Postgraduate Taught Degrees

Why Study Landscape History at UEA?

The English landscape has been described as ‘the richest historical record we possess’ and this MA programme focuses both on the skills of ‘reading the landscape’ and also the practical and theoretical issues involved in the study of the historic countryside. The importance of landscape history is not something that is confined to the academic seminar room, however, as an understanding of the historic environment has relevance to the heritage industry, conservation agencies, local government and archaeological management.

Landscape History at UEA is deliberately eclectic in its approach: it is not constrained by period or geographical boundaries. The teaching material therefore ranges from early prehistory to the Cold War, from henges and hillforts to historic gardens and wartime pillboxes. An emphasis is also placed on long term trends over time and the way in which the landscape has had an enduring legacy in the structuring of attitudes and beliefs of local and regional communities. The MA programme offers an intensive and practical preparation for those people who wish to undertake further post-graduate study in landscape history, but also for those who wish to enter a profession for which knowledge of the historic environment is desirable.

Content and Structure of the Course

The MA in landscape history discusses key elements in the history of the English countryside from prehistory to the present day. The core module revolves around four major themes that impacted upon the landscape in different ways in different periods:

• What is Landscape History? explores the ways in which landscape history is practiced and its relationship with other disciplines.
• Landscape and Environment discusses the history and archaeology of various manmade and semi-natural environments (such as woodpasture, heaths and moors) and introduces ideas of historical ecology and what is sometimes, mistakenly, called ‘environmental determinism’.
• Society and Landscape is more concerned with human agency in the landscape and the more obvious signs of manipulation of the countryside. It discusses ideas concerning landscape design, enclosure and the impact of modernity.
• Regions and Regionality, takes a slightly different approach and examines patterns of regionality in the landscape. Why do regions exist? Are they created by social and economic behavior that reflects different regional identities or more the product of later ‘attrition’?

Needless to say, all overlap to a certain extent and should not be thought of as neat boundaries between different practices; in effect, they encompass a range of issues and methodologies that are really part of a single whole.

The Supplementary Module for the Landscape course involves training in Geographical Information Systems (GIS). This involves week-long intensive practical training intended to give students the ability to use GIS in their dissertation research. This module is tailored with landscape historians in mind and with an emphasis on the specific analytical operations which students are likely to find useful.

The Dissertation Module is very much the centrepiece of the course and allows students to focus on a particular place of interest or a specific research question. Given the range of expertise within the School, supervision can be provided for most dissertation topics. Recent dissertations have covered: The Landscapes of Medieval Monasteries, Medieval Hunting Landscapes, The Archaeology of Ancient Woods, Regional Patterns of Enclosure, Landscape Characterisation and Second World War Coastal Defence. A substantial number of MA Dissertations have formed the basis for published articles. Full training for the dissertation is given within the module. This includes seminars on maps and cartographic sources, where to find historical and archaeological information and guidance on preparing and structuring the dissertation.

Course Tutors and Research Interests

Dr Rob Liddiard – medieval history and archaeology of secular and ecclesiastical landscapes; vernacular landscape; parks and hunting; tenurial geography
Dr Tom Williamson – all aspects of English landscape; designed landscapes, esp. eighteenth- and nineteenth-century parks and gardens; landscape archaeology

Course Organiser:Dr. Robert Liddiard

There are many reasons to choose us. An MA in the School of History combines breadth of choice with depth of study. Students can choose from five excellent courses: Medieval, Early Modern, Modern British, Modern European and Landscape History, all carefully constructed and taught by specialists with relevant research interests and reputations. Unlike some MA courses, which ‘mix-and-match’ large numbers of small modules, within each course option students take a year-long 60-credit module, which allows them really to explore the subject in detail. Research skills are taught in a packed training programme, which provides everything our students need to further their historical ambitions. In the Spring Semester, they also make short presentations on their dissertation subjects, which, because the audience is mostly made up of their peers, makes for an event more like an informal symposium than a viva voce examination (which it isn’t anyway). Everyone finds this event helpful and enjoyable. UEA is extremely proud of its lively research community, which includes not just MA students but PhD students and teaching staff. We all benefit greatly from this intellectually stimulating environment and would like you to as well!

Disclaimer

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules and regular (five-yearly) review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff or sabbatical leave. Where this is the case, the University will endeavour to inform students.

Entry Requirements

Degree Subject:

History or a related subject

Degree Classification:

UK BA (Hons) 2.1 or equivalent

Special Entry Requirements:

Applicants must submit a sample of written work (in English). This should be a typed essay on a historical subject, 2-3,000 words long, preferably a photocopy of an assessment marked by a tutor, complete with critical comments and a percentage or grade. The essay should address a specific question, and must demonstrate an ability to construct a historical argument, familiarity with the conventions of academic writing, and competence in English. This should be uploaded to your online application.

Students for whom English is a Foreign language

We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English. To ensure such students benefit from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:

• IELTS: 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in all components)
• TOEFL: Internet-based score of 88 (minimum  18  listening,  21 speaking,  19 writing and 20 in reading)
• PTE (Pearson): 62 (minimum 55 in all components)

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

Other tests such as TOEIC and the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English are also accepted by the university. Please check with the Admissions Office for further details including the scores or grades required.

INTO UEA and INTO UEA London run pre-sessional courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information and to see if you qualify please contact intopre-sessional@uea.ac.uk (INTO UEA Norwich) or pseuealondon@into.uk.com (INTO UEA London).

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees

Tuition fees for Postgraduate students for the academic year 2013/14 are £5,000 for Home/EU students and £12,500 for International Students.

We estimate living expenses at £600/650 per month.

Scholarships and Awards:

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities has a number of Scholarships and Awards. For further information relevant to the School of History, please click here.

Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.

You can apply online.

Further Information

To request further information & to be kept up to date with news & events please use our online enquiry form.

If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying please do contact us:

Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk

International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.