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.

Year 1
Core Modules
• Dissertation (60 credits)
• Theory in History (20 credits)
• Pathways Through History (20 credits)
• The Historian's Craft (20 credits)

Optional Modules
• Individually Negotiated Topic in History (20 credits)
• Kingship and Colonisation in Medieval Ireland: Interdisciplinary Perspectives (20 credits)
• Case Studies in History (20 credits)
• Language Revival, Reconciliation and Politics in Northern Ireland (20 credits)
• Belfast: Place, Identity and Memory in a Contested City (20 credits)
• Presenting Sources (20 credits)
• Topics In Irish History (20 credits)

Course Structure
Students in this programme are given both a strong foundation in the study of History as a disciplines, as well as the opportunity to specialise within particular fields of study. All students will participate in the study of research methods and historiography, and then specialise through elective modules, individually negotiated topics, and case studies.

Graduate
Normally at least a 2.1 Honours degree 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 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 16th August 2024 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. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.

How to Apply
Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

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)

Teaching Times
Teaching takes place at a variety of times from 12-6pm Monday – Friday.

Entry Year: 2024/25

Career Prospects
Introduction
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.