MA in Historical Research - Full programme

a) Knowledge and understanding

At the end of the programme students should be able to demonstrate:

• Systematic understanding of the main historical questions related to the topics covered in the core modules and the project
• Awareness of current scholarship and main issues in historiography
• Ability to evaluate current scholarship
• Ability independently to consider, evaluate and synthesise historical evidence drawn from primary sources and historical argument drawn from secondary sources to reach and support sound conclusions
• Ability to communicate their understanding and knowledge clearly in both written and spoken form

b) Skills and other attributes

Students will acquire the ability to:

• Handle sources of information at an advanced level
• Develop powers of expression and argumentation
• Communicate complex ideas in writing, oral presentations and group discussion
• Use appropriate critical methodologies
• Conduct independent research at an advanced level, and evaluate and critically use material
• Display analysis of research carried out in primary and secondary material providing a foundation for professional work or academic research
• Produce written work in an appropriate style, with good organisation of ideas, clarity of expression, argument and presentation
• Engage critically with a wide body of literature

c) Teaching, learning and assessment strategies

Learning strategies include seminar discussions and presentations, lectures, private reading and independent research, individual tuition and support for seminar and essay presentation.

Assessment is by two 2,500 word written exercises, one of which may have an oral component (Historical Training module), one 5,000-word assignment (Cities and Localities in History module), and by a special project report of up to 5,000 words. Together these account for 60% of the final mark. Students are required to complete a dissertation, on a local or regional history topic, of between 10,000 and 15,000 words (40% of the final mark).

The essays are submitted at fixed dates from November until the end of April. The dissertation (maximum length 15,000 words including footnotes, references and appendices, but excluding bibliography) is submitted at the end of September.

Library resources

The Institute's Library is an important national resource for historical research, with particular strengths in regional and London history, in printed sources and in its collection of academic journals. Students of the Institute also have access to the libraries in other institutes in the School of Advanced Study, and to the unrivalled collection of books and journals in the major college libraries of the University, and in the central Senate House library. Altogether, these collections provide an exceptional resource for historical studies of many parts of Europe. Library orientation sessions are held at the start of the academic year, and through the History in Practice course and individual advice students are guided on access to and use of resources and archives relevant to their research and dissertation topics.

Research Environment

The MA is organised by the Centre for Metropolitan History and by the Victoria County History, two research centres which are in the forefront of studies of London and the regions of England.

Computers

MA students have access to workstations in the Senate House Library digital resources centre, equiped with an extensive range of multimedia, Microsoft Office and bibliographic management software and internet and email connections. Students also have access to IHR training courses e.g. on Internet Sources for Historians; Databases for Historians.

Admission criteria

The normal minimum entrance requirement is a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree from a university in the United Kingdom, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applications may also be considered from candidates who do not meet the formal academic requirements, but who offer alternative qualifications or who have considerable work experience in or related to the programme of study.

UK applicants are normally asked to attend for interview at the Institute. Overseas applicants may be asked to submit a piece of written work in English, on a relevant aspect of history, in lieu of an interview.

Competence in English

All students whose first language is not English must be able to provide recent evidence (gained in the last 3 years) that their written and spoken English language is adequate for postgraduate study. This requirement is specified in order to ensure that the academic progress of students is not hindered by language difficulties and that students are able to integrate socially while studying and living in the UK. The School of Advanced Study regards the following English Language Test scores or a degree taken in English as the minimum standards for entry to programmes of Institutes of the School:

• either a minimum overall score of 7.0, and no less than 6.0 in each category (academic reading, academic writing, listening and speaking), in the English Language Testing Service test administered by the British Council
• or a TOEFL score of at least 610 in the paper-based test plus 5 in the test of written English, or a minimum score of 253 in the computer-based test plus an essay rating of 5; Internet based TOEFL with a score of 102
• or a Grade C or above in the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English
• or a Grade A in the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English
• or University of Reading TEEP test of proficiency for academic purposes at level 7.5 and above
• or Trinity College ESOL at ISE Level III
• or a first degree or MA in a relevant subject from an Anglophone country (i.e. where the majority of the inhabitants of that country or region speak English) or from a university in a non-Anglophone country where teaching, written work and examination were mainly in English.

The School reserves the right to require, from any applicant, additional evidence of language competence such as a piece of written work and/or an interview.

Occasionally, and in exceptional circumstances, the School will allow other forms of evidence of language competency as long as this is equitable with those listed above. The School can arrange to have language competence tested and can supply information relating to testing centres.

Evidence of an applicant’s English competence should, if possible, be included with the application. If unsatisfactory or no evidence has been provided with the application, admission will be conditional upon provision of such evidence.

For entry to research degrees, it may be acceptable in some circumstances i.e. where the qualifications achieved fall slightly short of the threshold standards, to allow a student to register, conditional upon him or her pursuing an appropriate course to raise competence to the required level. This decision will be made by the admitting Institute.