Historical Studies

The Master of Studies (MSt) in Historical Studies at the University of Oxford offers an unrivaled opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of history through rigorous academic inquiry and comprehensive research. Designed for individuals seeking to broaden their knowledge of historical processes, themes, and periods, this programme provides a flexible yet challenging pathway for advancing scholarly expertise. Participants engage with a diverse array of historical topics, ranging from ancient civilizations to modern history, supported by Oxford’s world-renowned faculty and extensive archival resources.

The programme emphasizes critical analysis, historiographical methods, and the development of independent research skills. Students are encouraged to explore interdisciplinary approaches, integrating insights from political, social, cultural, and economic history to produce nuanced, well-founded arguments. The curriculum combines core modules focusing on advanced historical techniques with options tailored to individual research interests, allowing for specialization in areas such as medieval life, modern Europe, or contemporary global history.

Typically completed over one academic year, the programme includes lectures, seminars, workshops, and individual supervision. Throughout their studies, students are expected to produce a substantial research-based dissertation that demonstrates their ability to formulate and investigate historical questions with scholarly rigor. The university’s extensive library collections and digitized archives support students in their research endeavors, fostering an environment conducive to academic excellence. Graduates of the MSt in Historical Studies are well-equipped for careers in academia, education, curation, journalism, or further research pursuits, gaining valuable skills and knowledge that underpin a professional and scholarly trajectory within the field of history.

Course Structure

The course has five taught elements which are delivered in weekend units of two, three or four days’ duration. The dates for 2017-2018 are:

Friday 6 October to Sunday 8 October 2017 Induction to the Department and University
Introduction to the course
Unit 1: Princes, States and Revolutions

Saturday 18 November to Sunday 19 November 2017
Unit 2: European Court Patronage c.1400

Saturday 13 January to Sunday 14 January 2018
Unit 3: Religious Reformations and Movements

Saturday 24 February to Sunday 25 February 2018
Unit 4: Memory and Conflict

Friday 6 April to Monday 9 April 2018
Unit 5: Special Subject

The induction session for Unit 1 will commence at 10.30am. Thereafter teaching will normally commence at 9.00am and finish by 5.00pm or 6.00pm for all units. Teaching for the special subject is spread over four days in order to incorporate private research time. The course provides 70 hours of seminar tuition which will be supplemented by tutorials and three 5-hour online self-study modules.

Unit 1: Princes, States, and Revolutions

The first unit examines the interaction between the state and the individual from medieval to modern times and focuses upon authority, resistance, revolution and the development of political institutions. It introduces the development of scholarly debate, key historical themes and the critical analysis of documentary sources. Students explore disorder and rebellion in medieval and early modern England; the causes and impact of the British Civil Wars; and the causes and impact of the French Revolution.

Unit 2: European Court Patronage c.1400

The second unit explores cultural patronage in late medieval Europe and examines the diverse courtly responses to shared concerns and experiences, including the promotion of power and status; the relationship between piety and power; and the impact of dominant cultures. It introduces comparative approaches to history, the critical analysis of visual sources and the methodological issues surrounding the interpretation of material culture and the translation of written sources. Students compare the courts of Richard II of England, Philip the Bold and John the Fearless of Burgundy, Charles V and Charles VI of France, and Giangaleazzo Visconti of Milan.

Unit 3: Religious Reformations and Movements

The third unit examines the role of organised religion and religious movements in the lives of people in the past. It utilises case studies from different historical periods to explore the impact of local circumstances upon the reception and development of new ideas and further encourages engagement with historical debate and the interpretation of documentary and visual sources. Students explore: medieval monasticism; the English and European reformations of the sixteenth century; and religion and society in nineteenth-century England, including the rise of nonconformity, secularism and the Oxford Movement.

Unit 4: Memory and Conflict

The fourth unit focuses upon a central theme in the study of twentieth-century European history: how societies have chosen to remember (and forget) violent conflicts, and the relationship between public and private memory. It explores the challenges faced by historians when interpreting documentary, visual and oral sources in the writing of recent history. Students examine the theoretical context and methodological approaches to the study of memory and consider two case studies: World War I and the Spanish Civil War.

Unit 5: Special Subjects

In the final unit, students study a source-based special subject and research and write a dissertation on a related topic of their own choice. A range of subjects will be offered, varying from year to year, allowing specialization across both time periods and the historical disciplines. Examples include:

• Visualising Sanctity: Art and the Culture of Saints c1150-1500
• The Medieval Nobility
• Aristocratic Power, Family and Politics in England, c. 1485-1642
• Jacobitism: Politics, Culture and Identity in Britain, 1688-1822
• The British Empire
• Propaganda in the Twentieth Century

The Online Teaching Modules

The first module provides a pre-course introduction to history and post-graduate study skills. The second focuses upon the analysis and interpretation of material sources, such as buildings and images and the third upon the analysis and interpretation of a range of documentary sources. All include a range of self-test exercises.

