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Course information

Department

History

Length

1 year full-time or 2 years part-time

Course overview

The MA History is innovative, creative, free-thinking, stimulating, diverse and challenging – everything that is distinctive about history at Goldsmiths.

Why study MA History at Goldsmiths

  • MA History is thematic and interdisciplinary. It has a focus on historical theory and methods, and European modern and early modern history including non-traditional military history, queer history and Black British History.
  • You will develop specific subject interests through a range of optional modules and the dissertation.
  • Your learning will be supported by peers and one-to-one sessions with tutors and supervisors.
  • You will undertake an independent research dissertation on a theme of personal interest.
  • You will have the opportunity to organise and present your work at an internal departmental postgraduate conference alongside students from other MA programmes.
    You will have the opportunity to study module options offered by other institutions part of the University of London.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Dr Erica Wald.

What you'll study

Compulsory modules

You take the following two compulsory modules (60 credits in total):

Module title Credits
Explorations and Debates in History

Explorations and Debates in History

30 credits

A one-term module which investigates the ways historians have conceptualised and contested historical practice in the modern and early modern periods.

 30 credits
Research Skills

Research Skills

30 credits

The aim of this compulsory module is to give you some practical familiarity in the range and use of source material and to enhance your understanding of the uses of various types of sources as well as of appropriate research methods. A variety of different types of source materials, from oral testimony to visual images, are reviewed, as well as the various ways in which such material can be critically addressed. Consideration will also be given to the archival arrangements related to documentary and other sources. This includes group visits to archives and collections, but you are also expected to visit a range of different archives and collections themselves. A further, and important, objective of this module is to equip you with the research skills they will need in order to successfully undertake and complete their dissertation.

 30 credits

Option modules

You also take two thematic option modules. You could:

Dissertation

You will begin work on your dissertation in the second term. In the third term, you will participate in the dissertation conference and will then complete your work over the summer. Your dissertation is 60 credits of your overall mark.

Module title Credits
Dissertation

Dissertation

60 credits

The dissertation allows you to pursue your own independent research projects. Under the guidance of your supervisors, you develop a suitable project, identify sources, and carry out research in archives, museums, galleries and libraries. For the writing up of your project, you need to consider their topics within the appropriate historical and historiographical context. You will build on learning outcomes achieved in other components of the programme, i.e. the Research Methods module, the core Explorations and Debates modules in each programme, and the option modules.

60 credits

Download the programme specification. If you would like an earlier version of the programme specification, please contact the Quality Office.

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

For 2021-22 and 2020–21, we have made some changes to how the teaching and assessment of certain programmes are delivered. To check what changes affect this programme, please visit the programme changes page.

Entry requirements

You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least second class standard in a humanities or social science subject.

You might also be considered for some programmes if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.

Fees, funding & scholarships

Annual tuition fees

These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2022/2023 academic year.

  • Home - full-time: £7540
  • Home - part-time: £3770
  • International - full-time: £15820

If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.

It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time if you require a Student Visa, however this is currently being reviewed and will be confirmed in the new year. Please read our visa guidance in the interim for more information. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.

If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.

Additional costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.

There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.

Funding opportunities

Find out more about postgraduate fees and explore funding opportunities. If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.

How to apply

Apply now

You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system. 

Before submitting your application you’ll need to have:

  • Details of your education history, including the dates of all exams/assessments
  • The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively an electronic copy of your academic reference
  • A personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online

          Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement

  • If available, an electronic copy of your educational transcript (this is particularly important if you have studied outside of the UK, but isn’t mandatory)

You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.

Essay

As part of your application, you'll be asked to write a short essay (1,000 words maximum) identifying the significance of any one primary source related to your own research interests for your proposed programme of study at Goldsmiths. In addition to the primary source, you must use at least one secondary source to support your analysis. Please use either Chicago or MHRA citation style.

When to apply

15 June 2021: Deadline for applications to be considered for departmental bursaries.

3 August: Deadline for applications for the following September.

We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place conditional on you achieving a particular qualification.

Late applications will only be considered if there are spaces available.

Selection process

Admission to many programmes is by interview, unless you live outside the UK. Occasionally, we'll make candidates an offer of a place on the basis of their application and qualifications alone.

Find out more about applying.

Staff

Find out about staff in the Department of History. 

Careers

Skills

The MA History develops a range of transferrable skills which are relevant to a range of careers and areas of employment. These include: advanced research and analytical expertise; increased independence of thought; the ability to marshal, evaluate and communicate, in written and oral form, complex information and ideas; project management; teamwork and workshop organisation.

Careers

Students who complete MA History are successful in all types of careers which are available to humanities students, ranging from the media to the law to the public sector.

Studying in London provides access to a wide range of research institutions and facilities that are on offer.

Graduate students from the Department have gone on to careers in museums and galleries, archives, journalism, charities, university and arts administration, local government and teaching, as well as doctoral research.

Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths.

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