History

Overview

The MA History programme at Queen’s is designed to offer an innovative package of modules that challenges students to develop their knowledge and skills, and flourish in their area of interest or future specialism.



Our Faculty have research specialisms across a range of chronological and geographical areas. We have areas of particular strength in ancient, medieval, early modern and contemporary history in Ireland, Britain, the USA, Europe, Africa and Asia. Students will be taught by leading experts in public history, urban history, women’s and gender history, religious history, political history, and extra-European history.



Modules are designed in a complementary fashion in order to develop the range of skills that employers expect from graduates from the best designed postgraduate taught programmes. They are designed also to train students who want to continue onto a PhD.



Modules range from Theory, methods and sources to Topic in the History of Religion, the History of Race and Ethnicity, the History of the Cold War, Social History, Political History or Economic History. You can opt to take these approaches within American History, British History, Irish History, European History, African History, Asian History or Ancient, Medieval and Early Modern History.



Course Structure

Students may enrol on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (3 years) basis. Part-time students typically complete one or two modules per semester. Full-time students typically complete three modules per semester.



The MA is awarded to students who successfully complete six taught modules (120 CATS points) and a 20,000-word research dissertation (60 CATS points).



Exit qualifications are available: students may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma by successfully completing 120 CATS points from taught modules or a Postgraduate Certificate by successfully completing 60 CATS points from taught modules.

Year 1

Core Modules

Dissertation (60 credits)

The Historian's Craft (20 credits)

Presenting Sources (20 credits)

Approaches to History (20 credits)



Optional Modules

Belfast: Place, Identity and Memory in a Contested City (20 credits)

Kingship and Colonisation in Medieval Ireland: Interdisciplinary Perspectives (20 credits)

Public History Internship (20 credits)

Culture and Society from Antiquity to the early modern period (20 credits)

Topics In Irish History (20 credits)

Individually Negotiated Topic in History (20 credits)

Major themes in US History (20 credits)

Difficult Pasts (20 credits)

Graduate

Normally a strong 2.2 Honours degree (with minimum of 55%) or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in an Arts and Humanities discipline.



Applicants with a Social Sciences Honours degree will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants who hold a 2.2 Honours degree below 55% (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) in an Arts and Humanities discipline, or relevant other discipline who can demonstrate relevant professional experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 15th August 2025 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal prior to the deadline stated on course finder. Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page.

Assessment is by coursework: essays, written projects, oral presentations, class contributions.


Critical commentaries on primary sources


Power Point presentations


Practical work on documents or internship-related assessment


20,000-word dissertation

1 year (Full Time), 3 years (Part Time)

Entry Year: 2025/26

Career Prospects

The MA can be regarded either as an end in itself, culminating in the distinction of having obtained a postgraduate degree and enhanced your employability skills as a researcher, or as a stepping stone to the higher research degree of PhD. Many graduates have gone on to PhD programmes both at Queen’s and other world-leading Universities. Others go into a wide variety of employment including careers in museums, archives or libraries; journalism or media related work; teaching; private and public administration; economic development and the voluntary sector.



Modules focus on skills development in terms of high-level intellectual development and presentational competence. http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/