HistoryMA / PGDip / PGCert
- Ranking8thin UK in REF 2021 for History
- Delivery formatIn person
- DurationMA: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time; PGDip: 8 months full-time, 16 months part-time; PGCert: 4 months full-time
- AwardMaster of Arts / Postgraduate Diploma / Postgraduate Certificate
- Entry requirements2:1 Honours degree
- Fees£10,900 (full-time) / £5,450 (part-time)
Page contents
Course overview
Take your love of history and uncovering the past to the next level with our History MA. Enhance your knowledge of the areas that you find most fascinating while learning from our leading academic experts.
Explore a wide range of topics and approaches or specialise with one of our pathways:
Course structure
You can study the MA and PGDip full-time or part-time. The PGCert can only be studied full-time. The MA runs over 12 months full-time; the PGDip runs over 8 months full-time and the PGCert runs over 4 months full-time.
September - December (11 weeks)
Full-time students normally take three modules per term in the first two terms.
There are two hours of seminar time per module per week, with an emphasis on guided independent learning.
One-third of the MA degree is the dissertation. Full-time MA students begin planning and submit a proposal for the dissertation during term one.
PGCert students finish the course in the autumn term with 60 credits.
Course highlights
Learn from our wide range of experts, covering diverse research methods, periods and places. You’ll explore history from lots of viewpoints and disciplines, developing your own perspectives on the past.
- Join one of the largest History departments in the UK and tailor your degree to your historical interest.
- Choose to study a curated pathway, explore multiple historical periods or take modules from other subject areas to enrich your understanding of history.
- Make the most of our outstanding international reputation for research by engaging with events and research seminars.
- Study in a department ranked eighth in the country in the Research Excellence Framework exercise 2021, according to Times Higher Education.
Flexible study options. MA, PGCert and PGDip available.
One of the largest and most diverse ranges of academic expertise in the country.
Study the general MA History or choose a pathway to specialise in a key area of History.
Don’t miss out on the option to take your learning from the classroom to the real world with our optional Public History placement module. Work with museums, archives or historic houses on a public history project and gain valuable industry experience. Whether you're following your passion for history to gain transferable skills or focusing on a career in the field, your future begins at Birmingham.
Course delivery
At Birmingham, research and teaching go hand-in-hand. Lecturers and professors continue to research in their field, offering valuable expertise in History and Heritage.
- Taught modules - each module represents a total of 200 hours of study time, including preparatory reading, homework and assignment preparation.
- Seminars – modules are mainly taught by small group teaching.
- Dissertation – you'll undertake a 12,000-word dissertation in an area that interests you.
You can choose to study a PG Certificate (PGCert) or PG Diploma (PGDip) in History rather than a full MA. A PGCert and PGDip don't include the dissertation element. The length of your course depends on which type of qualification you choose and whether you choose to study full-time or part-time.
Module information
The MA programme comprises 120 credits of taught modules and a 60-credit dissertation.
The PGDip programme comprises 120 credits of taught modules – you don’t complete a dissertation.
The PGCert comprises 60 credits of taught modules.
Modules run for one term, and each module involves a two-hour weekly seminar which you need to attend.
The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
The optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.
2025/26 Session
The following must be taken:
Module Title | Credits | Semester |
---|---|---|
History Dissertation | 60 | Full Term |
LM Historical Approaches | 20 | Semester 1 |
LM Research Preparation | 20 | Semester 2 |
Students taking the general history MA during their course of study (i.e. without specialist pathway) must take one of the 20 credit pathway core modules in semester 1 (lists A-C), plus 60 credits of optional modules from the generic History options (List D); 20 credits in Semester 1 and 40 credits in Semester 2.
Students choosing to specialise within a pathway must indicate this at the module choice process upon entry into the programme.
Students choosing a core pathway during the course of their study must take the appropriate 20 credit core module and choose at least 20 credits from the corresponding list of relevant pathway options (lists A-C). Any remaining credits can be taken from the list of generic History options (List D).
Students must also write their dissertation on a topic within the pathway area of specialism.
All students should balance their credits evenly in any given academic year between the two semesters where possible, unless the nature of the modules makes this impossible. Students who choose a Special Subject as an option must take TWO co-requisite Special Subject modules to the total of 40 credits (20 credits in each Semester) in the same academic year.
