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History at UEA
Find out more about studying History at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreMA 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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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 Modern History at UEA?
Explore the people, events, and ideas that shaped the modern world.
Why choose UEA
- Flexible options: Specialise in the topics that fascinate you most
- Career-ready skills: Develop valuable research, analysis, and communication skills
- Diverse themes: Explore themes across modern British, European, and global history
What is Modern History?
Our exciting Modern History Master’s programme explores the forces that shaped Britain, Europe, and the wider world.
You’ll learn from leading scholars as you delve into fascinating themes, periods, and perspectives across modern history. You’ll engage with fresh archival discoveries and lively historical debates, developing the skills to form your own interpretations.
Topics may range from the impact of state-building projects to women’s roles in twentieth-century history. Your dissertation gives you the chance to specialise in a topic that matters to you.
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Careers
Career Pathways
With a MA Modern History degree, you could develop 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 UEA’s Career Central(opens in a new window), offering 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 pursue academic careers. Others develop careers in business, public service, teaching and management, or the heritage and tourism sector.
Study and Modules
Structure
The core modules will introduce you to key approaches and the latest research in the field. Taught by a team of leading scholars, modules will cover a wide variety of themes and periods and give you the opportunity to dissect the latest archival discoveries and historical debates.
We also encourage you to acquire or improve your foreign language proficiency through our Language Centre, to help you read and interpret a greater range of primary sources and secondary literature.
You’ll also master the tools essential to developing a refined piece of original historical research, as well as appreciating the application of history-based skills to a wide range of careers. Through workshops and seminars, you’ll gain familiarity with practical research methods. 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 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.
Other 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.
You’ll be able to specialise in whichever area of modern history that interests you most, choosing a topic from a wide array of tutorial options.
Finally, your Master’s dissertation will provide you with a fantastic opportunity to pursue your own independent historical research.
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 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 various 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 with a 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.