| Duration | 1 year |
| Course type | Full-time, Part-time route available |
| Study location | Plymouth |
Explore a range of subjects within British, European and world history, from the 15th century to the present day. Benefit from the History team's specialist knowledge and links across the global historical community and develop a deep and systematic understanding of historical research to excel in further studies, or begin your career with confidence thanks to the professional experience opportunities offered.
MAHI700
Key Debates and Research Methods in History
This module will provide students both with an understanding of current debates about approaches, theories and methodologies in History and a grounding in research skills such as locating and using primary source material and making effective use of library and database resources.
MAHI701
Public History
This work-facing module examines the theory and practice of how the past is presented to public audiences. Students will explore, through site-based case studies and written projects, the creation, nature, use and understanding of various forms of public history, for example those associated with heritage and museums, oral history, film and 'popular' historical writing.
MAHI702
MA History Dissertation
In this module students complete a dissertation on an aspect of history of their own choosing. The topic is negotiated between students and teaching staff, who provide tutorial support and advice about all aspects of the project from initiation to completion.
MAHI704
Piracy and Privateering, 1560-1816
This module explores piracy and privateering activity in the seas around the British Isles and further afield from the reign of Queen Elizabeth to the end of the second Barbary War in 1816. This course focuses on the social history of piracy and privateering, the organisation of pirate society, and the economic impact of piracy and privateering.
MAHI706
The Civil Rights Movement
Examining the African American struggle for civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s.
MAHI710
The Irish Revolution 1912-37
This module examines the political, social and cultural history of Ireland during the period 1912-1937 with particular focus on causes and effects of partition and the nature what is known as the Irish revolution.
MAHI716
America and the United Nations 1945 to the present
This module provides a detailed examination of the relationship between the United States of America and the United Nations in the management of international relations from 1945 to the present.
MAHI718
Independent Research Project in History
A research project leading to an essay (8000 words), devised with tutorial supervision, in a field not offered in the History module options, or where the student has previously studied the topic within a module at BA level 6 and is consequently not permitted to take the MA option version (also, in exceptional circumstances where the module option timetable means that a student is unable to choose an option).
MAHI723
Key Debates in Modern Japanese History
This module is an introduction to the major themes of political, social and economic development in Japan in the nineteenth and twentieth century.
MAHI726
Filth and the Victorians
In this module students study the Victorian era from the perspective of environment, public hygiene, cultural values of cleanliness and fear of physical, moral and other forms of contamination. Drawing on urban histories, histories of medicine and science, the module also uses a range of literary and artistic sources.
MAHI728
Maritime Explorations and Encounters
This module challenges students to rethink their ideas about the use of navies in exploration, leading explorers such as Sir Francis Drake, Captain James Cook and Charles Darwin, the place of Plymouth in maritime exploration and the nature of encounters with native peoples.
IRL716
International Relations in the Middle East: A Critical Approach
This module introduces the students to the study of International Relations in the Middle East. It does this by examining processes such as uprisings and revolutions, and concepts such as democracy and authoritarianism. The module’s approach encourages students to think about the relationship between domestic and international politics and the importance of historical context. Crucially, these concepts, processes, and approaches are valid in 21st century politics beyond the Middle East.
MAHI733
Inter-War Britain 1919-40
The module examines Britain in the period 1919-40 with an emphasis on Government and politics. The social, economic and foreign challenges facing Britain are examined for their ability to impact on policy and politics.
MAEL713
Natural Knowledge and Narrative Knowing: Literatures of nature in North America
With a chronology from the colonial period to the twentieth century, this module examines the environmental literatures of North America, acknowledging the contexts and legacies of settler colonialism. By engaging with a diverse ranges of prose texts – eg. natural histories, the periodical press, novels, travel narratives – this module will analyse competing systems of knowledge production, western and indigenous, through a variety of literary forms.
MAHI715
The Family, Sex and Society in Britain, 1450-1700
This module examines interpersonal relationships in Britain 1450 -1700. Focusing on marriage, family, changing patterns of sexual behaviour, it considers the changing nature, experience, meaning of family life and intimate relations in an era of religious and political upheaval.
Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.
The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:
| New student | 2024-2025 | 2025-2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Home | £9,700 | £9,700 |
| International | £17,600 | £18,150 |
| Part time (Home) | £540 | £540 |
Telephone: +44 1752 585858
Email: admissions@plymouth.ac.uk
For historians, books are a window into the minds of their readers. We can see the ideas that they were introduced to and sometimes their responses to them, good and bad.
"As well as offering a flexible learning structure, the MA provided me with the opportunity to study subjects that I was interested in. I learnt about the origins of the civil rights movement and the role of lesser-known activists such as Ella Baker. I was also given the confidence to develop my own ideas. Through the encouragement of my tutor Dr Harry Bennett, I was able to turn a research trip to The National Archives into a dissertation about Devonport Dockyard in World War Two."
You can study MA History either full time or part time. While much of your study and research is self-led, there’ll still be many opportunities to work closely with the history team, attending lectures and seminars on campus.
"Completing an MA History has been the most positive and rewarding experience. Having achieved my undergraduate degree in History there, the MA course allowed me to deepen and expand my knowledge through a variety of modules and a dissertation. The support and guidance from the lecturers were second to none. I was able to take modules in maritime exploration, modern German history and public history to name a few. All the modules offered me the opportunity to progress in my written work and gain confidence in verbal communication and expression of ideas to an audience through presentations. What the History department at Plymouth do particularly well is emphasise the utilisation of our skills in the wider world to ensure we are employable. They encouraged us with internships to build on the skills we were learning and place them in a professional setting. I would not be where I am today without the support and guidance of the History department at Plymouth."
The School of Society and Culture is home to around 40 researchers working across a number of disciplines: history, art history, anthropology, English, creative writing, music, computer music, theatre and performance.
"The MA History at Plymouth was a fantastic and valuable experience for me, supplementing and enhancing what I learned through my BA and equipping me with the skills required to feel confident in taking on a PhD project. The course was well balanced between developing us as historians and giving us the facilities and opportunities to pursue other topics. I worked with a lot of 18th and 19th century maritime history and also studied the history of modern Japan. Together, these set me up well for my doctoral research, which will be grounded in 19th century maritime history in China and East Asia. All of my tutors were passionate about their topics and often very involved with our learning, always quick to help in person and virtually when needed, and genuinely interested and involved in our work. My experience during the MA was hugely positive thanks to the fantastic history staff, great library facilities and lovely city."
A history masters will provide you with a range of options upon graduation – whether you’re looking to continue your studies or begin your career, you’ll be equipped with the analytical skills and knowledge to excel.
"I've often been drawn to more marginal figures. More recently I've been trying to understand – in exploring 'integrity' and 'mercy' – virtues or qualities which most people would have endorsed, but have often had varied political uses."
