Historical Studies

The MSt in Historical Studies builds upon the success of the Postgraduate Certificate in Historical Studies in attracting academically committed and high-achieving students from a wide range of professional and educational backgrounds. The MSt course is the second year of a two-year part-time graduate programme that focuses on British, Western European, and imperial history and promotes a broad approach to historical research across the historical disciplines. It provides an opportunity for successful graduates of the Postgraduate Certificate course to extend their studies for a further year and to receive systematic training in research methods while researching a 15,000 word dissertation.

The course will be taught in three residential weekends in October, December, and January. Seminar classes will build upon the skills and knowledge acquired in the Postgraduate Certificate year and focus on the development of the research skills and methodological and theoretical approaches underpinning modern historical research. Individual supervision is provided for dissertations.

The course will build upon the research and writing skills developed in the Postgraduate Certificate and encourage students to engage actively with theoretical and historiographical approaches underpinning modern historical research. It will prepare students to undertake original archival research and develop a theoretical framework for their dissertation. It will guide and support the planning and writing of the dissertation. It will promote learning through discussion and practice and provide training for progression to doctoral programmes in history in Oxford and elsewhere.

There are three units:

Unit 1: Using Archives and Analysing Sources

In this unit students examine the key documentary and material sources and resources for their specialist period selected from three parallel strands covering the medieval, early modern and modern periods. They are encouraged to sharpen their critical and analytical skills and to reflect upon the challenges and opportunities particular sources or categories of source present to users. They are introduced to the main historical methods informing the design of research projects, for example macro and micro approaches, quantification and the use of material evidence. Training is also offered in the use of electronic search engines, catalogues and data-bases and guidance provided on using archives and their catalogues. 

Unit 2: Theoretical Approaches to History

Students examine themes and theoretical approaches that have provided the critical framework for, or have influenced, approaches to historical research. Four seminars are offered each year.  In the first instance, these will cover gender, space, and violence and identity. There is assigned reading but students are also encouraged to consider the application of the chosen approaches to their own research and to subjects that interest them.  Students are required to give short presentations, for example, introducing key texts.

Unit 3: Writing History 

Students are encouraged in this unit to reflect upon the challenges historians face in framing, structuring and presenting their research findings. A visiting lecturer and members of the course team share their experience of planning and writing books and handling conceptual issues such as causation, problem solving and controversy and the challenges of presenting qualitative and quantitative research findings. Students give short presentations on their dissertations and take questions and comments from tutors and students. There is a workshop on the organisation and presentation of the dissertation. 

Assessment methods

The Masters will be graded on the 15,000 word dissertation, supplemented by three summative assessment exercises marked pass/fail, namely a 2,500-word survey of secondary literature for the dissertation, a 2,500-word survey of primary sources for the dissertation and a 1,500-word dissertation proposal.  Students are also required to give two oral presentations.

Students will select their own dissertation topic subject to the viability of the proposal and the availability of a suitable supervisor in the year of study. The course focuses on British, Western European and Imperial History and dissertation topics should be selected from the areas covered. Dissertations may encompass or focus on visual and material culture. Students wishing to use sources written in Latin or foreign languages must be proficient in the language or languages required before commencing the course

The final grade awarded for the MSt subsumes the grade awarded for the Postgraduate Certificate in Historical Studies, with a weighting of 60% applied to the Master's grade and 40% to the Postgraduate Certificate grade.

It is necessary to have successfully completed the PGCert in Historical Studies in order to be admitted to this course.

Applicants are normally expected to have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in a relevant subject.

It is also essential that applicants demonstrate a strong performance (actual or predicted) on the PGCert in Historical Studies. 

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA normally sought is 3.7 out of 4.0.

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
• Research proposal:Up to 1,000 words
• Written work:One essay of up to 2,500 words 
• References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

For students who do not live locally, it is possible to book bed and breakfast accommodation at Rewley House for the weekend units. The 2016~17 residential rate was £530 based on 7 nights, £310 based on 4 nights. Please expect a small increase to these costs for 2017.

If you book accommodation at Rewley House for additional periods of study in Oxford, the cost will be in addition to the residential fee.

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.