MLitt History

Overview 

This degree offers flexible study, either full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years). Covering the history of Scotland, Europe, India, Africa and North America, the teaching is organised around research clusters in Global History, Scottish History and Public History. Critical issues in the history of social justice, crime and policing, political, cultural, military, economic and social history are explored, all taught by research specialists.

You will be offered the chance to learn about documentary making, public outreach, the historical study of crime fiction and forensics, research ethics, the work of archivists, grant getting and techniques to undertake research with databases.

Separately from the MLitt in History, for those wishing to study part-time at their own pace, and by distance learning, we also offer an extensive suite of modules focused on the history of Scotland and the Scots:

• Scottish History by distance learning

History at Dundee

Dundee Historians are interested in the social, economic, cultural and political history of the early and late modern periods. We have specialists in Scottish, Irish, American, European, African, Indian and global history. Find out more about our staff research interests.

Our activities group around two research centres, the Scottish Centre for Global History and the Centre for Scottish Culture, and research clusters themed by War and Peace, Public History, Social Justice and Crime history and writing.

There are three elements to our History masters courses:

1. A year-long core module introduces you to practical and theoretical aspects of doing research in history and the humanities. Introduced by the senior Professors, this module takes you through the professional practice of being a historian and is geared towards developing a range of transferrable skills.
2. You then take modules to suit your interests in Global History, Scottish History, Public History, Social Justice and the History and Literature of Crime. In addition, we also offer the option of a module tailored specifically to your interests, structured around directed reading (subject to our individual staff areas of expertise).
3. To cap it all is the Dissertation, which you prepare during the year and write up during the summer. You work closely with a member of staff on a topic of your choice, deepening your historiographical knowledge while putting your research skills into practice.

We offer a regular postgraduate forum, visiting speakers and an annual postgraduate conference. You will also benefit from a range of Generic Skills classes throughout the year.

Study an individual module

If you wish to study just one module from this course, rather than a whole degree, you can choose to apply for an individual module. Visit the Individual Humanities Module webpage for more information.

Language Learning

If you need to acquire or improve your foreign language skills to enhance your postgraduate studies, (e.g. to read texts in a native language), you can enrol on a Languages for All course free of charge.

Who should study this course?

The majority of students on our History taught masters (MLitt) course take this extra year to improve their job prospects. Most of our MLitt graduates go into full-time employment immediately after finishing their course.

Others take the course with the long-term aim of making careers in professions such as teaching.

A few of our students take the degree as a preparation for a research degree. They continue with PhD studies, either here at Dundee or at other universities. The School of Humanities has a strong record of securing funded places for doctoral study from the Scottish Graduate School for the Arts and Humanities.

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)

The University of Dundee has been given a Gold award – the highest possible rating – in the 2017 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

Read more about the Teaching Excellence Framework

Teaching & Assessment

_{How you will be taught}

All the core teaching is conducted in the early evening to allow attendance by part-time and full-time students alike. Other classes are scheduled for the mutual convenience of staff and students.

A variety of teaching methods will be used, including: small group teaching, supervised study, seminars and presentations.

Learning methods will include oral and written presentations, as well as research essays and a dissertation. One-to-one supervision of a dissertation is designed to promote continuity in the learning experience and to provide students with the opportunity to work on a topic of their own choosing (subject to approval by the tutor).

How you will be assessed

Assessment includes essays, skills tests, a presentation and a dissertation.

Students whose dissertation fails to satisfy the examiners will be awarded the PG Diploma, provided that the taught elements of the course have been successfully completed.

What you will study

Year-long

Core module (40 credits):

• History Skills and Sources

First semester

Choose two further modules from:

• Interpretations in Scottish History (20 credits)
• Global Empires (20 credits)
• Public History (20 credits)
• Forensic Science and Networks of Knowledge in the 19th and 20th Centuries (20 credits)
• Introduction to Practical Non-Fiction Filmmaking (20 credits)

Second semester

Choose two further module from:

• Directed Reading (20 credits)
• Documenting Dissent: Power, Protest, and Social Justice in the 20th Century (20 credits)
• Documentary and History (20 credits)
• The Rise of the Modern Detective, 19th/20th centuries (20 credits)
• History of the Book 1500-1800 (20 credits)
• Film editing: Theory and Practice (20 credits)

All students then complete a History Research Dissertation (over the summer) (60 credits).

Careers

Students who take this course will gain a solid foundation from which they can proceed to doctoral research.

For those wishing to use their studies more directly, for example in heritage, museum or archivist work, the job market is competitive, and the MLitt will provide students with a chance to further their knowledge and understanding of History and to demonstrate advanced research skills necessary for work in archives or heritage.

Your Application

You apply for this course via the UCAS Postgraduate website which is free of charge.

Please read the how to apply page before you apply to find out about what you'll need.

Visit the MLitt History page on the University of Dundee website for more details!