submitted by a date specified in August

Assessment

• Coursework only
• There is no final exam

Modules

• The St Andrews degree structure is designed to be flexible
• You study compulsory modules delivering core learning together with optional modules you choose from the list available that year
• Students on this course may also choose a Directed Reading topic which is designed to encourage the development of skills of historical analysis through concentrated study
• Depending upon other module choices this may be taken across one or both semesters
• The Directed Reading topics offered will vary slightly each year depending on staff

Compulsory Modules

• Current Controversies in Intellectual History: enables students to scrutinise central historiographical disputes that continue to determine the nature and practice of intellectual history
• Turning Points in the History of Ideas: investigates a series of historical moments of intellectual change by directly engaging with the major political, philosophical, and scientific writings of different eras
• The Theory and Practice of Intellectual History: provides a methodological introduction to intellectual history by surveying how it has been practised in the last half century

What it will lead to

Careers

• Graduates go on to pursue careers in a range of sectors including:
  • journalism
  • publishing
  • think tanks
  • government
  • law
  • teaching

Further your education

• Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews

Expand your network

• The St Andrews Institute of Intellectual History hosts lectures, seminars and conferences featuring guest speakers from all over the world

Why St Andrews?

• The School of History was ranked joint top with Cambridge in The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2025 and second in the UK, behind Oxford, in The Guardian University Guide 2025
• St Andrews is Scottish University of the Year in The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2025
• The Guardian University Guide 2025 ranked St Andrews as the top university in Scotland and second in the UK behind Oxford

Entry requirements

• A 2.1 Honours undergraduate degree in a subject-related area
• English language proficiency

Application requirements

• CV or résumé with a history of your education and employment
• A personal statement
• A sample of your own, single-authored academic written work (2,000 words)
• Two original signed academic references
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates

Fees and funding

• UK: £12,030
• Rest of the world: £25,900

Scholarships and funding

• School of History MLitt Awards
• GREAT Scholarship
• St Andrews Sanctuary Scholarship
• St Leonard's funding opportunities
• Graduate discount (15% off tuition fees)