Historical Studies (Full-time) (MA)
The MA in Historical Studies is designed to connect your passion for history with the skills needed in today’s changing world. This research-led degree builds your understanding of key historical themes and topics, covering significant eras in history. Throughout the course, you’ll explore fascinating subjects, while developing essential research skills in history that will prepare you for postgraduate work and beyond.
Many modules focus on the narrative and representation of history. This includes learning how stories from the past are portrayed in media representations of history, such as films, museums, memorials, and online platforms. This approach to historical research lets you study how historical narratives can be created, questioned, or contested across different settings and cultures.
With modules that cover chronological history from Ancient to Modern periods, you’ll be able to study a range of time periods and topics in depth. You’ll also gain methodological skills in history, learning how historians study the past using different approaches and techniques. This includes honing your technical skills in historical studies by using digital tools to discover more about our shared history. As part of this, you’ll examine the ways that new technology and digital humanities in history are reshaping our knowledge and understanding of the past.
As you move through the programme, you’ll have the chance to specialise in areas that most interest you, helping you build expertise that aligns with your goals. Whether you’re intrigued by the historical narratives of the medieval world, or want to explore modern historical themes like conflict, nationalism, or environmental change, this MA offers a route for you to explore.
The MA in Historical Studies offers a supportive environment where you can advance your skills, engage with complex historical questions, and explore the impact of technological advances on history. This degree encourages you to develop a critical and thoughtful perspective on the world and its history—qualities that are essential for any historian, whether you’re planning to continue in academia, or bring historical insights to a range of other fields.
Course details
- Full-time
- Online
- English
Why choose this course?
What you will learn
Our MA in Historical Studies embraces a research-led, student-centred approach. We aim to develop advanced historical research and analytical skills through a deep exploration of historical themes, topics, and eras. Students gain both methodological skills and a critical understanding of how history is narrated, represented, and contested in various forms.
Year 1
In the first year, students explore historical themes and topics that shape our understanding of the past, with an emphasis on methodological skills in history. Modules provide a comprehensive overview of historical research and guide students in examining how history has been represented in media such as film, literature, and public memorials. This foundation prepares students for advanced, specialised work, giving them the tools to interpret and question how historical narratives are constructed and communicated.
Year 2
In the second year, students select module aligned with their specific interests.
The programme culminates in a dissertation, where students apply their research skills in history to develop an original project on a chosen topic. Students gain confidence in historical research, critical analysis, and argumentation, preparing them for careers in academia, heritage, and beyond.
Compulsory
Optional
(20 credits)
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
Disclaimer
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The modules outlined above provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this course based on recent academic teaching. We continuously review our courses to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
You’ll typically complete 120 credits per year of study on a full-time course. For more information visit our Student Agreement.
Staff
Our People
You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for Teaching, Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support (NSS 2024) meaning that the support and feedback you get will help you learn and develop strong academic skills. Our students have placed us 1st in Wales for Learning Opportunities and Student Voice (NSS 2024) meaning that there are a wide range of opportunities available to enhance your studies and that students play an active role in shaping their learning experiences. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as 1st in Wales and joint 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education, 2024, ‘Overall Positivity’ measure). Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses.
Ratings and Rankings
Further information
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or UWTSD recognised equivalent. 
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Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCert). This is the first part of the full Master’s degree. 
Once you have successfully completed your PGCert studies, you will be eligible to progress for the remainder of the Master’s degree. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
These are ideal routes if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied this subject, or if you did not achieve the grades you need for a place on this degree. â¶Ä¯â€¯
Admissions Advice and Support â¶Ä¯
For specific advice and support you can contact our enquiries team for more information about entry requirements. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
English language requirements â¶Ä¯If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Visit the International Applications section of our website to find out more about our English Language Requirements and pre-sessional English Language Courses. 
Visa and funding requirements â¶Ä¯
If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
For courses of more than six months’ duration you will require a Student visa. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. â¶Ä¯â€¯
For full information read our visa application and guides. â¶Ä¯â¶Ä¯â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.
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Some modules in this course are available to study through the medium of Welsh either fully or partially. In all cases students will be able to submit written assessments through the medium of Welsh. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
If you choose to study your course either fully or partially through the medium of Welsh, you may be eligible to apply for scholarships and bursaries to support you with your studies. 
We are continuously reviewing our Welsh medium provision, the precise availability of modules will vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course offers modules available through the medium of Welsh this may vary from year to year, and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific Welsh medium modules cannot be guaranteed. â¶Ä¯
Extracurricular Welsh Opportunities There are many ways to engage with Welsh culture and life at UWTSD, including joining clubs and societies for Welsh speakers and becoming a member of our vibrant Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol branch. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Opportunities to Learn Welsh 
We also provide a variety of opportunities to learn and develop your Welsh language skills. â¶Ä¯â€¯
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The programme draws upon a wide range of assessment techniques, which aim to produce historians with a multifaceted set of skills and knowledge. Modules concentrate in particular on essay-writing, but also include the following assessments: book reviews; reflective journals; posters; group and individual presentations, web programming and design exercise; source commentaries and film analyses.
The core assessment is the final 15,000-word dissertation. The dissertation places a premium on originality and independent research. To equip students with the necessary knowledge and techniques for dissertation work, they are required to take a research methodology module early in their degree. This grounds students with the essential skills that are then finessed in other modules, culminating with the dissertation itself.
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Students may spend up to £300 per year on books and additional related materials.
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You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available, please visit our Bursaries and Scholarships section.
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This programme is ideal for those who want to learn more about the past, but there are also some more practical module choices to help students improve their job prospects. Many of the students who undertake the course on a part-time basis are already in employment and wish to gain a postgraduate qualification as a possible means to promotion or change of job role. Former students include journalists, writers, storytellers, teachers, lecturers, editors and people who work in the tourist or heritage industries.