History MA

On this course you will become an independent, confident and digitally literate learner. You will join a course with an established record of high levels of student satisfaction, and will enhance your employability by developing sophisticated analytical skills.

Throughout the course you will have the opportunity to focus on your particular interests in varied types of history. We will cover social and cultural histories of the early modern period through to modern political and international history. You can also explore a chosen specialism through an extended piece of independent research and critical writing, on a topic of your choice.

The inclusion of digital learning also allows you to build versatile skills such as creating digital portfolios, web development and data management.

You will have opportunities to collaborate with staff, students and external partners such as:

• The archives at York Explore
• The Yorkshire Film Archive
• The National Railway Museum
• The Borthwick Institute
• Minster Library
• The British Library at Boston Spa

How you will study

You can study this postgraduate course full time or part time. This allows you to fit your studies around other commitments.

If you choose to study full time the course will take 1 year to complete. You will study:

• 2 compulsory 10 week modules, and a compulsory Research Dissertation
• 4 optional 5 week modules

If you choose to study part time the course will take 2 years to complete and the modules will be split across both years.

You can find out which modules are available in each term in the Course Specifications.

Modules

Teaching and learning

On this course we take a literary evidence-based approach, which requires wide, critical reading. You will need to construct arguments in writing across a number of formats. Your tutors will critique your progress as an integral part of teaching and learning. This will be achieved through individual meetings with your tutors, feedback on written work or specific coursework tutorials. There is strong emphasis on the development of independent research and writing. You will be taught in small discussion groups where you will have plenty of opportunity to interact with your peers.

Our teaching draws on both our research and professional experience. This means your learning is informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.

Assessment

Assessment strategies are designed to develop independent research skills, the ability to structure and write a sophisticated critical essay, and to provide the opportunity to pursue your own intellectual interests.

Assessment methods may include:

• Essays
• Presentations
• Written proposals
• Portfolios
• Videos

Qualifications

If your degree is in an unrelated subject, but you can provide evidence of relevant professional experience, your application may still be considered and you may be invited for interview.

International students

If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.

If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent.

Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our international pages.

International entry requirements

Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)

If you do not have traditional qualifications, you might be able to provide evidence of professional experience in the subject as an alternative way to meet the entry requirements. This is called Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Appropriate references and records of employment would need to be presented to support your case for admission. 

Terms and conditions

Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.

UK 2024 - 2025 entry

• £8,000 for full time study
• £4,000 per year for part time study

Postgraduate loans are available to help you pay for your master's course. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

Funding opportunities

International 2024 - 2025 entry

• £11,300 for 1 year of full time study
• £5,650 per year for part time study

Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a student visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.

Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

International Fees and Funding

Tuition fees

Alumni Scholarships

If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies.

Scholarships for alumni

Additional costs and financial support

Course-related costs

While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.

Accommodation and living costs

View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.

Where could History take you?

This postgraduate degree could lead you to a career directly related to history, or it could take you in a completely different direction, using the many transferrable skills you will develop.

This will give you an advantage for a career in:

• Historical research
• Heritage and tourism
• Historic building conservation
• Public sector
• Archives and curation
• Librarianship

Stand out from the crowd with postgraduate study.

Far fewer people have postgraduate degrees than undergraduate qualifications. This gives you something extra to set yourself apart in a competitive graduate job market. Those with a postgraduate qualification will earn an average of £6,500 a year more than those with only an undergraduate degree. (Department For Education Graduate Labour Market Report 2022).

Our careers service, LaunchPad, provides career support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:

• Employer events
• LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
• Workshops on application writing and interview skills
• Work experience and volunteering opportunities
• Personalised career advice

This support does not end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain the experience and confidence you need to succeed.