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European History at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

This MA European History offers you the chance to study key ideas, debates and practices that have shaped our understanding of Europe and the most important historical and methodological approaches to critically interpreting European pasts and presents. Why choose this course?

  • You will learn from world-renowned experts in European history, including British, German, French, Italian, Balkan, Russian and Eastern European history, as well as international, transnational, global and comparative historical perspectives.
  • We are unique in our wide-ranging approach to studying Europe through the critical perspectives of empire, nationalism and nation-making, migration, gender and social inequality.
  • You will be joining a community of specialist historians whose research spans diverse historical periods, from the Early Modern to the present day, and puts Europe in dialogue with the world.
What you will learn Rather than presuppose one all-encompassing definition of 'Europe', on this course we highlight the different contexts within which the European past and present can be analysed, and embrace a broad approach to the study of European history. You will explore intellectual traditions, methodological questions, interdisciplinary approaches, and other themes and topics to a broadly defined European chronology and geography. How you will learn As well as choosing from option modules covering many aspects of European history and politics, you will also receive training in research methods and undertake your own argument-oriented dissertation. This makes the course an excellent entry point for more advanced study at either MPhil/PhD level or professionally, and it is also a valuable tool in advancing your knowledge and expertise if you work in educational professions. You will be taught primarily through seminars, with some supervision support for your dissertation. Classes take place in the evening. This course is part of our new Birkbeck Flexible Master’s UK, which gives you the choice of how you want to study - on campus, online or via flexible learning, which combines both. Highlights
  • You will study with historians actively engaged in their research topics and currently developing innovative research approaches: from microhistories of places and people to oral history and the study of memory; from histories of international organisations to ethnographic understandings of the archive; from intellectual history and the transmission of ideas to the critique of global empire.
  • Birkbeck was ranked in the top eight universities in the UK for its History research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
  • Situated in historic Bloomsbury, we are at the heart of academic London with access to unparalleled research resources such as: the Institute of Historical Research and the Institute of Classical Studies; the British Museum and other world-class galleries and museums; and the British Library, the largest national library in the world.
  • The School of Historical Studies at Birkbeck is home to thriving student societies and a number of affiliated research centres that actively run seminars, conferences and other events you can attend where some of the world's best scholars present their latest research.
Careers and employability On successfully graduating from this MA, you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including:
  • critical analysis and interpretation
  • research skills
  • argument-based writing
  • networking
  • presentation skills.
Graduates can pursue career paths in research in major international organisations, education, consulting in European business, the Civil Service, journalism, archiving and libraries. Possible professions include:
  • teacher
  • consultant
  • Civil Service fast-streamer
  • researcher
  • journalist
  • archivist
  • museum education officer
  • museum curator
  • editorial assistant
  • politician’s assistant.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

Modules are assessed by coursework and/or an essay; you also write a dissertation of 15,000-16,000 words. Every module has an attendance requirement, so you will need to attend at least 60% of classes in order to pass.

How to apply

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this course is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

Entry requirements

A second-class honours degree (2:2 or above). We offer a one-year Graduate Certificate in History, which can be used as a conversion course if you want to study history at postgraduate level, but have a degree in a significantly different discipline. Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this course is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 7.0, with not less than 6.5 in each of the sub-tests and at least 7.0 in writing.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £11070 Year 1
Northern Ireland £11070 Year 1
Scotland £11070 Year 1
Wales £11070 Year 1
International £20340 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
European History at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS