Modern History MA

King’s College London Faculty of Arts & Humanities

Full time & Part time September MA One year FT, two years PT

FindAMasters summary

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of history with our Modern History MA programme at King's College London. This highly sought-after course delves into European and British history from the mid-18th century onwards, offering a comparative perspective. Taught by leading experts, you'll have access to a wide range of modules, including options from the Departments of War Studies and Political Economy. With a strong focus on research skills, this programme prepares you for diverse career paths in education, journalism, finance, politics, and the cultural sectors. Join us in the heart of London, where world-class museums, archives, and libraries await your exploration. To be eligible, you'll need a 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in history or a related subject.

About the course

Our popular Modern History course focuses on European and British history from the mid-18th century onwards and explores the key topics of the period, from European nation building to modern British politics. Designed primarily for students interested in Continental European and/or British History, our course draws on a wide range of approaches to give you a comparative perspective.

It offers a huge range of options taught by leading experts, including modules taught in the Departments of War Studies and Political Economy.

The degree leads to careers in education, journalism, finance, politics and cultural sectors.

Entry Requirements

2:1 undergraduate honours degree in history or a related subject such as politics. Students without a history degree may be required to show relevant research skills in order to be accepted.

In order to meet the academic entry requirements for this programme you should have a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree with a final mark of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme. If you are still studying you should be achieving an average of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme.

Fees

Please see the university website for further information on fees for this course.

Open days

Learn more about life at King’s at one of our Postgraduate events.

01 January 2024

Where will I study?

King’s College London

King’s College London is an internationally renowned university delivering exceptional education and world-leading research. We are dedicated to driving positive and sustainable change in society and realising our vision of making the world a better place. King's is home to over 18,000 postgraduate students and attracts some of the best academic minds in the world. We are recognised for the global influence of our research and innovation and are amongst the world’s best universities for research excellence and power (REF 2021), creating the perfect environment for you to share and develop your passion. Our PhD completion rates at King’s are among the highest in the country and, with our Centre for Doctoral Studies, you can be sure to receive the best support to ensure success. Our students benefit from connections with employers, universities and organisations throughout London and across the globe.

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Student Profiles

Jonathan

I chose King’s because I’d had such a fantastic time here as an undergraduate. The History Department is one of the best in the country with some of the world’s leading experts in their fields and it has easy access to many libraries and archives, so why would I go anywhere else?

On top of this, there are a wide range of MA modules to choose from, and not only from within the Department. I am currently taking a module from the Institute of Contemporary History on British Political History; one might even do a module from the English or the War Studies Departments.

The tutors are all excellent. At MA the teaching is done in seminars; because of this, there’s a real sense of being treated as an academic equal, with the tutors there to help the discussion and add points, rather than simply lecture. Currently, my favourite seminars are Revolutions and Constitutions in Europe c.1790-1870 and Advanced Skills for Historians: the first because the history of the French Revolution and the nineteenth century in Europe created the foundations for the explosion of the First World War. Advanced Skills is fascinating because we look at how one actually goes about in-depth research in the archives, and how an historian should present those results.

Further, as an alumnus of King’s, the College awarded me an alumni bursary, which has meant I have a little bit left to fund my dissertation research into a new collection of papers on a Rear-Admiral in Nelson’s navy.

King’s has also given me the chance to play in the King’s Big Band. I play the trombone, and to be able to play jazz with some of the Music Department’s top players has been a huge bonus. We’ve played for BBC TV, the Royal Navy Association and various King’s Societies’ balls. Plus, it has meant meeting and working with people outside of my course and the Department, which is always a good experience.

London as a whole is such a vibrant place. There is so much to see and so much to do, and some of the top attractions are free! The great location of King’s on the Strand means that it is easy to wander up to the National Gallery or have lunch around Whitehall and the Houses of Parliament. King’s is therefore ideally situated to being able to just go and explore the capital.

James

"I joined King’s after a three year BA course in History at the University of Wales, deciding that the demands of an MA course needed a great urban location with access to a huge variety of resources."