Program Overview

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Modern History (MLitt) 2025 entry

Introduction

Begin with an introduction to history and historiography and progress to deepen your understanding of key issues in the discipline.

Application Deadline

Thursday 7 August 2025

Starts

September 2025

Duration

One year full time

School

School of History

Fees

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

Why Study This Course?

• The course provides an introduction to history and historiography for students interested in all branches of historical study.
• Students can both specialise in a particular area (for example, British history, German history, American history) and gain a broader introduction to the study of history at postgraduate level.
• Students will explore the literature on a topic of individual interest under the guidance of an expert.

Teaching

• Delivered through seminars and tutorials every two weeks.

Class Sizes

• Groups range from individual supervision up to 12 students.

Dissertation

• A 15,000-word project with regular support.

Assessment

• Coursework only, no exams.

Modules

• Students take two compulsory modules and choose two optional modules.
• Each module typically comprises of 1.5 to 2-hour weekly seminars and tutorials every two weeks for the 'Directed Reading in Modern History' module.

Compulsory Modules

• History in the Making: Theories, Approaches and Practice 1: examines the development of modern history writing and historical research, and the emergence of fields, trends and new approaches in current historiography.
• History in the Making: Theories, Approaches and Practice 2: places emphasis on particular types of historical sources, such as travel accounts, maps, music, media, and interviews, and the ways in which historians may approach and work with these sources.

Optional Modules

• Building Britain: The Construction and Deconstruction of Britishness since 1707: explores the concept of ‘Britishness’ and its construction and deconstruction, from 1707 to 2000.
• Central and Eastern Europe since 1945: examines nations' common and individual responses to Soviet domination from the end of the Second World War to 1989 and after.
• Global Capitalism: Origins and Development from a Political Economy Perspective: explores some of the most fundamental economic phenomena that have shaped the modern world.
• Key Issues in German Historiography: engages with some of the most hotly disputed issues in German history.
• Perceptions of Central and Eastern Europe: examines perceptions of Central and Eastern Europe which have undergone significant transformation since the emergence of modern nationalism in the mid-19th century.
• Skills in Digital History: Maps and Text: leads to the acquisition and development of skills in the digital humanities and skills required for using specific historical sources.
• Themes in American History: examines a selection of the most important issues in the history of North America, from its foundations as European colonies onwards.

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.

What It Will Lead To

Careers

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

Further Study

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

Why St Andrews?

• The School of History hosts a modern history research seminar programme covering a wide variety of topics from home and guest lecturers in a welcoming environment.
• The School also runs the Postgraduate (Early Modern and Modern History) Forum which runs once a fortnight during term-time and is intended to provide a space for postgraduates at all stages to present ideas, discuss research issues and find out what their fellow historians are up to.

Alumni

• When you graduate you become a member of the University's worldwide alumni community.
• Benefit from access to alumni clubs, the Saint Connect networking and mentoring platform, and careers support.

Entry Requirements

• A 2.1 Honours undergraduate degree in History or a related subject.
• English language proficiency.

Application Requirements

• CV or résumé.
• 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

• We are committed to supporting you through your studies, regardless of your financial circumstances.
• You may be eligible for scholarships, discounts or other support:
  • School of History MLitt Awards
  • Snowdon Trust Masters Scholarship
  • GREAT Scholarship
  • St Andrews Sanctuary Scholarship
  • St Leonard's funding opportunities
  • Graduate discount (15% off tuition fees)