Program Overview

---

MSt in Historical Studies

The MSt in Historical Studies is a two-year part-time graduate course that focuses on British, Western European, and imperial history, promoting a broad approach to historical research across the historical disciplines.

About the Course

The course forms part of Oxford University's Department for Continuing Education's graduate program in historical studies. Successful completion of the PGCert in Historical Studies is mandatory for admission to this master's year. The MSt course builds upon the skills and knowledge developed in the PGCert and encourages students to engage actively with theoretical and historiographical approaches underpinning modern historical research.

Course Structure

• The course consists of three units taught in three weekend residences, providing 38 hours of teaching, seminar discussion, and presentations.
• Most students also have the opportunity to receive up to five hours of individual supervision for their dissertations.
• Students are expected to spend at least fifteen hours per week in private study preparing for the weekend residences and researching and writing their dissertation.

Attendance

This course is part-time, requiring attendance at three weekend residences in Oxford, in October, December, and January, and a further dissertation workshop in April.

Resources to Support Study

As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of resources, including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources, and IT services. The Bodleian Libraries, the largest library system in the UK, includes the main Bodleian Library and libraries across Oxford, holding more than 13 million printed items and providing access to e-journals and special collections.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department for Continuing Education, usually performed by the Course Director. Under exceptional circumstances, a supervisor may be found outside the Department for Continuing Education.

Assessment

The graded assessment for these units is provided by the dissertation, supplemented by three summative assessment exercises marked pass/fail:

• A survey of secondary literature for the dissertation
• A survey of primary sources for the dissertation
• A dissertation proposal The final grade awarded for the MSt subsumes the grade awarded for the Postgraduate Certificate in Historical Studies, with a weighting of 60% applied to the MSt grade and 40% to the PGCert grade.

Graduate Destinations

It is anticipated that about a quarter of students will progress to doctoral study, including at Oxford and other institutions. Other students study for their own fulfillment or develop their professional career, with many former students working in government, education, heritage and museums, business, and law.

Entry Requirements

Proven and Potential Academic Excellence

• Applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honors in a relevant subject.
• Applicants must have completed or be studying the PGCert in Historical Studies and demonstrate a strong performance, as offers will be conditional on students obtaining a Merit or a Distinction in the PGCert.

Degree-Level Qualifications

• For applicants with a bachelor's degree from the USA, the minimum overall GPA normally required is 3.6 out of 4.0.
• If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified, visit the International Qualifications page for guidance.

English Language Proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's higher level. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement.

References

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course.

Supporting Documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application, including:

• Official transcript(s)
• Research proposal (a maximum of 1,000 words)
• Written work (one essay of a maximum of 2,500 words)

Funding

For entry in the academic year, the collegiate University expects to offer over 1,100 full or partial graduate scholarships across a wide range of graduate courses. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential.

Costs

Annual Course Fees

The fees for this course are charged on an annual basis:

• Home: ｣7,900
• Overseas: ｣15,190

Additional Costs

Please note that this course requires attendance in Oxford for residential sessions, and you may incur additional travel and accommodation expenses.

Living Costs

In addition to your course fees and any additional course-specific costs, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

College Preference

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. The following colleges accept students on the MSt in Historical Studies:

• Blackfriars
• Campion Hall
• Harris Manchester College
• Jesus College
• Kellogg College
• New College
• Regent's Park College
• St Catherine's College
• Wolfson College
• Wycliffe Hall

How to Apply

Before you apply, you are advised to discuss your application plans with the course director or a member of the course team. You should refer to the information on the application form and pay attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents.