Program Overview

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Overview

A Master of Arts (MA) by Research allows you to undertake a one-year (full-time) or two-year (part-time) research degree. It contains little or no formal taught component. This type of study gives you the chance to explore a research topic over a shorter time than a more in-depth doctoral programme.

Key Information

Entry requirements

The normal entry requirements for enrolment on a MA by Research is an Honours degree (2:1 or above) or equivalent, in a discipline appropriate to that of the proposed programme to be followed.

• If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification.
• The minimum of IELTS 6.5 overall with no element lower than 6.0, or equivalent.

Start dates

• 1 October 2025
• 12 January 2026
• 20 April 2026

Application deadlines

• For September 2025:
  • 13 June 2025 for International and Scholarship Students
  • 04 July 2025 for Home Students
• For October 2025:
  • 13 June 2025 for International and Scholarship Students
  • 04 July 2025 for Home Students
• For January 2026:
  • 17 October 2025 for International and Scholarship Students
  • 14 November 2025 for Home Students
• For April 2026:
  • 23 January 2026 for International and Scholarship Students
  • 20 February 2026 for Home Students

Duration

• 1 year full-time
• 2 years part-time

What can I research?

There are different ways to find the right research topic for you:

• Find a supervisor and design your own research project – explore the Huddersfield Research Portal to find research and researcher expertise to find the area you’re interested in.
• Browse our listed funded opportunities.
• To find out more about the research we conduct, take a look at our Research, Innovation and Skills webpages, where you will find information on each research area.

Teaching and Assessment

• As a minimum you can expect to meet with your supervisors at least once a month (once every two months for part-time students).
• Self-directed study is to be agreed in liaison with you and your supervisor.
• Self-directed study and supervision time should equate to 35 hours per week (for full-time research degrees).

Fees and Finance

Tuition fees - full-time

In 2025/26 the full-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate researchers will be £5,050.

• Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University.
• Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years of study may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X).

Tuition fees - part-time

In 2025/26 the part-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate researchers will be £2,525.

• Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University.
• Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years of study may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X).

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

• When you are offered a place on a research degree, your offer will include confirmation of your supervisory team, and the topic you will be researching and will be governed by our terms & Conditions, student handbook and relevant policies.
• Whilst the University will use reasonable efforts to ensure your supervisory team remains the same, sometimes it may be necessary to make changes to your team for reasons outside the University’s control, for example if your supervisor leaves the University, or suffers from long term illness.
• Changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, for example pandemics, other disasters (such as fire, flood or war) or changes made by the government.
• Your research project is likely to evolve as you work on it and these minor changes are a natural and expected part of your study.
• However, we may need to make more significant changes to your topic of research during the course of your studies, either because your area of interest has changed, or because we can no longer support your research for reasons outside the University’s control.
• If this is the case, we will discuss any changes in topic with you and agree these in writing.
• If you are an international student, changing topics may affect your visa or ATAS clearance and if this is the case we will discuss this with you before any changes are made.

You may also be interested in...

• Archaeology and Heritage (PhD)
• Public History; Oral History and Community Heritage (MA by Research)
• History of Childhood (MA by Research)
• History (PhD)
• History (MA by Research)