University of Oxford
Faculty of History





Modern British and European History

There are two taught programmes on offer: a Master of Studies (9 months) and a Master of Philosophy (21 months); both programmes commence in October.

The Modern British and European History programmes, supported by the History Faculty’s Modern European History Research Centre (MEHRC),  are open to all students whose research focuses on post-medieval Britain and Europe (some students’ research topics may also include non-European elements, for example such as European expansion, Empire building or emigration). It is anticipated that most applicants for the programme will have some (though perhaps limited) research experience. The programme aims to improve students’ practical and intellectual grasp of research processes, their ability to conceptualise and engage with historical problems, and to enlarge their understanding of the historical and historiographical context within which their own research is set. The programme will encourage students to develop practical and intellectual familiarity with advanced research in both British and continental European history. They will have access to a wide range of both generic and subject-specific training. Both programmes encourage students to develop their knowledge of a foreign language. 

Master of Studies (M.St.)

The M.St. programme offers a 9-month introduction to postgraduate research, in all aspects of history centered on (but not necessarily always confined to) Britain and Europe since about 1500. This programme is designed to meet the needs of students who wish to build upon their undergraduate studies through one year of further study only, and also for those who hope to proceed to doctoral work. The latter will be encouraged to develop their master’s and doctoral proposals in tandem during the first few months, so that they will be well placed to make doctoral applications. All students will be encouraged to attend some of the faculty’s many advanced research seminars. The admission of any candidate for further study at Oxford will depend on his/her overall performance in the master’s programme, together with the viability of any proposed research topic and the availability of appropriate supervision at Oxford.


Teaching and examination in this programme comprises three compulsory elements:
  • An introductory methodology course, comprising weekly classes on ‘Sources and Resources’ and on ‘Theory and Methods’ during Michaelmas Term, complemented by each student’s work with their supervisor on the individual research element of the programme.
  • An Optional Subject, taught in eight weekly classes during Hilary Term. It is expected that students will choose options broadly relating to the topic of their proposed research. Not every Optional Subject listed may be on offer every year (depending in part on levels of student demand).
  • A dissertation of not more than 15,000 words on a topic falling within the scope of this M.St., usually within the historical period of the student’s Optional Subject. Students are expected to commit the Easter vacation and the first five weeks of Trinity Term to their work on finalizing the dissertation, but it is essential that they begin to formulate and plan the research and writing up of their dissertation in conjunction with their supervisors from the beginning of the programme.
    For students in the Master of Studies programme, all coursework must be completed by the start of the Easter vacation, leaving two and a half months in which students can work wholly on their own research projects; among other things, this is intended to enable candidates to spend some weeks in overseas archives at this time. Students will also have the opportunity to present their work-in-progress at a conference specific to this programme at the start of Trinity Term.

Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.)

The M.Phil. in Modern British and European History is an innovative and intensive two-year programme that provides a thorough training in historical methods: it offers a range of specialist options that draw on the latest research, and includes a sustained period devoted to archival research and dissertation writing. Students on this degree programme have access to a comprehensive menu of skills training for postgraduates, as well as a systematic schedule of introductions to the unrivalled research facilities of the University of Oxford. M.Phil. students are also encouraged to take full advantage of the History Faculty’s extensive range of specialist scholarly seminars and colloquia in all fields of history.

The Oxford M.Phil. is unusual not only in offering the wider scope of a two-year degree, but also in embracing both the early modern (1500-1800) and modern (post-1800) history of continental Europe and the British Isles. It can serve either as free-standing Master’s programme or as comprehensive preparation for D.Phil. research in the fields of history within its scope. Students wishing to proceed to the DPhil will be encouraged to develop their doctoral proposals in consultation with their supervisor during the first few months of their second year, so that they will be well placed to make doctoral applications. The admission of any candidate for further study at Oxford will depend on his/her overall performance in the master’s programme, together with the viability of any proposed research topic and the availability of appropriate supervision within the Faculty.


The requirements of the M.Phil. course include the following:
  • An introductory methodology course, comprising weekly classes on ‘Sources and Resources’ and on ‘Theory and Methods’ during Michaelmas Term.
  • An Optional Subject, taught in eight weekly classes during Hilary Term. It is expected that students will choose options broadly relating to the topic of their proposed research. Not every Optional Subject listed may be on offer every year (depending in part on levels of student demand).
  • A Writing History course, taught in Trinity Term, complementing previous work done on historiography, sources and methods by exploring the challenges faced by historians regarding the framing, structuring and presentation of their work.
  • Dissertation proposal: in week 6 of Trinity Term of the first year, students must submit an extended dissertation proposal of between 2,000 and 2,500 words.
  • In Hilary Term of the second year, a methodological master class in which graduates are invited to relate their own dissertation research to wider historiographical, theoretical and methodological issues.
  • Dissertation: The Long Vacation between the two years and the Michaelmas Term of the second year is dedicated to archival research. This provides the basis of a 30,000-word dissertation which is written up for submission in week 6 of Trinity Term.

Language training 

Foreign language skills are encouraged and the Faculty sponsors their acquisition as far as feasible. As a two-year programme, the M.Phil. offers ample time for students to improve existing foreign language skills or to learn a new language in order to extend the scope of their research. The University's Language Centre provides courses in major languages at every level, including reading courses. The Faculty co-organizes with the Language Centre reading classes in certain European languages. In the case of continental European topics, students will need to satisfy their supervisor and the course convenor that they have, or are acquiring, adequate (reading) knowledge of the relevant language(s) to pursue their dissertation work. Those specializing in the history of the British Isles are strongly advised that their research would also profit from linguistic competence in other languages than English, and they are explicitly encouraged also to make use of the opportunities for language training. Students who are expected to benefit from the study of Latin will be invited to attend a Faculty-sponsored pre-sessional Latin class, which will then be supplemented by term-time teaching.



Programmes


Master's programmes with significant History content in other Faculties

Recognised Student Status

Useful contacts

Contact information
For all programme-specific admission queries please contact the History Graduate Admissions at graduate.admissions(at)history.ox.ac.uk.
Telephone: (01865) 615003 (or 15003 from an internal phone)
Fax: (01865) 615009 (or 15009 on the internal network)
Address: History Graduate Admissions, Old High School for Boys, George Street, Oxford, OX1 2RL
Where appropriate we will consult with academics, or ask them to contact you directly.