About this course
Develop your passion and enhance your understanding of the past with a master’s in History at the University of Southampton. You'll learn of the great variety of history, develop explanations of the patterns that shaped the world, and examine wider perspectives across the past.
This flexible MA programme will engage you with leading researchers in a variety fields, from the Ancient world to the 'war on terror'. You can choose to study history from across the world, including Britain, continental Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.
You'll learn to study new themes, interrogate sources, debate interpretations and share in the fascination we have with the documented past. You'll have the chance to explore history from a wide range of perspectives including:
- ordinary life
- varying identities
- empires
- ethnicity
- class
- gender
- age
- faith
At Southampton, you can choose how to investigate the past. You'll have access to research seminars to develop your expertise in areas that interest you, and undertake research projects to further your understanding. We'll encourage you to consider different genres of history and the public communication of historical ideas, and develop your skills with our library and archive collections.
Course lead
Your course leader has research interests in the high middle ages and has published widely on:
- the links between political and legal cultures
- the aftermath of the Norman conquest of England
- the role of the church in shaping medieval society and culture
Visit Dr Nick Karn's staff profile to learn more about his work.
Course location
This course is based at Avenue.
Awarding body
This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.
Download the Course Description Document
The Course Description Document details your course overview, your course structure and how your course is taught and assessed.
Changes due to COVID-19
Although the COVID-19 situation is improving, any future restrictions could mean we might have to change the way parts of our teaching and learning take place in 2022 to 2023. This means that some of the information on this course page may be subject to change.
Find out more on our COVID advice page.
Entry requirements
You’ll need a 2:1 degree in history or a related subject.
Find the equivalent international qualifications for your country.
English language requirements
If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:
IELTS score requirements
- overall score
- 6.5
- reading
- 6.0
- writing
- 6.0
- speaking
- 6.0
- listening
- 6.0
We accept other English language tests. Find out which English language tests we accept.
Recognition of professional experience
If you don't have the exact entry requirements, but you have significant work experience in this sector we’ll assess your relevant professional experience, your subject knowledge and your aptitude for learning.
Your application will be considered on individual merit and you may be asked to attend an interview.
Got a question?
Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
Course structure
This is a full-time master’s course. You’ll study for 12 months, from September to the following September.
In the first 9 months (semesters 1 and 2) you’ll study the taught part of your course.
This is made up of modules that everyone on the course takes, and modules we’ll ask you to choose from a list of options. You’ll also study research skills to prepare for your dissertation.
For the last 3 months, over the summer, you’ll work independently to research and write your dissertation. You’ll have one-to-one meetings with your supervisor during this time to discuss your progress.
Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.
Modules
Changes due to COVID-19
Although the COVID-19 situation is improving, any future restrictions could mean we might have to change the way parts of our teaching and learning take place in 2022 to 2023. This means that some of the information on this course page may be subject to change.
Find out more on our COVID advice page.
For entry in Academic Year 2022-23
Year 1 modules
You must study the following modules:
History Dissertation
Provide you with the opportunity to make your own contribution to historical understanding, by presenting a coherent, detailed and sustained argument at length on a historical topic. Provide a supervisory framework which furnishes an appropriate level of...
Public History
This module aims to enhance your understanding of how history is communicated and consumed by the general public outside academe, through such institutions as museums, archives and heritage sites. It will encourage you to both engage with the theoretical ...
Research Skills and Dissertation Preparation
The module divides into two parts, the first part delivered in Semester 1 and the second in Semester 2. The first part is designed to serve as a practical general introduction to the skills required of you as you study for an MA in History as a research d...
You must also choose from the following modules:
History Individually Negotiated Topic 1
As an alternative to one modular option on the History MA you can pursue an Individually Negotiated Topic or INT in each semester. This enables you to develop a personal interest in a specific historical topic under the supervision of member(s) of staff i...
History Individually Negotiated Topic 2
As an alternative to one modular option on the History MA you can pursue an Individually Negotiated Topic or INT in each semester. This enables you to develop a personal interest in a specific historical topic under the supervision of member(s) of staff i...
Memory in National and Transnational Contexts
Whether in the form of monuments, stories or rituals a desire to remember seems to be everywhere in most if not all contemporary nation states. In some respect this has been fuelled by the continually evolving international situation, which has posed a se...
Nation, Culture, Power
This module offers an in-depth exploration of three concepts that have shaped the modern world: nation, culture, and power. Drawing on staff expertise in cultural and critical theory, the module will investigate the key questions that worldwide thinkers a...
Themes in American History
This module draws upon the expertise of three US historians to explore different dimensions of the American past, from the founding of the republic forward. This year, we will be focusing on the theme: ‘The other among us: conspiracies, cults and counterr...
Themes in Early Modern History
In this module, you will explore some of the social, cultural and political forces that transformed the early modern world (c. 1450–1800). This was a period of momentous change characterised by political upheaval, religious conflict and a rapidly globalis...
Themes in Imperial History
This module will provide students with an opportunity to explore some key themes in imperial history, with a likely focus on the history and historiography of the British Empire. Topics may be drawn from any period in imperial history, from the beginnings...
Themes in Jewish History
This module offers an overview of the development of Jewish/non-Jewish relations from antiquity to the post-Holocaust era. We will explore change and continuity in the nature of responses towards Jews, and the creation of Jewish identities in relation to ...
Themes in Medieval History
This module will introduce you to themes and approaches to the study of the medieval world. You will be opening windows on to this world through a selection of medieval themes. And you will be active viewers, exploring how historians have been shaping and...
