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MA History

About the Programme

MA History is our flagship MA programme. It enables you to range widely in time and space, develop your own research interests, and be in dialogue with and guided by some of the best historians at work today.  

The MA History is divided into four pathways. Each has a compulsory core course that introduces you to your pathway's theories, methods, and debates. This is the hub of your intellectual community for the year. Optional modules allow you to explore historical subjects directly related to your pathway. You can also choose elective modules freely from a wide range of options.


Open Event

Hear from Dr Florence Sutcliffe-Braithwaite about studying MA History at UCL:

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Pathways

Culture, Ideas, and Identities

You will examine culturally constructed aspects of historical experience. The pathway’s subject matter includes the wide variety of meaning-laden objects and practices produced in the past or engaged in by different segments of society. Thus, it examines the history of what traditionally has been identified as ‘culture’ with a capital ‘C’, including the ideas articulated by intellectual elites, as well as history ‘from below’, popular culture, and vernacular cultures. You will build knowledge of key conceptual and historiographical approaches and debates, thinking across periods and geographic areas.

Find out more about the core course.

Watch Dr Florence Sutcliffe-Braithwaite and Dr Chloe Ireton discuss the Culture, Ideas and Identities pathway:

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Intellectual Resources
 

The pathway allows you to develop intellectual connections with research networks within and beyond UCL:

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Environment, State, and Economy 

You will explore the connections between environmental, economic, and political change from a long-term perspective. We will examine the relationship between humans and their environment and ask what impact this relationship had on the formation of states, the Industrial Revolution, technological development, colonialism and economic inequality. The core module will help you acquire expertise in cutting-edge debates over the Great Divergence, the Anthropocene, ecological imperialism and climate change. 

Find out more about the core course. 

Watch Dr Florence Sutcliffe-Braithwaite, Dr Nora Qiu, and Dr Robert Suits discuss the Environment, State and Economy pathway:

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Intellectual Resources
 

The pathway allows you to develop intellectual connections with research networks within and beyond UCL:  

Explore Further  

Empires and Global History 

You will examine and interrogate a set of overlapping concerns that have not only shaped global history, imperial history, and histories of empire but also stirred debate about the dividing line between such historiographical approaches. The first is with scale in historical analysis and the effort to move beyond the nation-state to consider empire, region, continent, the terrestrial or terraqueous globe, and even the planet as a unit of inquiry. The second is with connections between historical agents across and between these units. The last is with comparisons across space and time. Rather than being entirely pacific or underpinning ‘progress’, some connections supported the making or deepening of division, inequality, coercion, and violence. 

Find out more about the core course.

Intellectual Resources  

The pathway allows you to develop intellectual connections with research networks within and beyond UCL:  

Explore Further  

Watch and read:  

Modern British History 

You will learn about modern British history’s complexity, diversity, and vibrancy as a field of study. You will identify key areas of historiographical debate, think critically about the field’s boundaries, and question what constitutes modern British history in its temporal and spatial dimensions. The pathway encourages you to problematise the idea of ‘national’ history, providing opportunities to explore the transnational, imperial, global, and comparative dimensions of political, economic, social, cultural, and intellectual life within a ‘British history’ framework.

Find out more about the core course. 

Watch Dr Florence Sutcliffe-Braithwaite introduce the pathway:

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Intellectual Resources
 

The pathway allows you to develop intellectual connections with research networks within and beyond UCL:  

  • UCL History Department’s Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery 
  • The Institute of Historical Research’s research seminars on Britain at Home and Abroad since 1800, Black British History, and Contemporary British History 
  • Students on the pathway draw on an unparalleled array of archival collections to research the history of Britain, the British Empire, and decolonization, including The National Archives, the British Library, UCL Special Collections, Wellcome Collection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Mayday Rooms, the Bishopsgate Institute, Women’s Library@LSE, the Feminist Library, Imperial War Museum, the London Archives, the Museum of London, the British Museum, V&A, Black Cultural Archives, Lambeth Palace Archives 

Explore Further  

Download open-access books by staff connected with the pathway: 

Watch and listen:  


Staff

Research-based teaching is central to everything we do at UCL. You are taught by people doing cutting-edge research on the questions and sources you are working on together. When not on research leave, all our faculty supervise Master’s students.

View our staff by period, region and research interest.


Student Views

Emma Wallhead (MA History)

I chose to study at UCL because of its standing as a leading university for the study of History, and I was not disappointed. I found myself challenged and inspired by the commitment of the academic staff and other students. 

After moving from Sydney and getting settled in London, I was able to immerse myself in attending the program, which I soon discovered was both fascinating and challenging.  We were encouraged to think critically and creatively, but not having studied history at the university level before, I also felt supported to develop the foundation skills needed for credibility in critical thinking and creativity.  

It was exhilarating to be studying history in London and having the opportunity to access such rich historical archives. Rather than just providing a list of archives, excursions were arranged to introduce us to some of the larger archives. There were also so many opportunities to connect with other historians through seminars and other events, both hosted by UCL and through other societies and networks, such as the History and Policy network. When I wasn’t busy immersing in all things history, I was ideally located for weekend trips to neighbouring countries – chasing the northern lights in Iceland was a highlight. 

I took a lot away with me from that year at UCL, including more photos than I can count, some very good friends, and the confidence to start a PhD. More recently, I translated the training from UCL and my continuing studies back in Sydney into an article published in Twentieth Century British History (now Modern British History).

Rose Dryzek (MA History)

The programme expanded my horizons and gave me a much better understanding of history as a field. The emphasis on skills, theory, and methods improved my writing and research, providing me with the grounding I needed to undertake my PhD. I really appreciated the diversity of modules, where I learned about topics as wide-ranging as how the Depression played out in the global South, oral histories of the Holocaust, and how different thinkers have understood Europe. The small group teaching format meant that students were encouraged to work together in engaging with each topic in depth, while the staff were always helpful and willing to give one-on-one advice. My supervisor also gave me advice as I applied for my PhD, even recommending the project I eventually took on at Cambridge.

As a UCL student, I also had access to a whole range of extra support, from writing skills sessions to career advice. While London can feel overwhelming, UCL’s variety of clubs and societies means there is always a community you can join. I really enjoyed getting crafty with the knitting society! Being in the heart of London, UCL is also close to many additional resources that can help your learning, from the British Library to the Institute of Historical Research and Senate House Library.