Explore a tailored programme and experience the depth of studying history with international experts.
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
Join us online or in person to find out more about postgraduate study at York.
Upcoming eventsThis programme allows you to specialise in particular themes, but also lets you bring together modules that aren’t commonly studied together.
You will be taught by leading experts in their fields and will be exposed to innovative approaches and cutting-edge research.
The programme centres on skills of independent learning. For each module, you will, with the guidance of your tutors, establish your own research agenda and find ways to address the questions you wish to answer. You'll have access to abundant materials available to historians at York (including the rich holdings of the Borthwick Institute for Archives) to contextualise your findings and develop arguments.
York is the ideal place to be inspired to study the past, with a rich and turbulent history stretching back to the Romans. Today the city boasts beautiful historic architecture, as well as a variety of museums and galleries.
Our skills modules are unique to our courses, and will give you practical knowledge of professional research methods.
You will undertake a core Research Training module, and choose from a range of option modules to supplement your learning based on your own interests.
The Research Training module will allow you to create and manage a research project, locate relevant primary and secondary sources, handle those sources and prepare a research proposal. Teaching will consist of both plenary sessions and seminars, which may include visits to local museums and archives in York. Several sessions will also be led by outside speakers, to help deepen your understanding and hear from a range of experts in their fields.
The dissertation allows you to work at an advanced level as independent scholars. You will be supported through workshops in the spring semester and you will also be allocated an advisor, who will support you in the spring semester and into the summer vacation.
You will study one core module:
You will study four option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
You will submit a 14,000-16,000 word dissertation in the spring semester and into the summer vacation. With help from an advisor, you will choose a topic and carry out an advanced research project around that topic.
Students who complete this module successfully will:
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £11,200 | £25,900 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. |
£5,600 | £12,950 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
The course will be delivered through a range of seminars and workshops, supplemented with visits to local museums and archives around York. Several sessions will also be delivered by guest speakers, who are experts in their fields. This will allow you to broaden your horizons and enhance the knowledge that you have previously built upon.
During your studies you will receive tailored support, and as a Masters student at York, you will have access to the Writing Centre to help develop your academic writing skills.
We are home to the Borthwick Institute for Archives, a major archive repository in Britain. It holds the records of the Archbishopric of York from the early thirteenth century onwards, and specialises in the study of ecclesiastic institutions.
There are several other important archives housed at York, including the JB Morrell Library and the Raymond Burton Library for Humanities Research. These contain collections covering subjects such as the British Civil Wars, French Revolution and Modern Asian history. Find out more about our libraries.
You will be based in the Department of History in Vanbrugh College on Campus West. Most of your teaching will take place in or close to Vanbrugh College.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
You will be primarily assessed by essays and your dissertation. You will have the chance to submit assignments for formative assessment, enabling you to get and use feedback before the final summative assessment.
This course will support you if you are wanting to work in a history-related field. However, it will also equip you a variety of transferable skills for many workplaces. This course is also an excellent springboard for further study.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent in History or a relevant subject |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 459-494, with 426-458 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
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