Our postgraduate history programme gives you flexibility to explore the topics you’re passionate about. You’ll engage with the ideas, debates and methods that shape how history is written, while developing the skills to conduct your own original research. Our courses equips you with the critical capabilities vital in a range of professions, and provides a strong platform for further study.
Modules
Build a critical understanding of historical change from the early modern period to the present. Exploring how historians interpret the past - and develop your own expertise.
Specialise: Investigate a subject you love in depth
Diversify: Explore new areas of history that interest you
Cutting-edge insight: Our core module, ‘History Writing: Theory and Practice’, unpacks the latest theories on questions of human experience, power and knowledge
Advanced skills: develop research, writing, critical thinking and argumentation skills that are in-demand across many professions
Note that information found by following the links to the module catalogue is subject to change for future years of study, as we evolve our courses in response to the latest developments in academia and industry.
Master of Arts (MA)
Our core modules provide a broad theoretical framework and enable students to develop their research skills. Students can choose from a range of research-led optional modules. Please note that the following list is indicative: optional modules are subject to change each year. The Department recommends that part-time students follow the core module History Writing in their first year and complete optional modules in the second year. If a different structure would be more appropriate, this can be discussed.
Possible future modules include:
Everyday People: Writing Nineteenth-Century British and American Lives
Fieldwork: Adventures in the Archives
Capitalism and the Human Subject: A History
Utopias and the Idea of Home and Community
Eastern Europe between Violence and Welfare
Slave Revolts in the Americas
You are also able to take optional modules in related disciplines, such as Centre for Renaissance, Politics and International Relations, English and Comparative Literary Studies, Film and TV, History of Art, Theatre Studies, Modern Languages and Cultures, Sociology.
Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip)
Possible future modules include:
Everyday People: Writing Nineteenth-Century British and American Lives
Fieldwork: Adventures in the Archives
Capitalism and the Human Subject: A History
Utopias and the Idea of Home and Community
Eastern Europe between Violence and Welfare
Slave Revolts in the Americas
You are also able to take optional modules in related disciplines, such as Centre for Renaissance, Politics and International Relations, English and Comparative Literary Studies, Film and TV, History of Art, Theatre Studies, Modern Languages and Cultures, Sociology.
Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert)
Possible future modules include:
Everyday People: Writing Nineteenth-Century British and American Lives
Fieldwork: Adventures in the Archives
Capitalism and the Human Subject: A History
Utopias and the Idea of Home and Community
Eastern Europe between Violence and Welfare
Slave Revolts in the Americas
You are also able to take optional modules in related disciplines, such as Centre for Renaissance, Politics and International Relations, English and Comparative Literary Studies, Film and TV, History of Art, Theatre Studies, Modern Languages and Cultures, Sociology.
Postgraduate Award (PGA)
Possible future modules include:
Everyday People: Writing Nineteenth-Century British and American Lives
Fieldwork: Adventures in the Archives
Capitalism and the Human Subject: A History
Utopias and the Idea of Home and Community
Eastern Europe between Violence and Welfare
Slave Revolts in the Americas
You are also able to take optional modules in related disciplines, such as Centre for Renaissance, Politics and International Relations, English and Comparative Literary Studies, Film and TV, History of Art, Theatre Studies, Modern Languages and Cultures, Sociology.
Teaching and learning
You’ll learn through a mix of seminars, workshops and independent study, guided by experts in their fields.
Research-led teaching: advance your skills with a History department where 92% of teaching was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ by REF 2021.
Up to three optional modules: covering a chronological, geographical and thematic range of topics, plus the option to take modules from related disciplines
MA dissertation: in-depth study of a project of your own choice, with expert supervision
Flexible learning: choose from a range postgraduate taught qualifications
Choose your MA: graduate with an MA History or select a specialist qualification:
MA History (Early Modern)
MA History (Global and Comparative)
MA History (Medicine, Science and Technology)
MA History (Modern)
Classes will typically have 6-16 students. All classes will be interactive and discussion based.
Full time students will usually have 4-6 taught contact hours per week, depending on their module choices. These could be spread over 3 days. In addition to teaching time, students are expected to engage with departmental research events and other activities, as well as completing independent study.
