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
This course is run by the Centre for Urban History (CUH), an internationally recognised research centre for the study of towns and cities in the past. You will be introduced to a variety of approaches to studying the urban past, giving you the conceptual tools to pursue your own interests, and you will have the opportunity to study in depth a number of different cities in Britain, Europe and around the world. Topics covered will include urban communities and cultures, architecture and townscape, urban environment and morphology. CUH is the hub for urban history in the UK and you will be able to attend a lively programme of seminars, workshops and conferences.
The course 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.
If you choose the Urban History specialist pathway of our History MA, your degree certificate will read 'MA History (Urban History)'. Alternatively you can opt for one of the other pathways or the standard History MA:
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 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
- MA: £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.
Additional costs
Additional costs for 2024/25 are yet to be confirmed but, as an indication, the following was the case for students who started in 2020/21:
There are optional field course costs associated with this course. If you choose to take part in the one day field trip to Birmingham, you will incur travels costs in the region of £40-50.
International Students
Starting in September 2025
- MA: £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.
If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Additional costs
Additional costs for 2024/25 are yet to be confirmed but, as an indication, the following was the case for students who started in 2020/21:
There are optional field course costs associated with this course. If you choose to take part in the one day field trip to Birmingham, you will incur travels costs in the region of £40-50.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
Our MA in Urban History 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 school, you will also have the opportunity to plan meetings and conferences, as well as possible opportunities for teaching and demonstrating to undergraduate students.
Our Careers and Employability 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
Plus your Dissertation
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 two option modules 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
- Mastering Medieval Sources
- 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 small group seminars. You will also take part in visits to local and national archives, trips to historical sites, specialist day workshops and a series of guest seminars from distinguished visiting urban historians. Online tutorials, datasets and web resources have been developed to assist you with your project work and dissertations.
Assessment is by essays, assignments and projects, and your 15,000-word dissertation.
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
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | Start Dates | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course History (Urban History) | Qualification MA | Duration 1 year full-time | Start Dates September each year | Availability Apply Now |
| Course History (Urban History) | Qualification MA | Duration 2 years part-time | Start Dates September each year | Availability Apply Now |
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.