Public History

The MA Public History draws upon the established strength and expertise of the UCD School of History. Within this program you will work closely with historians who are active in the practice of public history and commemorations. This course offers you the opportunity to build a tailored skillset that will allow you to disseminate history across multiple media, to explore how history can inform public discourse, and to shape policy in culture, education, politics, and the media. Through a mix of academic and practical modules, you will be guided through the theory and application of public history. The course also offers the opportunity for students to undertake relevant work experience in podcasting, publishing, policy, and print media.



UCD is an ideal base for the research of Irish and public history, both because of its renowned archives and the James Joyce library. UCD is also very conveniently located for the use of Dublin city centre research and cultural institutions, including the National Library of Ireland and the National Archives where an extensive range of Irish manuscripts and Irish state papers are housed.



• Provides successful graduates with both theoretical and practical skills to disseminate history across multiple platforms

• Develops skillset as a historian alongside interdisciplinary analysis of memory studies and commemoration

• Practical skills in podcasting, exhibitions, and conference organisation



What Will I Learn?

The course consists of a mixture of traditional history and public history modules. A built-in internship module offers students the opportunity to apply skills learned in the classroom to a variety of real-world settings. Previous internships have been arranged at Marsh’s Library, Century Ireland, Newstalk FM, Dublin City Council Culture Company, the National Folklore Collection, and UCD’s own History Hub. Students will develop the ability to understand historical problems in a comparative framework, while the dissertation module develops significant research skills.



Module offerings include:​

• An Introduction to Public History

• Practicing Public History

• Disseminating History

• Dissertation

Module/Trimester/Credits



Stage 1 Core Modules

HIS42350 Practising Public History Autumn 10

HIS42690 Delving into the Archives Autumn 10

HIS42020 Disseminating History Spring 10

HIS42880 Dissertation Year-long (12 months) 30



Stage 1 Options - A) 2 of:

You must take two options from the following list and you should balance your workload across the trimesters. Students are encouraged to take one 10 credit module from the list below in the autumn and one 10 credit module in the spring.

HIS32730 The Digital Humanities Autumn 10

HIS41780 Origins of Modern Diplomacy Autumn 10

HIS41840 Approaches to the Middle Ages Autumn 10

HIS42390 Global Revolutions Autumn 10

HIS42460 Pop Culture in Modern Ireland Autumn 10

HIS42470 Global History MA Methods Autumn 10

HIS42810 French Colonial Identities in North Africa Autumn 10

HIS42840 Modern Asia Autumn 10

HIS42850 NATO’s Wars: From Bosnia to Afghanistan Autumn 10

HIS42970 Gender in Ireland, 1500-1800 Autumn 10

HIS42380 Research Collaboration Autumn and Spring (separate) 10

HIS41850 Approaches to the Middle Ages II Spring 10

HIS42590 De Valera's Ireland Spring 10

HIS42660 Historiography and Historical Debate in Twentieth-century Ireland Spring 10

HIS42860 The Body in Modern Warfare Spring 10

HIS42940 Body, Disease and Society Spring 10

HIS42980 Middle East State & Society Spring 10



Stage 1 Options - B) 1 of:

Students should select HIS42360 or ONE of the following Spring options not already selected

HIS42380 Research Collaboration Autumn and Spring (separate) 10

HIS42360 Public History Internship Programme Spring 10

HIS42480 War, Peace, and Globalisation Spring 10

HIS42590 De Valera's Ireland Spring 10

HIS42660 Historiography and Historical Debate in Twentieth-century Ireland Spring 10

HIS42860 The Body in Modern Warfare Spring 10

HIS42940 Body, Disease and Society Spring 10

HIS42950 How the West came to rule Spring 10

HIS42980 Middle East State & Society Spring 10

A primary degree in an appropriate field such as a Bachelor of Arts, or in a cognate discipline. You must supply details of any third level institutions you have attended and professional qualifications you have attained.



Excellent academic grades 2H1 or an equivalent of a UCD GPA 3.2 NFQ Level 8. Transcripts will be required.



You will be asked to complete a supporting statement outlining your reasons and motivation for wishing to undertake the course. In addition, a CV will be required.



You will be asked to provide research proposal (one or two pages in length) which outlines preliminary topics/ideas for MA dissertation



You will be required to provide an academic writing sample, e.g. an essay written during your degree or dissertation. (there is no word limit)



Two academic references from referees who are in a position to assess your intellectual ability, maturity and motivation..Ideally both academic but they can also be one academic and one professional). You can upload your references to your application itself or if your referees prefer, they can email their letters of reference to gradhistory@ucd.ie.



Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6 in each element), or equivalent.



This course is open to graduates from the humanities, social sciences, or cognate disciplines. Students will combine the traditional study of History with specialist training in the theory and practice of public history.



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information at: https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/ Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

Online Application.



Who Should Apply?

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EU) applicants: Yes



Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EEA) applicants: Yes

Z247 - 1 year full-time,

Z248 - 2 years part-time.

Delivery: On Campus.

Z247 Public History Master of Arts Full-Time

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught



Z248 Public History Master of Arts Part-Time

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught

Career & Graduate Study Opportunities

Students graduating from this programme will be equipped for careers in media, history, further academic study (PhD programmes), research, policy, heritage, and education (both within Ireland and abroad). The quality and versatility of MA programmes within the School of History has allowed its graduates to pursue careers in a wide range of professions including journalism, publishing, teaching, government, law, archives, public relations, and librarianship.