Study History, Art History, Heritage, Philosophy or American Studies at Sussex, a research-led university

Join the stimulating and supportive School of History, Art History, Philosophy and American Studies at the University of Sussex to study your Masters. You will learn from high-calibre researchers who think globally, digitally, outwardly and flexibly.

We are ranked 2nd in the UK for American Studies (Complete University Guide, 2020), 12th in the UK for Philosophy (Complete University Guide, 2020), and 11th in the UK for History (Guardian University Guide 2020). Our innovative, interdisciplinary approach will enable you to think critically about how social, economic, political and cultural changes inform the present.

History

Experts who shape the way we think about the present as well as the past will teach you. We were ranked first in the UK for the quality of our research output in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF, 2014), with expertise in modern American, European and British history, intellectual history, film and digital history, and the history of science and economics.

You can make use of specialist archives, digital resources and rare book collections, discuss research with leading scholars in our weekly research seminars, and benefit from tailored postgraduate support.

• Contemporary History MA
• Intellectual History MA

American Studies

We are a pioneering department, ranked in the top three in all of the main university guides. American Studies brings together faculty from History and English to form a genuinely interdisciplinary centre of excellence for the study of American history, literature and culture.

You will be able to access world-class collections and learn from passionate experts in topics such as slavery and race, consumer culture, modern fiction, art and poetry, labour protest, the New York punk scene and more

• Critical American Studies MA

Art History and Heritage

You will be part of a department that is at the forefront of the discussion on works of art and photography, and their wider cultural contexts. Ideas flow freely between the classroom and the research that ends up in our books and exhibitions.

Our philosophy, ‘Art History matters’, translates into inspiring course content that will equip you with the skills for both professional work and further study. You will:

- Gain practical experience during a work placement or via workshops and masterclasses.

- Be exposed to the ideas that will shape your understanding of art history, museums and curatorship in the future.

- Develop the skills you need for a career in Heritage, learning from both expert on-site faculty and visiting heritage professionals, working on live briefs and playing an active part in conserving Sussex’s heritage.

- Explore the pivotal role of photography with the first MA in the UK to combine creative practice with the study of the history and theory of photography.

• Art History MA
• Art History and Museum Curating MA
• Heritage MA
• Photography: History, Theory, Practice MA
• Photography and Museum Curating

Philosophy

We encourage open and diverse approaches to philosophical issues, allowing you either to specialise in the analytic or continental traditions, or to combine the study of both.

We are ranked 12th in the UK in The Guardian University Guide 2020: a reflection of the quality of our research and our commitment to innovative teaching.

You will learn from researchers with interests such as the Marxist tradition, social and political theory, and philosophy of language, logic, mind, aesthetics and fiction, within a supportive and active community.

• Philosophy MA
• Literature and Philosophy MA
• Social and Political Thought MA

Scholarships

The University of Sussex offers a range of postgraduate funding awards to support talented students. Find out more about our scholarships.