LIST A Modern and Contemporary History Pathway Core:
Module Title | Credits | Semester |
---|---|---|
LM Critical Histories of the Present | 20 | Semester 1 |
LIST B Global History Pathway Core:
Module Title | Credits | Semester |
---|---|---|
LM Global Histories: Comparisons and Connections | 20 | Semester 1 |
LIST C Medieval and Early Modern History Pathway Core:
Module Title | Credits | Semester |
---|---|---|
LM Approaches to Medieval Studies | 20 | Semester 1 |
LM From Reformation to Revolution – an Introduction to Early Modern History | 20 | Semester 1 |
List D: General History Pathway
Students on the general History MA may choose 60 credits from the following.
This list is indicative; not all modules will run each year depending on staff availability.
General History Special Subjects
(Students must take TWO co-requisite modules, 20 credits in each Semester). This list is indicative; not all modules will run each year depending on staff availability.
Students may take 20 – 40 credits of module outside the department such as a foreign language, or a relevant module from another department (such as Classics, Art History, English, etc).
Entry requirements
- 2:1 Honours degree
in a relevant subject
You will need an Honours degree, normally in any humanities or social science discipline such as History, Politics, Cultural Studies, or Literature, and normally of an upper second-class standard. Relevant equivalent study or professional experience can also be considered for entry, for the MA, PGDip, and PGCert.
English language requirements
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.
For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:
- TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
- Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
- Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
- LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill
English Presessional Programmes
Improve your knowledge of spoken and written English in preparation for studying at Birmingham with our pre-sessional English courses. If you have a conditional offer, you can take one of these courses as an alternative to retaking IELTS or other similar qualifications.
Fees and scholarships
- £10,900
Full-time
- £5,450
Part-time
We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2025 entry are above.
The fees quoted are for one year only; for those studying courses over two or more years, tuition fees will also be payable in subsequent years of your programme.
Paying your tuition fees
Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. You can check whether you are eligible for UK or international fees with our admissions team.
Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding.
Postgraduate Masters Loan
To help with the cost of studies, this loan is available to all UK students. You can use this loan towards fees, maintenance or other costs at your own discretion. It’s available for all full-time, part-time and distance learning Masters programmes, as long as you don’t already have a Masters qualification (or equivalent).If you’re a student from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can apply for Masters loans from your country’s government.
Scholarships
To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.
Birmingham Masters Scholarships
We want to welcome the brightest talent to our postgraduate community. That’s why our Birmingham Masters Scholarships award £3,000 to more than 300 students each year.
Application process
To apply for a postgraduate programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online.
Select whether you are a UK student or an international student for relevant application deadlines.
- 31 August 2025
Application deadline for UK and non-tier 4 applicants. We will close applications as soon as the programme is full. Early applications are encouraged.
We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.
Career opportunities
By studying a postgraduate degree in History or Heritage at Birmingham, you’ll develop transferable skills suited to a range of career paths. These skills include the ability to collate together information, strong written and verbal communication skills, and analytical skills.
Our History and Heritage graduates enter many roles, including:
- Events and Exhibitions Assistant and Heritage Guide
- Project Development Researcher
- Collections Assistant
Employers our History and Heritage graduates have worked for include:
- English Heritage
- Historic England
- Cottonwood Mansion Museum
The University is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits [The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers report].
Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique.
Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations.
Careers Network
Get ready for tomorrow, with advice, guidance and opportunities at every step of your studies. From developing new skills to preparing for a PhD, our Careers Network can help you gain an advantage in the job market or advance in your field.
Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one-to-one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters. We also offer subject-specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.
Student experience
At Birmingham, your university experience isn’t just about studying. You will have the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills and make friends for life.
Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.
Accommodation
Coming to Birmingham to study might be your first time living away from home. Our student accommodation will allow you to enjoy your independence in safe, welcoming and sociable surroundings.
Living in Birmingham
As one of the original pioneering cities, Birmingham has developed into a melting pot for shopping, food and drink, nightlife, sport, culture, and industry. It’s no wonder our students fall in love with the city.
Campus life
Our green and spacious campus is the place where our diverse community comes together to learn, relax and socialise. Like a town of its own, just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s second city.
Student support
Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we are committed to providing the best possible support to all of our students, both before you start and throughout your time on campus, so that you can get the most out of your university experience.
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