History Slavonic and East European Studies

This MA provides a unique range of options from the early modern period to the present, covering lands where mighty empires and many nations have interacted and competed over the centuries: the Russian Empire, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Habsburg Monarchy, the Ottoman Empire, the German Empire, and their successor states.

Students are encouraged to choose from modules which are as diverse in geography as they are varied in approach. The programme is especially rich in courses exploring the relationship between power and culture. Several methods modules are available, including Methods of Area Studies Research (MASR).

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of one core module (30 credits), a choice from a range of optional modules (90 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits).

Core module

• Historical Methods and Approaches

Optional modules

• Qualitative Methods
• Contemporary Cultural Studies: Between Post-Communism and Post-Modernism
• Beyond Stereotypes: The Jews in Polish Culture
• Cities in Eastern Europe
• The Crisis Zone: Central Europe 1900-1990
• Empires, Nationalism and Communism: States and Societies of South-East Europe
• Religion in South-Eastern Europe: From the Age of Empires to Post-Communism
• Little Hitlers?: Right Radicalism in Central and Eastern Europe 1900-1945
• The Making of Modern Ukraine
• 'Metropolis': History of Berlin, 1871-1990
• The Self and the World: Theoretical Approaches to Travel Writing
• The Soviet Cultural Experiment I, 1917-1945

Dissertation/report

All MA students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of approximately 10,000-12,000 words.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, presentations, and self study. Student performance is assessed through examinations, essays, a portfolio of work (which includes annotated bibliography, bullet-point presentation, encyclopaedia-style entry, and book review), oral presentation, document analysis, and the dissertation.

Normally an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. In exceptional cases we may accept applicants with grades below the prerequisite. However, you will need to put forward a strong case. All such cases must be granted by the Dean of Students, so even if we support your application, we cannot guarantee your place. In the case of mature students, there may be slightly more leeway to account for changes in qualifications, but all such offers are still ultimately decided upon outside of the department.