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United States Studies: History and Politics MA

London, Bloomsbury

Explore the interesting intersection of US history and politics on this one-year MA, which brings together insights from the whole of the humanities and social sciences into a single Master’s. Learn alongside experts at the UCL Institute of the Americas, US specialists from other UCL departments and University of London colleges – and put yourself on the path to a meaningful career in research, journalism, teaching, or work in government or NGOs.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£16,000
£8,000
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£33,000
£16,500
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Normally an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

"I chose to study US studies because I liked that it focused on history and politics. I think, at Master's level, there is often a lot of pressure to do one or the other, and in the past I found focusing on the combination of the two to be pretty informative." 
(Olivia Castle, MSc US Studies: History and Politics 2023-24)

This multidisciplinary programme looks at the History of the United States from many different angles. Students will consider case studies from the Americas focused on its history, politics and culture. You will also look at current issues such as:

  • Supreme Court decisions on reproductive rights
  • Why the political processes have become so polarized in the USA
  • The rise of civil movements like “Black lives matter”.

Students will develop analytical and critical perspectives on US history, politics, cultural studies and international relations. They will gain key research skills, and perfect their oral and written presentational skills.

Who this course is for

This degree is suitable for qualified candidates who wish to gain the subject-specific and transferable skills necessary to prepare for careers in research, teaching, and private/public sector organisations in the multidisciplinary field of United States studies.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

The UCL Institute of the Americas offers the largest teaching portfolio for the study of Canada, Latin America and the United States in the UK. Being multidisciplinary, you will be taught by experts on social sciences and modern history all under one roof. 

Students in the Institute benefit from:

  • Teaching by world-leading scholars at the cutting edge of research that was ranked 1st in Area Studies and Impact in the REF 2021.
  • Close relationships with cultural and diplomatic organisations in the Americas
  • Links with businesses with interests in North America and Latin America.
  • Invitation to Institute’s Seminar Series 
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

According to the Graduate Outcomes survey 2017-2022, upon completing this degree, you will have skills well suited for jobs in sectors such as: 

  • Policy and government
  • NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) 
  • Business and financial services
  • Media and journalism
  • Academia and education

I chose to study US studies because I liked that it focused on history and politics. I think, at Master's level, there is often a lot of pressure to do one or the other, and in the past I found focusing on the combination of the two to be pretty informative.

UCL Portico building with welcome sign between columns.

Olivia Castle

United States Studies: History and Politics MA

Employability

Graduates have acquired transferable skills attractive to employers in a wide range of businesses and sectors:

  • Theoretical and critical analysis.
  • Writing and communication skills.
  • Time management.
  • IT skills.

You will also learn to solve problems and issues and to build positive working relationships. 

Networking

The institute runs seminar series and events with invited speakers from academia, government, and NGOs. They also host careers talks with returning alumni from different organisations and professions. Students can also also attend U.S. history and politics events organised by the Institute of Historical Research and the British Library’s Eccles Centre.

Our central London location gives students access to a host of networking activities and events across the capital. You will be able to attend events in the high commissions and embassies of the region in London. 

Finally, UCL student union societies can also further develop your interests and experiences. You may wish to consider joining:

  • Women and Politics Society
  • Diplomacy Society

  • Government and Politics Society

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of seminars, lectures, presentations, research skills training, independent reading and research.

Assessment is through written assignments (which may include essays, term papers and analytical exercises, depending on selected options), group and seminar presentations, and the dissertation.

Contact time takes various forms:

  • Lectures.
  • Seminars.
  • Fieldwork.
  • Dissertation/ Project supervision.
  • Assessment feedback sessions.

The credit value of the module indicates the total learning hours you will spend to achieve its learning outcomes. One credit is often equated to 10 hours of notional learning, which includes all contact time, self-directed study, and assessment.

For full-time students, typical contact hours are around 7- 8-hours of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials per teaching week. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

In term three and the summer period students will be completing their own dissertation research, keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisors.

Modules

In terms one and two, you will take one compulsory research skills module which provides guidance for undertaking the research dissertation in term three. You will then select five modules of further substantive subject options from a broad range of options. Full time students usually take two of these options in term one and three in term two.

In term three, you will fully develop your research dissertation in consultation with a specifically designated dissertation supervisor. Many of our Master's students undertake fieldwork in order to carry out research for their dissertation projects.

Part-time students will split the taught modules between year 1 and year 2. The research skills module is usually taken in year 1, the dissertation is taken in year 2.
 

All part-time students must complete a minimum of 60 credits in their first year. These include any core modules that need to be taken in year 1.

Compulsory modules




Optional modules









Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in United States Studies: History and Politics.

Fieldwork

Many of our Master's students undertake fieldwork in order to carry out research for their dissertation projects.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £16,000 £8,000
Tuition fees (2025/26) £33,000 £16,500

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There may be travel costs associated with fieldwork and it is the student's responsibility to cover these expenses. The institute may be able to offer some funds towards the costs of the fieldwork. These funds are awarded on a competitive basis on the criteria of academic performance to date, the quality of the research proposal and the importance of fieldwork for completing the research.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

Funding opportunities at the Institute of the Americas can be found here.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Aziz Foundation Scholarships in Social and Historical Sciences

Value: Full tuition fees (equivalent to 1yr full-time) (1 year)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to elaborate on your reasons for applying to this programme and how your interests match what the programme will deliver.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study United States Studies: History and Politics at graduate level
  • why you want to study United States Studies: History and Politics at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your academic background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Please note that some funding schemes have an earlier application deadline; please view the funding section for further details.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Institute of the Americas
Institute of the Americas

ia-programmes@ucl.ac.uk

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