The University of Warwick welcomes applications from students wishing to undertake postgraduate study on a part time basis. Part-time students complete the same quantity of work undertaken by full time students, but this work is spread out over a longer period. Part-time study for the History MA typically takes two years, instead of the usual one year.
Part-time students will rarely be required to be on campus for more than one or two days a week. Part-time students will join the vibrant community of postgraduates in the Warwick Department of History, and are encouraged to attend as many of the wide range of departmental offerings (seminars, reading groups, discussion forums, conferences, staff-student liaison committee, etc) as they are able to accommodate into their own timetable.
Queries about part-time MAs should firstly be directed to the Postgraduate Coordinator via email at PGHistoryOffice@warwick.ac.uk.
Assessment will vary by module. Students should expect to complete short and long essays, as well as more diverse forms of assessment such as presentations, podcasts or book reviews. The MA culminates in a 15000 word research dissertation.
Entry requirements
2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in History or a related subject
IELTS overall score of 7.5, minimum component scores of two at 6.5/7.0 and the rest at 7.5 or above
Please adjust your country as required:
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications. For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page.
We typically ask for one academic reference for taught courses.
You will be asked to include an email address for your referee(s) when submitting your application and we will contact them for you.
There are no additional entry requirements for this course.
Fees and scholarships
Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and assessment and some student amenities.
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.
Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?
If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.
As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.
For departmental specific costs, please see the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue, where module-related costs are detailed. Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2026/27 year of study).
Information about module specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:
Core text books
Printer credits
Dissertation binding
Robe hire for your degree ceremony
Dissertations and Assignments are only submitted digitally. However, students may wish to print and bind their dissertation for their own purposes. Students on some courses will have a final poster presentation as part of their project and the printing of posters may be at the students’ expense.
Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.
Join our passionate history community as you develop the skills to investigate archives, question sources and build compelling historical arguments.
Across seminars, workshops and our History Society, you’ll learn with the support of exceptional historians and our world-leading research centres. Take your love of history beyond the conventional at a department ranked 7th in the Complete University Guide, and in the top 50 of the QS world subject rankings.
Warwick specialises in research-led teaching and as a taught Master’s student you will be supported by a team of exceptional historians who will help you take your passion for History to the next level.
We are home to four field-leading Research Centres, which underpin our History MA.
Our History MA degree will provide you with the skills and experience you need to continue on to a History PhD or to help you enter your chosen career.
You’ll be based in our impressive Faculty of Arts Building - with exceptional teaching, learning and social spaces designed to support collaboration and creativity. Found beside the refurbished Warwick Arts Centre in our cultural quarter, the sustainably built eight-storey hub offers specialist facilities to help your thinking, research and ambitions thrive.
Research Students will have access to all of the services of the building's Centre for Arts Doctoral Research Excellence and the University's Doctoral College.
Careers
Our degrees equip you with the skills and experiences needed to excel in your career. With access to exceptional career services, industry connections, and global opportunities, we’ll inspire and help you to aim high and achieve your goals. Our guidance ensures you graduate as a well-rounded professional ready for lifelong success.
A postgraduate degree in History provides you with the skills and knowledge to embark on a range of career paths. History Master's graduates have pursued careers in academia, the civil service, NGOs, education, law and in a range of research roles across the private sector*.
Derived from the Graduate Outcomes survey
Derived from the Graduate Outcomes survey, 2021/22, carried out approximately 15 months after completion of studies.
Conducted annually, Graduate Outcomes collects information on the activities and perspectives of graduates. Contains HESA data: Copyright Jisc 2024. Jisc cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data.
Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year.
While this course does not offer a formal work placement, postgraduate taught students at Warwick can self-source internships and work experience to complete alongside their studies, subject to visa conditions and the 20‑hour weekly limit for full‑time students.
Opportunities can vary in length and location, including in the UK, online and internationally. Postgraduate students find that shorter, remote and/or flexible opportunities work best around their studies, often seeking opportunities over the summer when teaching decreases and the focus moves to final dissertations and projects - although this can vary depending on the nature of the course and personal preference.
