History (Medieval and Early Modern History)
Entry requirements
You'll need an Honours degree, normally in any humanities or social science discipline such as History, Politics, Cultural Studies, or Literature, and normally of an upper second-class standard. Relevant equivalent study or professional experience can also be considered for entry.
Months of entry
September
Course content
Step back in time and deepen your understanding of the past by discovering the complexity and diversity of Medieval and Early Modern History.
Immerse yourself in the rich and varied medieval and early modern histories and explore how discoveries and ways of living from these periods still impact the world today. Study across the medieval period (c.300 to c.1500) and early modern period (c.1500 to c.1800), with opportunities to focus on the areas you find most fascinating.
You don’t need to have studied Medieval or Early Modern History before. We welcome students looking to explore an interest in these historical periods.
You can choose from a range of special modules like Gunpowder, Treason and Plot, or select modules from other subject areas such as English literature or art history, or even study Latin texts.
Benefit from the expertise of Birmingham’s research centres dedicated to medieval or early modern history. Our research centres include: the Centre for the Study of the Middle Ages (CeSMA), the Centre for Reformation and Early Modern Studies (CREMS), and the Birmingham Eighteenth-Century Centre.
- Study in a Department ranked eighth in the country in the Research Excellence Framework exercise 2021, according to Times Higher Education.
- Join an active postgraduate community – you can take part in the student led EMREM Forum (Early Medieval - Medieval - Renaissance - Reformation - Early Modern) and organise writing workshops and conferences.
- You’ll study globally, exploring countries in western Europe and Scandinavia, the Mediterranean and South Asia. Uncover a range of perspectives including religious culture, socio-economic history and comparative history.
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Course delivery
At Birmingham, research and teaching go hand-in-hand. Lecturers and professors continue to research in their field, offering valuable expertise in History and Heritage.
- Taught modules - each module represents a total of 200 hours of study time, including preparatory reading, homework and assignment preparation.
- Seminars – modules are mainly taught by small group teaching.
- Dissertation – you'll undertake a 12000 word dissertation in an area that interests you.
Information for international students
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.
For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:
- TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
- Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
- Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
- LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill
Fees and funding
The College of Arts and Law is a vibrant community of students and academics, dedicated to ensuring that excellence is rewarded, and that fears about finance do not constrain current or prospective students. For this reason, in addition to University funding schemes, we offer our own College-specific funding initiatives.
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- MA
- full time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- part time24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
Course contact details
- Name
- Postgraduate enquiry service