Modern Historical Studies
MLitt or Diploma in Modern Historical Studies
‘Have you signed up as a volunteer?’
D.S. Moor, 1920
(Red Army recruitment poster)
Our taught postgraduate programme in Modern Historical Studies will appeal to you if you are interested in:
- predominantly British, European, Imperial and American history in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
- taught postgraduate study in modern history in a large yet friendly and supportive department
- creating a solid foundation on which to build a PhD research proposal or teach in the humanities
- obtaining a full Master’s degree through one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study
- furthering your interest in history and life-long learning.
Programme Structure
Our programme is structured to give you as much flexibility as possible to pursue your particular interests at your own pace. You may take the programme:
- either as a postgraduate Diploma or, by additionally writing a dissertation, as a full Master’s Degree
- either in one year via full-time studies or two years via part-time studies
(Note for non-EU overseas students: immigration regulations prevent an overseas student from studying part-time in the UK) - either as a stand-alone scheme or as preparation for a research degree such as an MPhil or PhD – for example, as part of a 1+3 scheme funded by a grant-giving body such as the Arts and Humanities Research Council
(Note: subject to the normal admission requirements of the relevant further degree programme either at Aberdeen or elsewhere).
Your studies begin in late September, and consist of up to 180 credits of courses. During the two half-sessions (semesters) you take courses totalling 120 credits, normally by taking 60 credits in each half-session (or 60 credits per session for part-time studies). By passing these courses you earn the Diploma and the opportunity to obtain the MLitt by writing a 60-credit dissertation during the summer months. You will be supervised by the member of staff who is best equipped to advise on your chosen research topic.
Programme Content
You follow a core curriculum of two 20-credit courses on historiographical and methodological issues, which encompass the specific advice required for your intended research project.
The remainder of your timetable consists of option (elective) courses that are thematic and cover a range of issues and disciplines such as:
- American Civil Rights Movements
- Gender, Politics and Culture in France
- The Irish and Scottish Diasporas
- Late Imperial and Early Soviet Russia
- Ireland in Revolution
- Cultural History
- The History of Science and Technology
- The Troubles
Assessment
Assessment is mostly based on written work and moderated according to university standards. For the award of the MLitt you are required to write a dissertation of 15,000 words in English.
Entrance Requirements
You should normally hold a 2(1) Honours Degree or equivlalent in history or a cognate discipline.
If your mother tongue is not English you will also need to have an IELTS score of at least 6.5.Cost
Details of the costs involved in Postgraduate study at the University of Aberdeen can be found at www.abdn.ac.uk/sras/postgraduate/howmuch.shtml
Grants and Scholarships for study at Aberdeen
Several funding opportunities are offered by the University on a competitive basis. You can apply to:
- the College of Arts and Sciences: will be offering a number of awards to postgraduate students; a web link will be placed here when the competition is announced, likely to be in late 2006
- the School of Divinity, History and Philosophy: will be offering a number of awards to postgraduate students; a web link will be placed here when the competition is announced, likely to be in late 2006
- the Department of History, supported by the Historical Model Railway Society: offers bursaries for students wishing to study any aspect of railway history (details available now from Dr Tony Heywood: t.heywood@abdn.ac.uk)
Other funding opportunities include:
- the Carnegie Trust: Scottish students with a first class honours degree can apply for a bursary from the Carnegie Trust (www.carnegie.org.uk)
- the Arts and Humanities Research Council: the AHRC provides fees and maintenance for UK students and fees only for European Union students (www.ahrc.ac.uk)
Also worth noting:
- the Overseas Research Student scheme: the ORS scheme makes awards competitively to outstanding non-EU nationals undertaking a research degree, usually a PhD, and lowers the fees payable to British levels. By taking an MLitt in History you may enhance your chances of obtaining ORS funding for PhD studies (www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/ORS)
Further information
If you need further information on course contents, please contact the Programme Co-ordinator:
Dr Elizabeth MacKnight
School of Divinity, History and Philisophy
History Department
Crombie Annexe
University of Aberdeen, King's College
Old Aberdeen AB24 3FX
Scotland, UK
Email: e.macknight@abdn.ac.uk
For information on application, please contact:
Postgraduate Applications Secretary
School of Divinity History & Philosophy
50/52 College Bounds
University of Aberdeen,
Aberdeen AB24 3DS
Scotland, UK.
Telephone: +44 (0)1224 272380
Fax: +44 (0)1224 273750
E-mail: dhp-pgs@abdn.ac.uk