History MSc (Res)

The MSc by Research in History is perfect if you have a specific topic of interest you wish to research in depth.

In History, we can offer supervision across an exceptionally wide chronological and geographical range.

We have strong research concentrations in Scottish history, American history, global and transnational history, Irish history, intellectual history, and medieval history, and colleagues who can supervise topics spanning two millennia and five continents. Colleagues in the department welcome the opportunity to discuss their research topics with potential applicants.

This programme is assessed by means of a long dissertation of 30,000 words.

We provide structured research training while at the same time enabling you to pursue a research project that you design yourself, in consultation with supervisors. It serves as both a self-contained research degree and preparation for further study for the PhD degree.

Research interests within History are extremely wide-ranging. In particular, we host expertise in:


• Medieval history: Our research interests lie in the social, political, religious and cultural history of Britain, Europe, the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean – with particular emphasis on gender, saints, medicine, crusades, trade, economic history and Islamic law.



• British and Irish history: We have particular interests in early modern religion, belief and intellectual history (including the Scottish Enlightenment); social and political history; Second World War Studies, relations between Britain and Ireland; and international relations.



• European history: Specialisms include the Renaissance, early modern political and intellectual history; genocide; Russia and the Soviet Union; modern political and intellectual history of France, Spain, Germany, Greece, Czech Republic; historical memory and public history; histories of gender and sexuality.



• US (American) history: Expertise includes revolutionary and early national America; the Civil War; US diplomatic history in the 19th and 20th centuries; politics in the 20th century; African-American history and the civil rights movement; and history of labour.



• African history: We have expertise in West, East and South Africa, and specialisms include intellectual history; environmental history; comparative African history; history of Islam; urban history; print culture; history of nationalism and decolonisation.



• Asian history: We have expertise in the Middle East, South Asia and East Asia, with specialisms in histories of print and archives; intellectual history; diplomatic history; economic history and history of economic thought; cross-cultural interactions; histories of religion and philosophy; nationalism and colonial resistance.



• Latin American and Caribbean history: Specialisms include history of slavery; colonialism; histories of race, gender, and the body; Indigenous history; and material culture studies.