External summary

The University of Edinburgh is home to one of the largest groups of historians in the United Kingdom. Our research interests, and the MSc courses we offer, cover just about every major area of historical inquiry. Students on the taught MSc in History take full advantage of this breadth, studying medieval Scotland, revolutionary America, World War Two Britain, and much else besides.

Students take a variety of seminar-style courses in small groups while developing their own research projects in consultation with an internationally-respected team of historians. The programme provides advanced knowledge and understanding of selected topics in history, as well as enhancing students’ skills in independent research, critical analysis, and both oral and written presentation. It is designed as either a foundation for further postgraduate training at doctoral level, or a standalone course for those with an intellectual interest in history looking for a well-respected postgraduate qualification.

The programme provides training in the research skills necessary to succeed at the graduate level, as well as specialised options courses and expert supervision for a major independent research project. As core members of our scholarly community, students can also take advantage of an exciting range of lectures, seminars, and other special events that involve not only our own staff but also leading historians from the rest of the United Kingdom and the wider world.

Educational aims of programme

The Taught MSc /Postgraduate Diploma in History is notable in its breadth and diversity, drawing on the wide range of resources of the University of Edinburgh and its associated institutions in the field of history. Edinburgh has one of the largest groups of historians in the UK HE sector. The chronological, geographical, thematic and methodological range of the courses offered at level 11 can only be rivalled by a small number of institutions. The programme provides a wide-ranging academic experience, particularly for those who wish to complement a series of taught modules (including training courses) with a research project. For those who do not wish to specialise, completion of this programme would provide the opportunity to continue to study across a very wide range of modules in a flexible structure. It provides candidates with:

• the opportunity to extend their knowledge of history through a range of core and option modules.

• the opportunity to focus in depth on the fields of history in partnership with experienced academic supervisors.

• the experience of researching a historical theme, using both primary and secondary sources.

• the opportunity to assess, through their studies and in consultation with their supervisors, whether they wish to pursue doctoral research.

In addition, the taught MSc in history provides the basis for further postgraduate study through the following features:

• it provides students with the intellectual environment, background, training and support  which are essential for the conduct of critical historical enquiry.

• it provides students with a specific body of advanced knowledge in history.

• it trains students in advanced historical methodology and in the evaluation of sometimes complex evidence through the close study of relevant primary and  secondary sources.

• it familiarises students with historiographical debates.

• it trains students in the discipline of rigorous historical argument.

• it trains students to conceive and execute a coherent project in historical research and writing.

The programme further instils in students a range of generic transferable skills, such as precise oral and written communication, independent study, problem-solving and time management.

Programme outcomes: Knowledge and understanding

Teaching is organised around seminar-based modules, with a mixture of student-led and tutor-led classes, complemented with set writing tasks, including a research dissertation.  These will allow students to gain the following :

• a specialised knowledge and understanding of history.

• a detailed knowledge and understanding of the central theoretical, methodological and historiographical issues that have shaped the field.

• an understanding of the interaction between historical sources and explanation.

• an appreciation of the context in which to understand the student's individual area of interest/research within the broad field of history.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in research and enquiry

The programme is designed to develop an ability to:

• process and critically assess information derived from historical research, utilising historiographical, theoretical and methodological knowledge and skills specific to the subject area of the student's research.

• provide clear written and oral analyses based on historical information.

• utilize central theoretical and cultural concepts.

• identify historical continuities and contrasts.

• construct and pursue a coherent historical argument based on the hypotheses which have been formulated and tested by reference to primary and secondary source material.

• Understanding the role of causality in historical evolution.

• formulate and test hypotheses.

• locate an argument - whether verbal or written - within a broader intellectual context and to evaluate its implications from that more general perspective.

• undertake textual analysis incorporating social and cultural evidence.

• formulate and implement a plan of research.

• conceive and pursue to its conclusion a coherent argument founded on evidence provided by the sources at the student's disposal.

• undertake a sustained independent research project, and to complete it within a strict time limit.

• write clear, accurate, precise and concise prose.

• Understand and undertake study and research conforming to the highest ethical standards.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal and intellectual autonomy

The programme is designed to develop an ability to: 

• analyse, assimilate and deploy critically a range of secondary literature relevant and essential to the student's individual research subject.

• identify and deploy critically relevant primary historical sources.

• locate a specific thesis within its broader historiography.

• formulate hypotheses relating to the student's research subject and to test them by marshalling a range of primary and secondary evidence.

• reflect critically on the processes and methods which the student utilises in both their research and their writing.

• Reflect critically on and deploy the highest ethical standards when undertaking research and communication of that research.

• Reflect critically on the role of the individual in achieving their own personal and intellectual ambitions and goals.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in communication

The programme is designed to develop the ability to:

• Assimilate, process and communicate a wide range of information from a variety of sources.

• formulate and test hypotheses in written and verbal forms.

• locate an argument - whether verbal or written - within a broader intellectual context and to evaluate its implications from that more general perspective.

• undertake written and verbal textual analysis incorporating historical evidence.

• formulate and implement a plan of verbal communication through tutorial participation.

• undertake a sustained independent research project, and to complete it within a strict time limit to the highest textual standards.

• write clear, accurate, precise and concise prose in different formats.

• Understand different audiences for historical research.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal effectiveness

The programme will expose students to an awareness of and opportunities to develop technical and practical skills in the following areas.

• Digital technology in the practice of historical research and writing.

