Postgraduate Taught Degrees

Why Study Modern European History at UEA?

The MA in Modern European History offers you the opportunity to work with a group of historians of modern Europe who continue UEA’s long-standing reputation as a major centre for the study of the continent. There is a particular and distinctive concentration of expertise in the history of Central and Eastern Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. This provides an ideal environment for students interested in the dilemmas and challenges faced by the great autocratic dynasties of Russia, Germany and the Habsburg Empire from the mid-19th century onwards. We also cover the dramatic and devastating consequences of social and political change not just for these countries, but for the Balkans and for Europe as a whole. Students also examine the collapse of the dynastic empires and the re-shaping of Europe at the end of the First World War, and the causes and consequences of the two most dramatic episodes in the ‘short twentieth century’: the Bolshevik and Nazi revolutions. While you will be expected to concentrate your studies on one country, there is ample scope to pursue more comparative approaches to the history of Europe, particularly around themes such as nationalism and national identity, political mobilisation, or violence and genocide.

Content and Structure of the Course

The MA, which can be taken either as a one-year full-time programme or a two-year part-time degree, aims to equip students with the advanced skills and intensive subject knowledge they need to proceed to further independent research. This preparation is provided by three main elements. The first is the dissertation, the completion of which will provide all MA students with the experience and expertise to go on to doctoral study should they so wish. The second is a core module, in either Russian or German history, which runs over both semesters, all of which reflect the challenges these countries experienced in coming to terms with the modern age.

Core Modules

Modernity in Russia focuses in particular on the revolutionary period in Russia and the manifold problems that Russian society and culture confronted in the transition to modernity.

OR

Germany 1880-1940: Tradition and Modernity examines how far the dramatic history of Germany in this period can be explained in terms of the persistence of powerful pre-modern forces, or whether , from the later 19th century, Germany confronted an escalating crisis of modernity that culminated in the collapse of democracy and civil society in the 1930s.

Optional Modules

Students also take a supplementary module, which runs either weekly for a semester or fortnightly over the whole year.

Reading Modern European History may take a variety of forms and will be responsive to students’ particular needs and interests. It currently explores the first half of the twentieth century through the study of personal narratives and memoirs and their value as historical sources.

The culmination of the programme is a dissertation on an approved topic of your own devising. It is undertaken mainly in the second half of the degree and supervised by one or more members of the School.

Opportunities to acquire or enhance a reading knowledge of a relevant modern European language for the Modern European History strand are also provided to those intending to extend their research beyond the Masters degree.

Course Tutors and Research Interests

Cathie Carmichael: nationalism, ethnicity, ethnic cleansing and violence, especially in the Balkans, and the comparative study of genocide

Laurence Cole: the Habsburg empire 1750-1918, especially nationality relations in the Dual Monarchy, and Austria’s relations to Italy and Germany

Ian Farr: society and politics in Germany 1815-1945, especially Imperial Germany and Germany’s regions

Tony Kemp-Welch: international relations since 1945, Soviet politics and Poland under Communism

Matthias Neumann: Imperial Russian and Soviet society, especially the culture of Stalinism

Peter Waldron: later Tsarist Russia and the Soviet Union and their relationships with eastern Europe

Course Organiser:Prof Peter Waldron

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:

Sample of work - see below

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 92 (minimum 19 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).

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.

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.

Assessment

All applications for postgraduate study are processed through the Faculty Admissions Office and then forwarded to the relevant School of Study for consideration. If you are currently completing your first degree or have not yet taken a required English language test, any offer of a place will be conditional upon you achieving this before you arrive.

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 2014/15. 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, or by downloading the application form.

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.