Themes in Modern British History
Historians have become interested in ‘ordinary people’ in recent years. Why? This module explores this question through looking at case-studies of women’s, men’s and children’s histories in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Britain, and at varieties of ‘o...
Themes in Modern European History
This module offers an extended exploration of the question: what is European history, and how do we go about writing it? It explores how the development of the discipline, and indeed the field, has trained us to see (and not to see) certain histories in...
Themes in the Ancient World
Ancient history covers a vast geographical and chronological span, from Ancient Egypt to Classical Greece, from Rome to Imperial China, and from the Mediterranean into Europe, Africa, and the Near East. This module allows you to explore your interest in t...
Transnational Movement in the Age of Globalisation
The module investigates transnational approaches to migration and global mobility. It combines a theoretical emphasis in the first part with one based on specific empirical case studies and methodological issues in the second.
Learning and assessment
Learning
We teach through a mixture of:
- small seminar groups
- practical exercises
- tutor-led and student-led tutorials
- study visits
- talks from visiting experts
- independent learning
Assessment
We’ll assess you through a combination of:
- essays
- seminar critique
- book review
- your dissertation
Dissertation
You’ll complete a 15,000-word dissertation to show you can build an argument based on your own original research and manage a project independently.
Academic Support
We’ll assign you a personal tutor, and you’ll have access to a senior tutor.
Careers
A master’s degree will enable you to further develop the key skills employers seek such as:
- time, deadline and project management
- problem-solving
- teamwork, relationship-building and working independently
- cultural awareness
- using your initiative
- critical thinking and research analysis
You’ll also learn to communicate your ideas and enthusiasm to a wide range of audiences.
Careers services at Southampton
We're a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. This support includes:
- work experience schemes
- CV/resume and interview skills workshops
- networking events
- careers fairs attended by top employers
- a wealth of volunteering opportunities
- study abroad and summer school opportunities
We have a thriving entrepreneurship culture. You'll be able to take advantage of:
- our dedicated start-up incubator, Futureworlds
- a wide variety of enterprise events run throughout the year
- our partnership in the world’s number 1 business incubator, SETsquared
Fees, costs and funding
Tuition fees
Fees for a year's study:
- UK students pay £9,250.
- EU and international students pay £22,136.
What your fees pay for
Your tuition fee covers the full cost of tuition and any exams.
Find out how to pay your tuition fees.
Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. Explore:
10% alumni discount
If you’re a graduate of the University of Southampton you get a 10% discount on your postgraduate tuition fees.
Postgraduate Master’s Loans (UK nationals only)
This can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate master's course. Find out if you're eligible.
Southampton Humanities Postgraduate Global Talent Scholarship
Twenty scholarships of £5,000 are available to international students joining our postgraduate master’s courses at the School of Humanities in September 2023.
Find out more about the Southampton Humanities Postgraduate Global Talent Scholarship, including eligibility, deadlines and how to apply.
Southampton Arts and Humanities Deans Global Talent Scholarship
Ten scholarships of £10,000 each are available to international students studying for an undergraduate degree or a postgraduate master’s degree in Arts and Humanities.
Find out more about the Southampton Arts and Humanities Deans Global Talent Scholarship, including eligibility, deadlines and how to apply.
Other postgraduate funding options
A variety of additional funding options may be available to help you pay for your master’s study. Both from the University and other organisations.
Funding for EU and international students
Find out about funding you could get as an international student.
How to apply
- Use the 'apply for this course' button on this page to take you to our online application form.
- Search for the course you want to apply for.
- Complete the application form and upload any supporting documents.
- Submit your application.
Application deadlines
Places are limited and we allocate them on a continuous basis from 21 September 2022, until all places are filled. We advise you to apply early to avoid disappointment.
We expect to close applications for this course on Friday 7 July 2023 (11:59pm UK time).
This course may stay open after this date if places are still available.
Application assessment fee
We’ll ask you to pay a £50 application assessment fee if you’re applying for a postgraduate taught course.
This is an extra one-off charge which is separate to your tuition fees and is payable per application. It covers the work and time it takes us to assess your application. You’ll be prompted to pay when you submit your application which won’t progress until you've paid.
If you're a current or former University of Southampton student, or if you’re applying for certain scholarships, you will not need to pay the fee. PGCE applications through GOV.UK and Master of Research (MRes) degree applications are also exempt. Find out if you’re exempt on our terms and conditions page.
Supporting information
When you apply you’ll need to submit a personal statement explaining why you want to take the course.
You’ll need to include information about:
- your knowledge of the subject area
- why you want to study a postgraduate qualification in this course
- how you intend to use your qualification
You'll also need to send 2 academic references.
Please include the required paperwork showing your first degree and your IELTS English language test score (if you are a non-native English speaker) with your application. Without these, your application may be delayed.
What happens after you apply
You'll be able to track your application through our online Applicant Record System.
We'll assess your application on the strength of your:
- academic achievements
- relevant professional experience
- personal statement
- academic references
We will aim to send you a decision 6-8 weeks after you have submitted your application.
If we offer you a place, you will need to accept the offer within 30 working days. If you do not meet this deadline, we will offer your place to another applicant.
Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications we receive, we may not be able to give you specific feedback on your application if you are unsuccessful.
We may invite you to an interview, which will take place by phone if you live abroad. You'll get an email from the admissions tutor if we'd like to talk to you before offering you a place.
Equality and diversity
We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.
Got a question?
Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
