Course information
UK fee £9,550
International fee £18,950
Taught by History
Admissions enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 5281
Submit a course enquiry
Course enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 2587
hypirpg@le.ac.uk
Course description
Course description
Our History MA will allow you to expand and deepen your historical knowledge and develop advanced research skills. We have a very strong tradition of pioneering fresh approaches in History from the local to the global. With over thirty research historians working in various fields, we offer expert supervision and a wealth of options.
You will develop a thorough grounding in research methods through our core module Historical Research, Historical Writing. You will also choose three modules from a diverse of range of options covering different eras (medieval, early modern, and modern); regions (British, European, American, and global); and fields (political, social, cultural, local, family, urban, postcolonial, religious, and medical history). Finally, you will write a dissertation under the personal supervision of one of our research historians.
You can either choose the standard History MA, or opt for one of the specialist pathways:
The MA degree will enhance your attractiveness to employers and equip you with the necessary training and experience to continue research at doctoral level. You will be encouraged to develop an independent approach to research and critical reflection.
The course can also be studied part-time over two years.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
2:1 degree in history or another relevant discipline.
We also welcome applicants who do not have a degree but who can show enthusiasm and competence by having attended relevant certificated courses, by submitting published work or by writing qualifying essays to a first degree standard.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries listFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in September 2025
- £9,550
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Did you know you can apply for a Government Postgraduate Loan? Find out if you’re eligible.
International Students
Starting in September 2025
- £18,950
You will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
Our MA course will offer you a very strong competitive advantage and career choices and your future salary can be considerably enhanced by postgraduate qualifications.
A postgraduate degree in history provides you with a wide range of skills including:
- critical analysis of textual, visual, and material evidence
- statistical analysis and database design
- advanced written and oral presentation skills
- time management and independent working on a large-scale research project
As a postgraduate student in the department, you will also have the opportunity to plan meetings and conferences and get involved with the intellectual community of historians at Leicester.
Our Career Development Service is here to support you, with advice on interviews, CVs, work experience, volunteering and more. From Freshers’ Week to Graduation and beyond, they are here to help you reach your professional goals.
Related courses
Course structure
Core modules
Core modules
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Option modules
Option modules
Choose one option module from:
- The Holocaust
- How Buildings Work: Architectural History and Structural Engineering
- Families and Communities in England and Wales, c. 1600-1900
- The City in History
- Global History: comparative and connected approaches
- Directed Reading Module
Then choose two option modules from:
- Heritage in the Workplace
- After The Holocaust
- Global Cities: the View from Asia
- American Freedoms
- Landscapes and Identities in Medieval and Early Modern England
- Directed Reading Module
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
History at Leicester is home to three highly regarded postgraduate research centres - the Centre for Regional and Local History, the Centre for Urban History and the Stanley Burton Centre for Holocaust and Genocide Studies - which deliver our specialist pathway MAs.
We are home to the HyPIR Lab, a dynamic initiative set up by postgraduates for postgraduates to provide an interactive forum to discuss history and share ideas. We have a wealth of dedicated postgraduate facilities, including audio suites, a map room, and specialist libraries covering local and urban history.
We have dedicated postgraduate facilities, including audio suites, a map room, and specialist libraries covering local and urban history.
Teaching and learning
You will be taught mainly through seminars which will typically involve five to ten students. Depending on the options taken, you may also take part in visits to local and national archives or trips to sites of historical relevance to the course. You will be encouraged to attend specialist workshops and research seminars run by the department.
Each module is assessed by coursework that takes a variety of forms and includes group work as well as individual assignments. You will complete a dissertation of 15,000 words, working closely with your research supervisor.
If you are enrolling as a part-time student, the requirements of the course are spread over two years. You will complete a dissertation in your second year.
All modules are taught to full- and part-time students together, ensuring that part-time students are integrated into the postgraduate community.
Key dates
September 2025 start
- Application deadline: 8 September 2025 (Please note if you require a visa to study you will be required to submit your course application by 25 July 2025)
- Deposit payment deadline: 8 August 2025
- CAS request deadline: 5 September 2025
- 70% tuition payment deadline: 5 September 2025
My course has enabled me to study a wide range of core topics whilst also specialising in my favoured area. I feel that I have a more in-depth and rounded knowledge – the skills that I have gained have put me in a good position for a diverse range of careers.