MA Early Modern History
Course
options
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Course Overview
Can you imagine delving into the red velvet bag that was said to have contained Sir Walter Raleigh’s decapitated head? If you’d like to explore early modern history, analyse sources – including material ones, like macabre bags – and learn new skills, this course is for you.
You’ll focus on culture, politics, religion and society between 1500 and 1830, spanning Britain, continental Europe and the Atlantic world. Guided by historians with internationally-recognised experience, you'll explore diverse topics and acquire the expertise for advanced historical research, as demonstrated in your dissertation.
Seminars will deepen your knowledge of early modern history, whilst tutorials will explore specialised areas, and practical sessions will include palaeography, helping you to decipher historical handwriting. We also offer training in using specialist historic maps and geographic information systems (GIS).
Our local region, rich in early modern history, provides fantastic opportunities. You’ll learn from partners at local archives, museums and heritage institutions. You’ll use material from the amazing collection held on campus at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, and you’ll be able to participate in activities led by our Centre for East Anglian Studies.
You’ll leave equipped to take many different pathways. You’ll discover how to apply your skills in the heritage industry and other professions, and we’ll provide you with placement and networking opportunities. You’ll also graduate ready to develop your studies at doctoral level, and with qualities that are in high demand by employers, including problem-solving, database user-experience, teamworking, and excellent oral and written skills.
Study and Modules
Structure
Our MA will provide you with a thorough grounding in the ways to approach early modern history: historiographically, thematically, and methodologically. You’ll cover religious, political, social, and cultural history, and also focus more closely on topics such as mentalities, social relations, gender, Atlantic history, and the forms and structures of daily life.
We’ll help you to identify and interpret primary sources, and to conceptualise related historical problems. And we’ll discuss the obstacles and opportunities of historical research, through a series of case studies drawn from the expertise of our early modern staff.
As you study, you’ll also be supported in beginning to select a dissertation topic.
Alongside this comprehensive grounding in early modern historiography, you’ll also master the tools essential to developing a refined piece of original historical research and learn how to apply those tools to a wide range of other careers. Through hands-on workshops and seminars, you’ll gain familiarity with various practical research methods as well as important aspects of research dissemination both within and outside academia. There will be sessions to help you transition from undergraduate to postgraduate-level historical research, and we’ll pay particular attention to employability, with opportunities to engage and learn from partners at local archives, museums, and/or heritage institutions. Seminars on approaches to archival research will be facilitated by members of the School of History who are specialists in particular historical methods. Each year the content of this team-taught module adapts to developing trends within historical studies. Topics covered may include: collective memory; digital humanities; life narratives; oral history; using institutional documents; material and visual cultures; transnational histories; and decolonisation within the heritage industry. By the end of your studies, you’ll be equipped to undertake historical and professional work, such as working in an archive, and writing and delivering conference papers, using the latest methodologies.
To complement these skills in historical and archival research, you’ll learn specialist skills in ‘paleography’, which is the study of old handwriting. Paleography is essential for all historians and archaeologists who wish to be able to read the handwriting of the period they’re researching. You’ll learn the skills needed to read and transcribe a range of early modern archival sources. This exercise in historical ‘code breaking’ is as demanding as it’s rewarding and fun.
Tutorials will then allow you to specialise in the area of early modern history that interests you most by choosing one topic from a wide array of annually updated options. Finally, your Master’s dissertation will provide you with an opportunity to pursue your own original historical research. You’ll be supervised by one or several members of the School, who will provide guidance and support throughout the process of researching and writing
Compulsory Modules
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. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with 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. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Our integrated approach means that your learning from each module will relate to and inform your other modules. Broad and thorough, this also makes for a more interesting and stimulating study experience.
In our core modules, you’ll be taught the key themes and issues across periods and countries, usually based on selected case studies. Our skills-based modules will provide the theoretical and methodological tools key to the study of early modern history, as well as the conceptual knowledge you’ll need to complete the core module and your dissertation. And in our Specialist Tutorials, we’ll encourage you to engage with historiographical debates and explanations in greater detail.
Our teaching will enhance your knowledge and awareness of different disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches. And by the end of the spring term, with our close supervision and advice, you’ll be in the position to embark on your extended, independent, original research project.
Independent study
The very nature of a Master’s course means that you’ll spend a lot of time carrying out independent study. You’ll have access to UEA’s state-of-the-art library, which houses a wealth of specialist research collections in British, European, and global history. You’ll also have access to the East Anglian Film Archive and the Norfolk Record Office. Moreover, you’ll be able to work with libraries and archives across the country, including the British Library and The National Archives, as well as similar resources overseas.
The balance we offer between independent thinking and study skills will help you grow into a self-motivated learner, an analytical thinker and an expert researcher. You’ll develop accuracy and precision in your written work through evidence-based analysis. And you’ll become well versed in time management, making you highly organised and confident in self-directed study.
Throughout your degree, you’ll be given guidance on your work and constructive feedback to help you improve.
Assessment
Our modules include both formative and summative assessments, with feedback provided in various ways. This includes – but is not restricted to – written feedback, oral feedback in seminars and tutorials, and peer-to-peer feedback.
Each module will include a sequence of assessments, giving you the opportunity to learn from your formative feedback. The process will encourage you to reflect on your performance and to approach subsequent pieces of work with greater confidence, improving your performance in summative assessments.
Formative assessment includes presentations, essays and dissertation plans, research training and specialised skills. Summative work is assessed through coursework essays – including the options to submit seminar and exhibition reviews, or conduct a work experience placement at the Norfolk Record Office and at selected East Anglian heritage organisations – and your dissertation.
Employability
After the Course
You’ll graduate ready to pursue a wide range of occupations, thanks to the breadth of the skills you’ll have acquired during your postgraduate Early Modern History Mater’s degree. Many of our graduates go on to pursue academic careers. Others develop careers in business, public service, teaching and management, or the heritage and tourism sector.
We work closely with UEA’s Careers Service, offering a number of events, workshops, and information sessions to help get your career off to the best start.
Careers
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
- Teaching and research
- Civil service and local government
- Heritage and tourism
- Journalism
- Law
- Business and finance
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.1
Degree Subject
Humanities subject
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.1 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Humanities subject
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 6.0 in Writing & Speaking with 5.5 in the others)
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
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- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26 are:
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UK Students: £10,675
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International Students: £22,700
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 students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,136 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
Further information
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.