University of Nottingham

What you'll study

The MA is designed to develop advanced historical skills: critical engagement with primary sources, historiographical analysis, research methods and independent scholarship. You study a combination of compulsory research and methods training together with specialist optional modules, and complete a substantive dissertation under academic supervision.

• Core research and methods training – preparation for independent research, archival practice, quantitative and qualitative methods, and historiographical debates.
• Specialist optional modules – examples include topics in medieval and early modern history, modern British history, imperial and global histories, gender and social history, cultural and intellectual history, memory and commemoration, and public/history in museums and heritage settings.
• Dissertation – an extended piece of independent research, supervised by a member of the School of History, allowing you to develop an original argument and demonstrate specialist expertise.

Teaching is typically delivered through seminars, workshops and one-to-one supervision. Assessment combines essays, source-based coursework, presentations and the final dissertation.

Entry requirements

Applicants normally require a good honours degree (typically upper second-class/2:1 or equivalent) in history or a related subject. Applicants with relevant professional experience, a different undergraduate background plus strong evidence of historical training, or a lower-class degree with substantial postgraduate study may also be considered.

International applicants should demonstrate proficiency in English through an approved qualification. Selection also takes account of the quality of your personal statement, academic references and any writing sample or research proposal where requested.

Career prospects

Graduates of the MA History move into a wide range of careers that value research, analysis and communication skills. Common destinations include:

• Further academic study (MPhil/PhD) and research posts
• Museums, archives and the heritage sector, including curatorial and public engagement roles
• Education and teaching (often combined with further teacher training qualifications)
• Publishing, journalism and media
• Policy, administration and the civil service
• Non-governmental organisations, cultural organisations and consultancy

The programme’s emphasis on independent research, source-handling and written/verbal presentation equips graduates for both specialist historical careers and broader professional roles.

Why study at University of Nottingham

The School of History at Nottingham is a research-active department with strengths across a broad chronological and geographical range, including British, imperial and global history. You will be taught by academics engaged in current research and have access to the University’s library collections and special collections, as well as links with local museums, archives and heritage organisations.

The University offers structured research training, opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration across the humanities and social sciences, and a supportive supervisory environment for the dissertation. Campus and city resources, including nearby archives and cultural institutions, provide practical opportunities for placement work and primary-source research.