Social and Economic History (Research Methods)

The course is delivered primarily through small group seminar teaching with some larger classes and lecture-style sessions. The social science modules also include workshops and practical classes.

Lectures and larger classes will provide key information on specific subjects, while seminars are an opportunity to get involved in discussions in more depth and workshops and practical sessions give you an opportunity to use software packages to record and analyse your own data. You can expect to carry out a significant level of independent study alongside your timetabled contact hours.

The nature of timetabled contact time varies from module to module. The majority of modules provide 20 contact hours, with skills modules normally generating more contact time.

The dissertation includes a further seven hours of one-to-one contact time with a dedicated supervisor who has specific knowledge in your topic of choice.

Assessment

Assessment is rigorous and designed to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of specific topics. The methods of assessment vary, depending on the modules that you select for study. They include essays, reports, and research analysis exercises, as well as exams and presentations for some subjects. You will also complete a dissertation which is worth one-third of your mark.

Subject requirements are a 2:1, with an overall average score of 65% or above, or a GPA of 3.5 or above, or equivalent. An undergraduate degree in History or a related subject is required. 

You are required to submit the following information with online application:

• An Academic CV– this should be no longer than 2 A4 pages and should contain information about your academic achievements to date and any related-work experience you have undertaken

• A sample of written work (up to 2,500 words for MA courses)

• Academic Transcripts and Certificates, if available– a copy of your undergraduate degree and postgraduate courses (dependent upon which degree course you are applying for) transcript and/or certificate, if degree already attained

• A 750-word outline of your intended research, concentrating on the research problem you will address, the research context in which it is located, and the methods, critical approaches, and sources you will use. You can upload this as part of the online application form.

English language requirements

Full Time Fees

Part Time Fees

The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase and are expected to rise throughout the programme of study. The fee listed above is for the first year of the course only. More information is available here: Tuition fees - how much are they - Durham University

Please also check costs for colleges and accommodation.

Life as a postgraduate in the Department of History is an excellent preparation for continuing research at a higher level or to pursue a professional career in the public or private sector if that is where your aspirations lie.

During your time studying here, you will develop skills, knowledge and personal attributes that are equally applicable in either career path, such as critical thinking, comprehension, analysis and communication of information and the ability to make knowledge-based decisions.    

Our postgraduates enter a variety of academic and academic-related careers as well as areas such as the arts and heritage sector, law, the Civil Service, accountancy, teaching, the charities sector and business.

The Department of History is a highly successful academic community that places a huge value on the contribution postgraduates make to its ever-growing research output covering a wide range of historical contexts.

Specific areas of expertise in the Department include medieval, early modern and modern history in Britain, continental Europe, North America, Africa, and East and South Asia. They consider a wealth of themes including gender, culture and race as well as political, religious, economic and social topics.

Our postgraduates benefit enormously from being taught by staff who work at the cutting edge of their respective subject specialisms. This enables them to incorporate the most up-to-date findings into their teaching. Our Masters qualifications in Global History, History, and Social and Economic History (Research Methods) offer choice, flexibility and the opportunity to specialise.

You will also benefit from the relationships the department has with University research institutes and centres, such as the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, the Centre for Nineteenth Century Studies, and the Centre for Visual Arts and Culture.

We consider our postgraduate community to be committed and active, contributing to academic activities through its own discussion groups and organising annual conferences and meeting with external keynote speakers.

Facilities

The Department is located in the heart of the city of Durham, next to Durham Cathedral and Castle, which together form the UNESCO World Heritage site. We occupy a group of historic town houses on North Bailey and Palace Green.

Our students have access to the Department’s specialist libraries and online resources, enabling historical research up to and including doctoral level. In addition, the University Library, with its archives and special collections, and the Durham Cathedral Library and Archives hold historical resources of international significance.

Durham is also home to an extensive and diverse range of archives and special collections, from Magna Carta to the Sudan Archive.

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