Modern History (MLitt) 2018 entry

The MLitt in Modern History offers students an opportunity to deepen their understanding of key issues in the discipline by pursuing their studies at a conceptually advanced level. Postgraduate historians work intensively in a variety of subject areas while achieving a steady progression in core fields such as historiography and methodology.

Applications for 2018 entry for this course have now closed, see which courses are available for the upcoming academic year.

Course type

Postgraduate; leading to a Master of Letters (MLitt)

Course dates

  • Start date: 10 September 2018
  • End date: 30 September 2019

If you started this programme in 2017, you can find information about 2017 entry on the 2017 Modern History page. Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.

Course duration

One year full time

Entry requirements

A good 2.1 Honours undergraduate degree in History. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.

English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.

The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.

Tuition fees

UK and EU: £8,500
Overseas: £17,600

Application deadline

Applications are accepted until shortly before teaching starts in September. Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships and for international visa purposes.

Application requirements

  • CV
  • personal statement (optional)
  • sample of academic written work (2,000 words)
  • two original signed academic references
  • academic transcripts and degree certificates
  • evidence of English language proficiency (required if English is not your first language).

For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.

Discover the University of St Andrews

Watch current students and staff discuss the teaching facilities, research opportunities and student life at Scotland's first university.

Course information

The MLitt in Modern History is a taught postgraduate programme run by the School of History.

Highlights

  • The course provides an introduction to history and historiography for students interested in all branches of historical study.
  • The programme is designed to maximise student choice. Students can either specialise in a particular area (e.g. French History, German History, Transnational History, American History) or gain a broader introduction to the study of history at postgraduate level.
  • Students will explore the literature on a topic of individual interest under the guidance of an expert.

Teaching format

Teaching methods include seminars and fortnightly tutorials. Class sizes range from individual supervision up to 12 students. The modules are assessed by coursework only; there is no final exam.

Students will spend the final three months of the course focusing on researching and writing the final assessment piece for the MLitt, a dissertation of not more than 15,000 words.

Further particulars regarding curriculum development.

Modules

Each module typically comprises:

  • 1.5 to 2-hour weekly seminars
  • fortnightly tutorials for Directed Reading
  • 100% coursework assessment.

For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue which is for the 2017–2018 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2018 entry.

  • Directed Reading in Modern History: designed to encourage the development of skills of historical analysis through concentrated study of a topic chosen by the student prior to the dissertation.
  • History in the Making: Theories, Approaches and Practice (1 and 2): examines the development of history-writing and historical research since the Enlightenment, and the emergence of fields, trends and new approaches in current historiography.

Students choose one optional module. Optional modules are subject to change each year, and attendance may be limited (see the University’s position on curriculum development).

  • Key Issues in German Historiography: engages with some of the most hotly disputed issues in German history.
  • Building Britain: The Construction and Deconstruction of Britishness since 1707: combines the study of topics such as the growth and decline of Britain's Empire, the two World Wars and the Welfare State with the more conceptual notion of the construction of British national identity.
  • Crossing Borders: European History in Transnational Perspective: focuses on late-modern European history and its historiography as well as the inter-connection between Europe and non-European areas.
  • History of Modern Science: introduces students to core themes in the history of science from the scientific revolution onwards.
  • Perceptions of Central and Eastern Europe: examines perceptions of Central and Eastern Europe which have undergone significant transformation since the emergence of modern nationalism in the mid-nineteenth century.
  • Themes in American History: exposes students to several key debates in American historiography by focusing on a series of issues that have especially preoccupied scholars in the field.
  • Themes and Debates in Modern French History: explores key themes in French history and introduces students to some important historiographical and methodological issues.

Student dissertations will be supervised by members of the teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. The completed dissertation of not more than 15,000 words must be submitted by a date specified in August.

If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.


The modules listed here are indicative, and there is no guarantee they will run for 2018 entry. Take a look at the most up-to-date modules in the module catalogue.

 

Conferences and events

The School of History hosts the Late Modern History Research Seminar Programme covering a wide variety of topics from home and guest lecturers in a welcoming environment.

The School also runs the Postgraduate (Early Modern and Modern History) Forum which runs once a fortnight during term-time and is intended to provide a space for postgraduates at all stages to present ideas, discuss research issues and find out about what their fellow historians are up to. 

Funding

Recent Graduate Discount
The University of St Andrews offers a 10% discount in postgraduate tuition fees to students who are eligible to graduate or who have graduated from St Andrews within the last three academic years and are starting a postgraduate programme with the University of St Andrews.

Find out more about postgraduate scholarships. 

After the MLitt

Research degrees

In addition to the MLitt, the School offers a two-year Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree option in Modern History.

Many of our graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews.

Arts and Humanities Research Council studentships
The AHRC offers studentships at RCUK rates for PhD research in a range of subjects including history

PhD in History

Careers

History postgraduates go on to pursue careers in a range of sectors including journalism, publishing, think tanks, government, law and teaching.

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students on a taught postgraduate course and offers a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.

Contact information

School of History
University of St Andrews 
St Katharine’s Lodge
The Scores
St Andrews 
KY16 9BA

Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2907
Email: pghist@st-andrews.ac.uk

History website

Policies

Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our Admissions policy.

Curriculum development

As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online. (PDF, 72 KB).

Tuition fees

The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online. (PDF, 84 KB).