• Online digital technology in the representation of historical sources, with the ethical and intellectual challenges that such technology represents.

• Practical skills in navigating and using book and journal based library resources.

• Practical skills in accessing and handling original and archive historical sources, including material and visual sources.

• Practical skills in making effective contributions to group based learning.

Programme outcomes: Technical/practical skills

The programme will expose students to an awareness of and opportunities to develop technical and practical skills in the following areas.

• Digital technology in the practice of historical research and writing.

• Online digital technology in the representation of historical sources, with the ethical and intellectual challenges that such technology represents.

• Practical skills in navigating and using book and journal based library resources.

• Practical skills in accessing and handling original and archive historical sources, including material and visual sources.

• Practical skills in making effective contributions to group based learning.

Programme structure and features

Structure and SCQF credit values

The MSc in History is available on a full-time basis taken over the course of one academic year, or a part-time over the course of two. 

Structure and Credit Values

Along with all other students taking taught degrees in the History subject area, you will take two core training courses: Historical Research in semester 1 and Historical Methodology in semester 2. These courses provide a general introduction to graduate study in history and give you the opportunity to develop your research skills.

You will also choose four specialised options courses from among the many that are on offer. These courses are small, seminar-style courses taught by staff members who are national and international experts in their fields. You will read and discuss the latest scholarship and in most cases will be assessed by means of an essay.

The capstone of the programme is a 12,000 word dissertation (60 credits) which students complete during the summer months. This is an independent, primary source-based research project supervised by one or more members of the academic staff. Students have considerable freedom to define their own dissertation project, so long as it is a feasible project which one or more staff members have the expertise to supervise.

Courses that may be available

Students have considerable freedom to define their own dissertation project, as long as it is a feasible project which one or more staff members have the expertise to supervise.

Progression requirements

Following the coursework stage (based on semester one and two courses), the Board of Examiners meets in May and is responsible for deciding whether students have satisfied the requirements of the Diploma stage of the programme and whether candidates can progress to the dissertation stage of candidature for the Masters programme.

In order to progress to the masters dissertation candidates

• attain at least 80 credits with a pass at masters level or more in each of the separate elements and

• be awarded an aggregate pass at masters level for the 120 credits of study in semesters one and two

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Practices

The programme's outcomes, detailed below, are assessed by means of six assignments, each of 3,000 words. The assignments arise from the mixture of core and option courses taken by each student.  Additionally, outcomes are measured by a 12-15,000 word dissertation.

Modes of Study

The programme may be taken full time over twelve months or part-time over twenty four months.

Exit Awards

Requirements for the Award of the Diploma

In order to be awarded the diploma candidates must:

• attain at least 80 credits with a pass at diploma level or more in each of the separate elements and

• be awarded an aggregate pass at diploma level for the 120 credits of study examined for the diploma

Requirements for the Award of the MSc

In order to be awarded a masters degree candidates must:

• have satisfied the requirements for progression, as laid out above, and

• attain 60 credits, by achieving a pass at masters level for the dissertation

Requirements of the Award of the MSc with Distinction

The Masters degree may be awarded with distinction. To achieve a distinction, a student must have been awarded at least 70% on the University’s Postgraduate Common Marking Scheme for the dissertation and must also have been awarded a mark of at least 69% for the coursework element. 

Teaching and learning methods and strategies

Teaching and Learning strategies employed at the University of Edinburgh consist of a variety of different methods appropriate to the programme aims. The graduate attributes listed above are met through a teaching and learning framework (detailed below) which is appropriate to the level and content of the course.

Teaching and Learning Activities

Specific activities will vary with course options taken, but will include lectures, seminars and workshops.

Assessment methods and strategies

Assessment

Courses can be assessed by a diverse range of methods and often takes the form of formative work which provides the student with on-going feedback as well as summative assessment which is submitted for credit. 

Various assessment methods are used dependent on course options taken, but may include:

• Essays

• Dissertation

• Online discussion forums

• Power point presentation

• Poster presentation

Career opportunities

Many students are attracted to the MSc in History as an advanced qualification that may be valued by a range of employers; a more specialised supplement to their undergraduate degrees that could set them apart in a crowded job market. Others are interested in pursuing long-term academic careers and see the MSc as preparation for a PhD, while some are considering an academic career as a possibility, and use the MSc to establish whether it is the right career choice.

Career options

While some of our students go on to study for their PhDs, either at Edinburgh or at other universities, the majority go on to pursue careers in different fields. The MSc could lead into careers in the cultural sector, but a graduate degree from Edinburgh will be respected by employers in many fields. The combination of skills training courses, specialised seminars, and independent research provides students with transferable skills that will be beneficial whatever they end up doing.

Other items

The Programme Director is responsible for monitoring and reporting on students’ overall academic progress, as well as offering pastoral support. Graduate Officers in the relevant subject area will offer additional academic and pastoral advice and support to each student.  The Graduate School Director will ensure that a supervisor is appointed to guide students through the process of completing the dissertation.

Access is provided to a networked wireless graduate study room with 38 desktop PCs, as well as two further graduate study rooms containing book collections, wireless networking and study space. These are maintained by Information Services via an e-Learning and Web Development Officer. Information Services also offer students access to training courses in a range of computing applications. 

MSc students are also encouraged to engage with and attend the various research seminar programmes organised by the School so as to familiarise themselves with current research issues and to develop their discursive skills.