Postgraduate Study

The School of Historical Studies offers a range of postgraduate degrees, from one-year taught Masters degrees to two-year Masters and three-year PhD degrees by research.  Students can study on a full or part time basis.

Research Expertise

The School contains expertise in political, cultural, social and economic history from medieval to modern times, with a geographic focus on Europe and America.  We offer particular specialisms in Scottish history, medieval history, gender history, war studies, the history of medicine, social history and business history. 

Taught Masters Degrees

The School sponsors several one-year taught Masters degrees in history:

• MLitt/MSc in History
• MLitt/MSc in History with an emphasis on the History of Medicine
• MSc in Social History
• MSc/Dip in Contemporary Economic History

Our specialised Research Centres combine expertise in history with literature, languages and related fields to offer interdisciplinary one-year taught MLitt degrees:

• MLitt in Medieval Scottish Studies (with optional Gaelic)
• MLitt in Scottish Studies (with optional Gaelic)
• MLitt in War Studies
• MLitt in American Studies

Further interdisciplinary taught MLitt programmes are offered in conjunction with other departments:

• MLitt in Colonial and Postcolonial Studies
• MLitt in Medieval and Renaissance Studies

Research Degrees

Students are invited to study under individual members of staff in the School for research degrees.  These include the two-year MLitt (Research) and the three-year PhD. 

Entry Requirements

Applicants to taught and research degrees normally hold at least an upper second class honours undergraduate degree or the equivalent (minimum 3.0 GPA).  Applicants for whom English is not their first language must also demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken English.  For more details, see the university's postgraduate prospectus.

To discuss the School's entry requirements in more detail, please contact:

• Professor Lynn Abrams, Research Convenor, Department of History
• Dr. Malcolm Nicolson, Postgraduate Convenor, Department of Economic and Social History

How to Apply

Applications for taught Masters degrees are made to the Postgraduate Admissions Office.  Applications can be made online.  Please include with your application a sample of your work (a short essay or equivalent) and a brief statement (no longer than one page) outlining your interest in the course.

Applications for research degrees are made to the relevant Faculty.   If you wish to study under a member of staff in the Department of History, apply to the Faculty of Arts.  To study under a member of staff in the Department of Economic and Social History, apply to the Faculty of Law, Business and Social Sciences.  For more information on staff and their research interests, see the Research Clusters page.