History of the Family

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a primary degree with a second-class honours, in a relevant discipline such as history, archaeology, geography, or Irish Studies.

Applicants with approved equivalent qualifications who have substantial experience in the History of Family (such as appropriate publications), or relevant professional experience may also be considered for admission.

Months of entry

September

Course content

The central purpose of the MA in History of Family is to combine the strengths of two traditions: that of the independent researcher into family history and that of established disciplines in history particularly the well-developed sub-discipline of history of family. The objective is a history that is fully contextualised, culturally significant and academically grounded.

Students who sign up for this course seek to obtain formal training in the methodologies and concepts of history of family. They enjoy the course because it allows them to develop key academic skills while being supported in their quest for intellectual and moral autonomy. A key attraction of the course is the wide range of themes that are covered in each of the modules, and the feeling of community that undertaking research as part of a class engenders

Over the course of the year students will master the art of academic writing and develop advanced research skills through in-class training and via field trips to libraries and archives conducted in both semesters. By the end of the course successful students will have acquired the necessary skills to present historical research to a publication standard, and to conduct historical research at a doctoral level

Students come from a range of backgrounds; some come directly from studying towards an undergraduate degree in History or associated disciplines, others come to it after a break from formal study; often they have an interest in genealogy or family history research but want to build on this in an academic context. This diverse range of students makes for an engaging classroom where everyone’s experience is valued, and everyone has something to contribute

Fees and funding

Assessment