Contemporary History MA

This programme approaches contemporary history through issues and problems with vital on-going importance, including environmental politics, information technology, post-colonial migration, internationalism and empire. It does so across the 20th century and up to the present day, without geographical limits. It therefore offers a wide range of modules on history at a variety of scales: from the self to the city, from nation to imperium. The MA in Contemporary History allows you to benefit from the expertise of a very large number of modern and contemporary historians at Birmingham. You will be able to specialise on many areas of British, American, African, South Asian, Middle East and European History. The MA in Contemporary History also provides ideal preparation for PhD research. The programme is designed to provide you with a solid grounding in the major outlines of recent world history, along with a wide choice of specialised modules to suit your own interest. By combining breadth with depth, it provides a framework within which you will be able to develop both your empirical and conceptual knowledge of the recent past.

Students will need an Honours degree in History or a cognate subject, such as Politics, International Relations, Cultural Studies, normally of an upper second-class standard. Within the upper second-class bracket we will consider all applicants, but we would encourage prospective applicants to work towards an average BA module mark (UK system) of at least 65, and an undergraduate dissertation mark of 68 or better. We will consider exceptions to the upper second-class requirement for candidates coming from non-traditional backgrounds or through non-typical academic pathways. Personal statement: Applicants should make clear in detail in their personal statement how their track record at BA level, their experience, and their historical interests match with the MA course offering and mix of scholarship at the University of Birmingham Department of History. References: Applicants should make sure that their references are submitted promptly, and that they address the applicant's track record in detail, citing specific examples of past work, marks and reasons why they are suited to the demands of an MA course.