Introduction
Aberystwyth University’s Masters in Modern British History takes in a huge swath of Britain’s most fascinating periods of history - the tumultuous changes that occurred from the 1830s to the close of the twentieth century. The Masters in Modern British History offers you the opportunity to explore the conflicts, changes and developments which shaped the United Kingdom.
You will study a superb choice of fascinating modules which will reveal to you the forging of political indentities, the relationship between active citizenship and state power, the role of classes and elites and of health, wealth and poverty. You will examine periods of great social change including the development of British politics over the course of the Second World War, and the challenge to British national identities in the post-Imperial age.
In addition to the subject-specific knowledge, this study programme is constructed in such a way to develop a strong compliment of research, analytic and discursive skills that you can draw upon in many postgraduate employment situations. The minimum entry requirement for the Masters in Modern British History is at least a BA Honours degree (2:1) or equivalent.
Overview
The Masters in Modern British History begins with a foundational study of the methodological and interpretative techniques available to the historian for unpicking common problems in historical enquiry. You will gain a wealth of experience in interrogating a wide range of historical sources and, in doing so, be required to develop original, creative and systematic approaches to problem solving. By evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of potential solutions, you will play a part in advancing the boundaries of knowledge through research and the production of academically appropriate pieces of written work.
Armed with these skills and methodologies, you will tackle a selection of specialist study modules on a range of subjects including continuity and change in British political history, political power and the role of the media, science and the Victorians, and health and welfare in modern Wales. These modules, and more, will allow you to specialise your study both chronologically and geographically, giving you freedom to direct your future engagement with the subject, be it through further study, lecturing or researching, or in related forms of work such as teaching.
The course is a full-time programme, taught over one year, and is divided into two parts over three semesters. In part one, you will study a selection of core and optional modules worth 120 credits. In part two, you will demonstrate your learning in a written dissertation of less than 20,000 words, worth an additional 60 credits.
In addition to the subject-specific knowledge, this study programme is constructed in such a way to develop a strong compliment of research, analytic and discursive skills that you can draw upon in many postgraduate employment situations. Upon completion of this degree, you will have mastered the diverse skills needed for evidence-handling, such as locating, gathering, selecting, organising and synthesising large bodies of evidence into a coherent and compelling interpretation. Your confidence in writing, reporting and discussion will be backed up by tried and tested skills in critical evaluation and argument formation.
Upon graduation from the Masters in Modern British History, you will have demonstrated personal motivation, academic professionalism and historical mastery of this fascinating period in British history. The breadth of newly-sharpened skills you will have obtained on this course will ensure you are well-prepared for immediate advancement in further study or employment as a professional, widely competent and dynamic historian.
Fact File
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Duration: |
One year full-time. The academic year is divided into three semesters, but this course is administered in two parts: Part One runs from October to May; Part Two runs from June to September.
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Contact Time: |
Approximately 6 hours a week in the first two semesters. During semester three you will arrange your level of contact time with your assigned supervisor.
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Assessment: |
Part 1 of the course is delivered and assessed through seminars, tutorials and essay assessments. In Part 2, the successful acceptance of your dissertation (up to 20,000 words) leads to the award of an MA.
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Entry Requirements: |
BA honours degree (2:1) in a related subject at undergraduate level and accompanying references. We will consider applicants with other experience which gives an equivalent basis for entry
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English Language Requirements: |
If you have a Bachelor’s degree from a UK University, you do not need to take an English proficiency test. Non-native English speakers who do not meet this requirement must take a University-recognised test of academic English language proficiency: IELTS or TOEFL. The required IELTS minimum proficiency level is 6.5. For TOEFL, the minimum scores are as follows: 580 for the paper-based test; 237 for the computer-based test (with an essay rating of 5.0); and a score of 93 for the internet-based test. More information on IELTS can be found here [Link: www.ielts.org] and, for TOEFL, here [Link: www.ets.org/toefl/]
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Course Fees: |
For details of fees, please view this page. [Link: http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/postgrad/funding-fees/eu-taught/tuitonfees/ There are a number of Aberystwyth Scholarships and International Excellence Scholarships (AIES) to help fund the studies of students who meet specific criteria. In addition, accommodation is guaranteed to all international students.
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At a Glance
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Part One
Core Modules
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Part One
Option Modules
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Part Two |
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Political Culture in Modern Britain and Europe |
Continuity and Change: British Political History 1832-1997 |
Dissertation 2
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Skills and Sources of the Historian: Introduction
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Science, Place and Victorian Culture |
Click on any module code to find out: what the module covers; how it’s taught and delivered; how it’s assessed. Please note that modules are subject to change and not all modules are available every year. |
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Dissertation 1
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Politics and War: The Political Culture of Britain 1939-1945
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Political Power and the Media in Britain
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British since 1945: Devolution and Identity in the Post Imperial Age
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Class and Community in Wales 1850-1939
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Health, Medicine and Society in Wales, 1830-1951
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Political Institutions and Welsh Society 1880-1980
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Skills and Sources of the Historian - Sources for Modern History
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Ways of Reading
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French Language (Beginners)
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French Language (Advanced)
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German Language (Beginners)
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German Language (Advanced)
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Welsh Language 1
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Information and Society
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Career Development
Qualification: Masters in Modern Britain
This degree will suit you:
- If you wish to study Modern Britain at an advanced academic level;
- If you desire a strengthen your critical and scholarly abilities through engagement with historical sources;
- If you wish explore your enthusiasm for this exciting and highly satisfying subject;
- If you aim to foster transferable skills and engage in professional and personal development for entering employment.
Employability
Every element of the Aberystwyth Master’s in Modern Britain enhances your employability. Alongside the development of your subject-specific knowledge and experience, an especially noteworthy strength of this course is the emphasis on personal development. As an emerging Master historian, your strengthened research and critical faculties will make you a strong candidate for any post where ideas and topics need research, analysis, discussion, expansion and classification.
Throughout the course you will demonstrate initiative and self-motivated learning, supported by the crucial self-awareness to be flexible and independently-minded. Allied with strengthened skills in communication, you will be fully confident in framing coherent and insightful questions and expressing them in oral and written form.
Employers in every industry value such skills and the pattern of creativity, research, analysis and discussion you will undertake in this course creates highly marketable skills which will, upon graduation, stand you in excellent stead for entry into the jobs market. The organisational skills you will learn on this course will help you direct and therefore make the most of your individual flair, bringing a balance of skills that prospective employers will find attractive.
Advanced Skills in Writing and Reporting
As the assessment for this Master’s course is done through essay-writing, tutorial and seminar presentation, culminating in the 20,000 word dissertation, you will receive much practise in writing and reporting, as well as rigorous feedback on your submissions. This will develop in you a thorough knowledge of the structure, conventions and development of written communications, which will, in turn, make your writing clear, accurate and authoritative. These skills will stand you in good stead for your future progression into employed and academic environments.
A host of employers look for accuracy, thoroughness, an eye for detail and the ability to find and prove connections across broad subject matter, and you certainly will have proven yourself, simply by graduating from this prestigious MA course.
Contacts and How to Apply
TAB 5 Contacts, Links and How to Apply:
Tel:01970 622662
Fax:01970 622676
Email:history-enquiries@aber.ac.uk
Department of History & Welsh History
Aberystwyth University
Hugh Owen Building
Penglais
Aberystwyth
SY23 3DY
Department of History and Welsh History website
Other important information: University Accommodation
About Aberystwyth (external site)