***MSt in History Virtual Open Afternoon***
Our MSt in History Virtual Open Afternoon took place on Friday 11th December 2020. To learn more about the programme and the student experience, you can watch the event via the link below. The PowerPoint Presentation can be found towards the end of this webpage.
View our MSt Open Afternoon event held on 11th December 2020
The Master of Studies (MSt) in History provides students, having relevant or humanities-related experience at first-degree level, with the opportunity to carry out advanced research in history and to develop critical awareness and theoretical understanding of the associated skills and techniques that can be deployed. The MSt offers education and research training at master’s level. The taught elements of the syllabus, Part I, are offered during the first year in three intensive study blocks/modules, usually scheduled inside full term, each of which is examined by an assessed essay. Sessions are offered in research training, and essay and dissertation writing. In the second year, Part II, students undertake a dissertation under the supervision of a supervisor and there are three day schools with training in dissertation research and writing.
The MSt is taught over two years in short, intensive study blocks, and begins in October 2021 (Michaelmas Term). It has been designed to be accessible to those in full- or part-time employment and to international students.
Successful applicants will become members of a Cambridge College and will join the wider graduate community, with full access to the facilities of the University.
Aims of the programme
By the end of the course students should have:
- developed an understanding of, and ability to apply critically, the main academic theories and concepts underpinning the study of history;
- extended and developed their analytical, evaluative and critical capacities;
- developed the ability to form independent judgements based on their reading, research and writing;
- gained demonstrable specific subject knowledge and analysis relevant to their dissertation;
- developed research skills required for further postgraduate research.
Teaching and learning
The MSt in History is structured around three residential modules that students must attend. In the first year, each of the three residential blocks will be preceded by guided preparatory reading and other activities.
A Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) offers learning support to students while they are on the programme, including learning resources, to build a virtual community of practice. Students are expected to have sufficient IT skills to engage with the VLE and all assignments are uploaded to the VLE for assessment.
Year 1
The taught elements of the syllabus are offered during Year 1 in three intensive study blocks, each of which is examined by an assessed essay of 3,000 words maximum. Sessions are offered in research training, and essay and dissertation writing. Teaching methods combine informal lectures and class discussion, the study of primary sources, and student-led peer-to-peer learning.
Please note that the delivery of the course is currently being reorganised and the order of modules 1 & 3 has been swapped around, subject to University's approval. The new order is as follows –
Module 1: Approaches to History (11-14 October 2021)
Students will be introduced to a range of approaches to history, from social and economic, political, local history, political thought, American history, world history.
Module 2: Sources, Methods and Research Skills (22-25 February 2022)
This module provides research training in using, for example: computing applications for historians, quantitative and qualitative approaches; literature, visual sources, and material culture; oral history. Topics might include using library resources and archives, the census, microhistory, sources for early modern history, IT for historians practical, quantitative history, oral history, revolutions, anthropology and history.
Module 3: Theory, concepts and historiography (10-13 May 2022)
Theoretical, conceptual and historiographical approaches are developed through a number of thematic topics drawn from, for example: class and social status; race and gender; Whig history; post-modernism; and other topics as agreed by the Degree Committee of the Faculty of History. The induction day includes an introduction to the course and tours of the University and Seeley History libraries.
Please note that the content of all modules is indicative and may be subject to change.
Year 2
The second year is characterised by focus on the dissertation. Students will work independently on their chosen topic under the supervision of an expert in their chosen field with whom they will have regular contact. Students will be required to attend five supervisions between May 2022 and May 2023, at least three of which must be face-to-face and two of which can be online.
There will also be three day-schools at Madingley Hall, at which students provide short presentations on their research to date and at which there is some research training in dissertation research and writing:
- Day School 1 - Saturday October 15th 2022
- Day School 2 - Saturday January 28th 2023
- Day School 3 - Saturday 29th April 2023
Contact time
Lectures, seminars and classes: c.75 hours in Year 1 (including some reading/prep time), c.18 hours in Year 2.
- Supervision: 5 x 1-hour sessions in Year 2.
Assessment
Essays, projects and other written work
- Three essay assignments, each of 3,000 words maximum.
Some assignments and the dissertation require literature reviews.
Dissertation
A dissertation of 16,000-20,000 words (including appendices, but excluding bibliography and footnotes).
Feedback
Students are given formal feedback on their assignments and informal feedback throughout their course, including during supervisions. Supervisions also result in an annual progress report at the end of Year 1 and termly reports during Year 2.
Find out more
If you would like academic guidance on your research topic before making an application, please contact the Course Director Dr Samantha Williams at skw30@cam.ac.uk.
