Postgraduate Taught Degrees

MA Modern British History (Part time)

Attendance:: Part Time
Award:: Degree of Master of Arts
School of Study:: History

Overview
Why Choose Us
Course Profile
Requirements
Fees and Funding
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Course Organiser:Prof Thomas Otte

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!

Year 1
Year 2

This is the first year of your taught Masters programme.

Option A Study (60 credits)

Students will select 60 credits from the following modules:

Name	Code	Credits
THE POLITICS OF BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY, 1850-1940	HIS-M06Y	60
Prof. John Charmley, Dr Geoff Hicks, Dr Thomas Otte. Within the context of party politics, this module will examine the development of British foreign policy, and debate about it, from Palmerston��s triumphs in the mid-nineteenth century to the nadir of 1940. Using primary sources - including material edited by the tutors �� the module will consider how party politics defined diplomacy as politicians faced international and domestic difficulties. It will also examine the problems posed by war, empire, and domestic upheaval as great-power politics became ever more volatile, challenging traditional interpretations of the period. Taught by historians with complementary areas of expertise, it will encourage seminar discussion and enable students to focus upon topics of particular interest against the broad canvas of geopolitics. The Autumn Semester would cover the period from Palmerston and Derby in the 1850s, through the age of Gladstone and Disraeli to Lord Salisbury in the 1880s and 90s. In the Spring, the module would look at the transition from Splendid Isolation to Britain��s commitment on the world stage in the run-up to the First World War, followed by the challenges of empire and the problems of appeasement in the interwar period.

Option B Study (30 credits)

Students will select 30 credits from the following modules:

Name	Code	Credits
FROM THE ZENITH OF IMPERIAL PRESTIGE TO THE NADIR OF BRITISH POWER: THE BRITISH EMPIRE 1919-1956	HIS-M25Y	30
This module explores developments within the British Empire between the high noon of Empire following the settlement of the First World War to the Suez Crisis of 1956. It will examine the various challenges posed to the British imperial system from the growth of resistance and nationalism in India and the Middle East during the inter war period to the important role played by imperial questions in relations between Britain and the United States (the ‘Special Relationship’). Alongside the perceived internal threats to the Empire this module will consider Britain's responses to wartime US criticism of the British Empire and the redefinition of British Imperial policy, the roles planned for the Empire in securing Britain's economic and strategic interests, the scope for Anglo-American co-operation in the Cold War and possible sources of friction between the two powers, culminating in their disagreement over policy in the Middle East at the time of the Suez Crisis.
LIFE AND LABOUR - EXPERIENCES IN INDUSTRIALISING BRITAIN c1750-1914	HIS-M005	30
This module allows you to examine the urban and/or rural dimensions of people��s lifestyles and occupations from the late 18th to the early 20th centuries. These are set in the context of economic and demographic change and the transition from rural-based to urbanised society, with the focus upon lifestyles and grassroots experiences. Themes include Making a living and the issue of separate spheres; Sickness, health and welfare; Religion and philanthropy; Social class and politics; Crime and control; following themes are offered for tutorials, with an eye to overall coherence; your dissertation subject area and the need to minimise any overlap with material in the core Spring semester module. Additional sessions will be arranged, where necessary, dealing with source materials. Where it is feasible, you will also have the opportunity to undertake local or regional studies to enhance seminar and essay work and incorporate primary sources.
READING MODERN EUROPEAN HISTORY	HIS-M08Y	30
This module will be taught as a reading group with close reference to original texts and the authors’ lives as well as to the wider historical context of their work. Students will be required to read ten books which relate to events in the first half of the twentieth century, focussing particularly on memoirs and the exploration of their value as historical sources. The module will examine the problems associated with personal narratives of historical events, and with questions of personal memory and introspection. The seminars will run in alternate weeks over the Autumn and Spring semesters. Students will make a 15-minute seminar presentation (20 per cent of their credits), and will submit an essay of 4-5,000 words.

This is the second year of your taught Masters programme.

Compulsory Study (90 credits)

Students must study the following modules for 90 credits:

Name	Code	Credits
DISSERTATION PREPARATION	HIS-M22Y	0
This module consists of both generic training sessions for all students as well as course-specific exercises and training. A key requirement of the module is for students to make an oral presentation in the Spring semester, to be attended by all MA students, after which they will submit their formal dissertation proposal. The module is assessed on a pass/fail basis.
MA IN MODERN BRITISH HISTORY DISSERTATION	HIS-M04X	90
90-credit dissertation for students taking the MA in Modern British History in the School of History.

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).

Intakes

The School's annual intake is in September of each year.

Alternative Qualifications

If you have alternative qualifications that have not been mentioned above then please contact university directly for further information.

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.

If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home/EU students).

Please note that all the above fees are expected to rise for the year 2013/14. 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.