MRes History

This course provides you with an excellent foundation for progressing to a PhD or simply developing your skills in a particular area of historical research. We will help you create a tailor-made research plan and personalised reading programme to suit your interests and needs. As well as the compulsory module in history skills and sources, you will design your own directed reading module with an appropriate tutor. This will help you develop the core research skills and the historiographical context necessary to write your 30,000 word dissertation. We offer you training in areas such as oral history, databases, palaeography, and archive use, and you will learn how to improve your critical understanding of the work of other scholars and present the findings of your research to others. We have experts who can work with you in a number of areas, including the history of Scotland, Europe, India, Africa, and North America, from medieval times to the present day. We have research clusters in global history, Scottish history, and public history.

If you are hoping to continue to a PhD, we offer extensive support in writing a PhD application. Our compulsory module, history skills and sources, includes sessions on how to write grant proposals. When you come to write your own PhD proposal, we will support you every step of the way. You can take part in our regular postgraduate forum, and we host visiting speakers. We also encourage every student to present their research at an annual Humanities Postgraduate Conference.

Careers:

This course gives you essential skills and expertise to study at PhD level or to work in the creative economy or the heritage industry. Although most graduates will continue to a PhD, others may continue into professions such as teaching or train for a career in museums or archives.