Overview

Our course looks at the history of Britain, Europe and the wider world between c.1500–1800, highlighting themes of political, cultural, religious and social history. Taught by experts in the histories of the Reformation and the Enlightenment, gender, the material world of the Renaissance, race and racism, medicine and science, and on Britain, Ireland, France, Italy, Portugal and the Iberian world, our course offers you the opportunity to choose from a wide range of study options at one of Europe’s leading History departments. Leads to careers in museums, journalism, finance and the cultural sector.

Course detail

Our Early Modern History MA bridges the division between British and European history that exists on many courses, focusing on ways in which cultural, political and social themes stretch across the period c.1500–1800. The course is taught by experts in the histories of the Reformation and the Enlightenment, gender, the material world of the Renaissance, race and racism, and on Britain, Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Portugal and the Iberian world. Their research connects the political and the social, the cultural and the religious dimensions of the early modern world, and our course will give you interdisciplinary perspectives on early modern history. You will write a dissertation at the end of your course, but you will begin by testing concepts such as identity, mentality, religion; by challenging models of change including modernization, state-building, the civilising process, reformation, enlightenment and revolution; and by trying out different methodologies such as cultural history, gender, thinking with material objects, global history, using digital data.

Teaching and assessment

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment. Your performance will be assessed through a combination of essays and a dissertation which will make up 100% of your assessment.

Career prospects

Our graduates use the skills and knowledge they develop with us to go on to further research or to careers in museums, education, journalism, finance, politics and the cultural sector.