Department of History | Masters by Research (MA) History

Masters by Research (MA) History at Durham University

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The Department of History is committed to research that has social, economic and cultural benefits and that engages with a broad range of audiences. Staff collaborate with national and regional partners, including libraries, museums and schools, to increase public understanding and improve education. Our research informs governmental and heritage bodies and authorities, nationally and internationally, in policymaking and promoting well-being.

Durham University's Department of History attracts some of the strongest postgraduate students in the world and we will support you to develop yourself and your career.

With a research degree, you will develop a topic in an original way and so make your mark on the discipline. The degree is examined by an extended piece of written work and taught through close supervision from two supervisors.

The MA by Research is a one year full-time (two years part-time) programme, examined through a thesis of up to 50,000 words. If you demonstrate aptitude, this degree can lead to further postgraduate research.

At Durham University's Department of History we seek:

• to encourage all colleagues to pursue research that is innovative and that addresses significant and ambitious historical problems and question;
• to foster a vibrant, diverse, and intellectually stimulating research community that includes not only academic staff, but doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, as well as visiting scholars;
• to promote engagement and impact activities beyond the academic world;
• to enhance the department’s international reputation for research.

Our research engages with a wide range of non-academic audiences and users across the world. Colleagues in the Department play advisory roles for a number of governments in both Foreign and Domestic Policy, including the US State Department, the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, the UK Parliamentary Petitions Service, the Swiss Foreign Office, and a wide range of NGOs and Charities. We work in the creative arts sector, with leading global sound and light companies, with schools in the region, in the UK, and internationally, from Germany to India, and with Youth movements in South Africa. Our research into Medieval Food is to be found in a Newcastle Restaurant, on Heat & Cities in East Asia, and on debates on Confederate Statues in the USA.

Postgraduate students from the Department of History at Durham University have progressed to a wide variety of academic, academic-related, heritage and professional careers. They have entered sectors from professional services (law, civil service, accountancy), to teaching and business.

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We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world.

A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting - Durham is a university like no other!