War and Strategy MA

Overview

Our MA War and Strategy course will allow you to gain a thorough understanding of relevant methodological approaches and the questions and challenges of writing and researching military history. You’ll analyse the role of war in human history from its early beginnings to the present day in our core module. You can then choose to study optional modules about a broad range of topics in the history of war, from medieval and early modern times to today.

You’ll have opportunities to use internationally-renowned collections in your studies, including the Liddle Collection of artefacts and private papers from the First World War in our Brotherton Library, the holdings of the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, and material from the Imperial War museum North at Salford. The Second World War experience museum in nearby Wetherby provides a huge collection of private papers from the Second World War.

Learning and teaching

We use a range of teaching and learning methods. The majority of your modules will be taught through weekly seminars, where you’ll discuss issues and themes in your chosen modules with a small group of students and your tutors. Independent study is also crucial to this degree, giving you the space to shape your own studies and develop your skills.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

A History of War is assessed through 2 book reviews, 2 presentations (of the book reviews in class) and an assessed essay of 4,000 words.

Optional modules are usually assessed through the submission of two written assignments.

The dissertation is of 15,000 words in length, to be submitted by the end of the academic year.

Careers support

We offer various employment opportunities which give you valuable work experience whatever your chosen career destination:

Induction week tutoring:

All postgraduate students are invited to provide "mock tutorials" for Level 1 undergraduates during Induction week, where you introduce students to the expectations and criteria of undergraduate learning. This employment is paid at the same hourly rate as module teaching, and gives you a chance to refine your teaching skills and ideas, as well as offer a valuable service to new students.

Mentoring final year undergraduate dissertations:

All postgraduate students are invited to become paid academic mentors within the school, offering advice to Level 3 undergraduates as they research and write their dissertations. Mentors will be paired with Level 3 mentees with similar research interests and asked to provide advice on primary research, archival and electronic resources, thesis planning and writing.

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (Hons) in history, or a degree scheme that includes a significant proportion of history, or a related subject such as politics.