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History at UEA
Find out more about studying History at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreMA Early Modern History
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2027
Course options
Other Start Dates
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UEA is ranked 3rd overall for research quality in History
Times Higher Education REF 2021 AnalysisCourse Overview
Why Early Modern History at UEA?
Explore the events, ideas, and people that have shaped the early modern world.
Why choose UEA
- Follow your passion: Specialise in the period from 1500 to 1830, across Britain, Europe, and the Atlantic world
- Build skills: Develop research, analysis, and communication skills for employment or further study
- Explore sources: Work with fascinating historical materials, from political records to unusual objects and archives
What is Early Modern History?
Explore the people, ideas, conflicts, and cultures that shaped the world between 1500 and 1830.
You’ll journey across Britain, continental Europe, and the Atlantic world, uncovering the forces behind modern society.
Can you imagine delving into the red velvet bag that was said to have contained Sir Walter Raleigh’s decapitated head? On this course, you’ll uncover unusual early modern sources while building valuable research skills.
You’ll be guided by historians with internationally-recognised experience. You’ll build advanced research skills and apply them to your dissertation.
This is an exciting chance to explore a topic that inspires you and contributes to historical debate.
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Careers
Career Pathways
With a MA Early Modern History degree, you could launch a career as a:
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History Teacher: Teach history or related humanities subjects in schools, colleges, or universities
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Civil Service Policy Officer: Apply research and analytical skills to public sector challenges
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Heritage Officer: Support curation, conservation, visitor engagement, and outreach programmes
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Communications Officer: Manage public messaging for cultural, heritage, or public sector organisations
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Legal Researcher: Use strong reasoning and attention to detail to support legal research and case preparation
Career Support
We pay close attention to employability, with opportunities to learn from partners at local archives and heritage institutions. We work closely with Career Central,(opens in a new window) offering a number of events, workshops and information sessions to help get your career off to the best start.
After the Course
You’ll graduate ready for a wide range of careers, thanks to the breadth of the skills you’ll have acquired. Some 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.
Study and Modules
Structure
Our MA will provide you with a thorough grounding in the ways to approach early modern history. You’ll cover religious, political, social, and cultural history. You’ll also focus on topics such as mentalities, social relations, gender, Atlantic history, and the forms and structures of daily life.
You’ll learn to identify and interpret primary sources and conceptualise historical problems. Through case studies drawn from research by our early modern historians, you’ll explore the challenges and opportunities of historical research. You’ll be supported at the outset to select a dissertation topic.
Alongside a comprehensive grounding in early modern historiography, you’ll master the tools for original historical research and learn how to apply those tools to a range of careers. Through workshops and seminars, you’ll gain familiarity with practical research methods and research dissemination. You’ll be assisted with the transition from undergraduate to postgraduate-level historical research. We’ll pay particular attention to employability, with opportunities to learn from partners at local archives and heritage institutions. Seminars on approaches to archival research will be facilitated by members of the School of History and Art History. Each year the content of this team-taught module adapts to new 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 ready to take on historical and professional work with confidence.
You’ll develop skills in archive work, conference presentations, and the latest historical research methods.
To complement these skills in historical and archival research, you’ll learn specialist skills in paleography, the study of old handwriting. Paleography is essential for all historians and archaeologists who need to read handwriting from the period they’re researching. This exercise in historical ‘code breaking’ is demanding but rewarding and fun.
Tutorials will allow you to specialise in the area of early modern history that interests you most by choosing one topic from a wide array of options. Finally, your Master’s dissertation will provide you with an opportunity to pursue your own original historical research. Your supervisor will provide guidance and support throughout the process of researching and writing.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
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, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
Your Early Modern History Master’s programme will combine seminars with smaller tutorials and guided independent study. At the heart of your MA experience will be your dissertation. You'll explore a topic of your choice and produce a piece of original research.
Assessment
Our modules include both formative and summative assessments, with feedback provided in a variety of ways. Each module will include a sequence of assessments, giving you the opportunity to learn from your formative feedback. Summative work is assessed through your dissertation and other forms of coursework. This will include the option to submit book and exhibition reviews or through work experience at the Norfolk Record Office and at selected heritage organisations.
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 5.5 in each component)
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(opens in a new window) 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, UEA International Study Centre offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2027/28 are:
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UK Students: £11,200
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International Students: £23,580
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 £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships(opens in a new window); please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
You may need to pay some additional costs for optional field trips, which are subsidised by the department.
Please see additional course fees(opens in a new window) for details of other 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(opens in a new window).
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(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.