Support available:
The Internships, Placements and Work Experience team provide workshops to help you to source and prepare for work opportunities, and organise peer-to-peer support so you can hear about other students’ placement experiences.
The WorkReady Toolkit guides you through the whole process, from sourcing to completing work placements.
Our Work Experience Bursary can help you cover costs if undertaking unpaid work experience.
Part-time work allows you to gain experience and additional financial support, with opportunities advertised on Warwick’s careers portal, myAdvantage and Unitemps.
Warwick students worked 286,295 paid hours via Unitemps in 25/26.
Access short-term international study, work or volunteering abroad experiences, without extending the length of your studies (duration is typically between 3 days and 12 weeks), with opportunity to apply for funding.
Students can apply to TeamWork, a four-week part-time online international experience programme, helping them to gain work experience and improve their employability skills.
Volunteer for projects which support the local community through the award-winning Warwick Volunteers.
Getting involved in societies and sports teams, especially on exec teams.
In 25/26 our jobs portal advertised 1577 12-month placements, work experience opportunities, vacation employment and volunteering from 564 employers.
Whilst there is lots of support available at the University to help, students themselves are responsible for finding and securing a suitable internship or work experience. You will also be responsible for ensuring opportunities meet visa requirements, do not exceed the universities advised 20 hours per week for full-time students and for balancing extra-curricular activity with your studies.
Our Alumni
Hear from our Alumni and discover what you could achieve studying with us. Once you graduate you’ll be joining our community of 310,000 making an impact across the globe.
This is where your journey begins. Our campus is the heart of it all. It’s more than just a campus - it's the places you visit, the people you meet, the fun that you have; the experiences you have here will be transformative.
Within a close-knit community of staff and students from all over the world, discover a campus alive with possibilities.
Our campus is where all the elements of your student experience come together in one place. You won't be short of ways to spend your time on campus - whether it's visiting Warwick Arts Centre, using our incredible sports facilities, socialising in our bars, nightclub and cafés, or enjoying an open-air event. Or if you need some peace and quiet, you can explore lakes, woodland and green spaces just a few minutes’ walk from central campus.
Follow our students around campus on our social channels to see their experiences first-hand.
Teaching facilities
Our campus is designed to cater for all of your learning needs. You will benefit from a variety of flexible, well-equipped study spaces and teaching facilities across the University.
Oculus, our outstanding learning hub, houses state-of-the-art lecture theatres and innovative social learning and network areas
Different study spaces offering you flexible individual and group study spaces, computers, printing and scanning facilities, multimedia resources and more
Supporting you
Our continuous support network is here to help you adjust to student life and to ensure you can easily access advice on many different issues. These may include managing your finances and workload, and settling into shared accommodation. We also have specialist disability and mental health support teams.
Whether you live on campus or off campus, in private accommodation in the well-serviced local area, you’ll be part of a community to get the most from your experience at Warwick.
Societies and sports play a huge part in community life at Warwick. With over 300 to choose from, getting involved is one of the easiest ways to make friends and share in experiences. Whether you’re into films, martial arts, astronomy, gaming or musical theatre, you can instantly connect with people with similar interests.
Your university experience is defined by far more than your course or the career path you follow. At Warwick, it’s where you discover who you could become.
68th
Warwick is ranked 68th in the world and top 10 in all major UK league tables
Our alumni community still call Warwick home. From a few hundred in 1965 to more than 310,000 alumni, and it's ever-growing.
As Warwick graduates, our students have access to employability support for two years after graduation, including access to careers appointments, job vacancies and professional networks.
Applications for courses starting in September and October 2027 are now open.
The on-time deadline for taught postgraduate courses starting in September/October 2027 is 2 August 2027.
We will still accept late applications, however cannot guarantee that the application will be processed in time to complete the admissions process if received in September or there are a number of conditions to meet.
If applying late please include your degree certificates and transcripts, English proficiency evidence (if needed) and ensure referees can submit references promptly to allow time for CAS and visa processing (if applicable).
This information is applicable for 2027 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our web page 'Important information to consider before making an application' in advance of applying to Warwick.
Next steps
Explore your future university further at an upcoming event, online or in-person. Can't join? Receive regular email updates or ask current students and staff questions about life at Warwick.
