Transnational, Global and Spatial History (MLitt) 2021 entry
This course promotes new transnational perspectives and ways of seeing the past through an explicit appreciation of scale in space and time. Students explore a range of approaches to the study of global trade, the development of networks, comparative history and cross-cultural encounters.
Key information
Course type
Postgraduate, leading to a Master of Letters (MLitt)
Course dates
- Start date: 6 September 2021
- End date: 30 September 2022
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 a subject-related area. 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
Home: £9,900
Overseas: £20,370
Application deadline
Wednesday 11 August 2021. Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships and for international visa purposes.
Application requirements
- CV or résumé. This should include your personal details with a history of your education and employment to date.
- a personal statement
- a 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.
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Course information
The MLitt in Transnational, Global and Spatial History is a taught postgraduate programme run by the Institute for Transnational and Spatial History (ITSH) in the School of History.
Highlights
- This programme provides a unique introduction to the emerging field of spatial history, including the study of representations of space, landscapes, mental maps, spatial practices and topographies of memory.
- This programme promotes new transnational perspectives and ways of seeing the past through an explicit appreciation of scale in space and time.
- Students will explore approaches to the history of cities as hubs, transfers and travel, the circulation of ideas and the migration of peoples.
- Students will explore a range of approaches to the study of global trade, the development of networks, comparative history and cross-cultural encounters.
- Students will gain proficiency in powerful tools for mapping, geographic analysis and the study of social networks as well as skills in the use of non-textual sources and overcoming the challenges of translation and multi-lingual archives.
Teaching format
Teaching methods include seminars, fortnightly tutorials and practical classes. 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.
Modules
The modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and 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 2020-2021 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2021 entry.
- Global Times - Plural Spaces (1 and 2): offers a strong foundation in the major approaches to comparative and transnational history as well as the emerging field of spatial history.
Students choose two optional modules. Here is a sample of optional modules that may be offered.
- Building Britain: The Construction and Deconstruction of Britishness since 1707: explores the concept of 'Britishness' and its construction and deconstruction from 1707 to 2000.
- 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.
- Disease and Environment (c.1500–2000): examines the manner in which sickness and death have shaped human history, both biologically and culturally, over the past 500 years.
- Environmental History: Nature and the Western World (1800-2000): studies environmental history over the past two centuries in an international context.
- 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-19th century.
- Political Thought and Intellectual History: offers a rich and varied graduate-level introduction to the political theory and intellectual history of the early modern period.
- Skills in Transnational History: leads to the acquisition and development of skills in the digital humanities and skills required for using specific historical sources.
- The Creation of an Atlantic World: introduces students to the concept of the Atlantic World, a unit of analysis used by historians to understand the changes wrought in the western hemisphere by the British, French, and Iberian discovery and settlement of the Americas, and by Europe's slave trade with Africa.
- Themes in American History: examines a selection of the most important issues in the history of North America, from its foundations as European colonies onwards.
- Themes in Middle Eastern History: looks at a variety of theoretical and disciplinary approaches, including Orientalism, as well as exploring questions of nationalism, statehood and identity.
- War, State and Society in Early Modern Europe and New Worlds: explores the transformations in the size, scale and scope of European warfare between the late 15th and late 18th centuries.
Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered; some may only allow limited numbers of students (see the University’s position on curriculum development).
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 no 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 2021 entry. Take a look at the most up-to-date modules in the module catalogue.
Conferences and events
The School of History is home to a number of seminars which meet regularly throughout the teaching period from September to May. Papers are given by both St Andrews historians and invited guests.
The Institute for Transnational and Spatial History hosts regular guest lecturers, events and reading groups.
Funding
The School of History is pleased to be able to offer a number of competitive scholarships which contribute to the fees and maintenance for postgraduate study.
- Language Bursaries enable students to undertake intensive language courses abroad during the summer before their programme begins.
- School of History MLitt Awards offer the cash equivalent of one year's home fees and cannot be held in conjunction with other awards offering full fees and maintenance.
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.
After the MLitt
Research degrees
Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere.
Careers
History postgraduates go on to pursue careers in a range of sectors including:
- journalism
- publishing
- think tanks
- government
- law
- 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
School of History
University of St Andrews
St Katharine’s Lodge
The Scores
St Andrews
KY16 9BA
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2900
Email: pghist@st-andrews.ac.uk
Policies
Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our admissions policy.
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.
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.
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.