Libraries and Computing Facilities

Registered students receive an Oxford University card, valid for one year at a time, which acts as a library card for the Departmental Library at Rewley House and provides access to the unrivalled facilities of the Bodleian Libraries which include the central Bodleian, major research libraries such as the Sackler Library, Taylorian Institution Library, Bodleian Social Science Library, and faculty libraries such as English and History. Students also have access to a wide range of electronic resources including electronic journals, many of which can be accessed from home. Students on the course are entitled to use the Library at Rewley House for reference and private study and to borrow books. The loan period is normally two weeks and up to eight books may be borrowed. Students will also be encouraged to use their nearest University library.

Assessment Methods

The Postgraduate Certificate in Historical Studies is assessed through coursework. This comprises: four essays of 2,500 words each, two source-based exercises of 1,500 words each and a dissertation of 8,000 words. Students will write one essay following each of the first four units and the dissertation following Unit 5. There will be a wide choice of assignment subjects for each unit and students will select a dissertation topic relating to their special subject with the advice of the course team. Students will be asked to write a non-assessed book review following the first pre-course online module and the source-based exercises will follow the second and third online modules.

Assignment titles, submission deadlines and reading lists will be supplied at the start of the course.

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in any discipline. This might include candidates who have studied history in the past and wish to update and hone their historical skills and knowledge, broaden their approach to the discipline or enhance their level of qualification.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA normally sought is 3.5 out of 4.0.

Candidates are likely to come from a variety of backgrounds and to want to study for personal interest as well as academic progression and career development. All candidates will be expected to demonstrate a lively and sustained interest in the discipline, the commitment to undertake a demanding academic course and the academic potential to develop the research and writing skills required at graduate level. Please contact the course administrator if you wish to discuss your qualifications. 

If you hold non-UK qualifications and wish to check how your qualifications match these requirements, you can contact the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC).

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

• Official transcript(s)
• CV/résumé
• Personal statement:Around 500 words
• Written work:One essay of 2,000 words 
• References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

The University of Oxford offers a range of financial support options for students enrolled in its Historical Studies programs, designed to assist with tuition fees, living expenses, and study-related costs. Students are encouraged to explore various funding opportunities, including scholarships, bursaries, grants, and loans, which are available depending on the student's nationality, academic merit, and financial need. For international students, several prestigious scholarships, such as the Rhodes Scholarship, provide full or partial funding, covering tuition fees and living costs. Domestic students can apply for Oxford’s undergraduate and postgraduate bursaries, which are awarded based on financial circumstances. The university also offers subject-specific scholarships for History and related disciplines, awarded through departmental competitions or external bodies affiliated with Oxford. In addition to university-funded awards, students may access external funding sources, including government-sponsored loans and scholarships from private foundations. The application process for most financial aid options typically occurs alongside or shortly after the course application, with deadlines varying depending on the funding source. Students are advised to consult the university’s dedicated financial support website and contact the financial aid office early to understand eligibility criteria and application procedures fully. Furthermore, Oxford provides guidance on pathways to part-time work arrangements and budgeting advice to help students manage their finances effectively during their studies. Scholarships for research students, including doctoral candidates in Historical Studies, often include a stipend to cover living expenses alongside tuition fee waivers. Overall, funding opportunities at Oxford are designed to ensure that talented students from diverse backgrounds can pursue their passion for history without financial barriers.

For students who do not live locally, it is possible to book bed and breakfast accommodation at Rewley House for the weekend units. The 2016 residential rate was £590 based on 8 nights, £880 based on 12 nights and £1,240 based on 17 nights. Please expect a small increase to these rates for 2017-18. If you book accommodation at Rewley House for additional periods of study in Oxford, the cost will be in addition to the residential fee.

Rewley House offers 3-star campus accommodation with 47 en-suite study bedrooms. All rooms are decorated to a high standard and are provided with linen, soap and towels together with tea and coffee-making facilities. Each room has a hairdryer, radio alarm clock, free view colour tv, telephone and free high speed internet access. A coin-operated laundry is also available.

Early booking is advised. If you enrol on the course at the residential rate, your accommodation during weekend units will be arranged by the Award Programme Administrator. For reservations outside of the weekend units, you’ll need to contact the Residential Centre directly for availability and bookings on 01865 270362 or email res.ctr@conted.ox.ac.uk.