Course summary
From the walls of Troy to the streets of Sangin, warfare has been at the centre of human life and death. Those who know nothing of war can understand neither the past nor the present, for, as Trotsky famously said, ‘war is the locomotive of history’. Modern military history does more than re-fight old battles, however. It can, for example, teach us much about the cultures and societies that find themselves at war, and indeed about the souls of the men and women who do the fighting. Our two-year MA in Military History by distance learning programme offers you the opportunity to explore military history, drawing in particular on Birmingham's expertise in the history of the two World Wars and air power. Subjects to be studied include command and leadership; tactics, operations and the use of technology; ethics and war; and the individual's experience of war. This course will stimulate and challenge you to think about the history of warfare in all its aspects, building a skill set over two years of part-time study which will equip you for further research in the field and/or broaden and deepen your understanding of the cruel, complex but endlessly fascinating phenomenon that is war. Birmingham’s Department of History is ranked the eighth in the country in the Research Excellence Framework exercise 2021 based on Grade Point Average (Times Higher Education) This research expertise is evident within our teaching within our programmes drawing on the diverse regional and chronological expertise available in the Department of History.
Modules
Students take 6 modules: research skills: methodology and sources; tactics and operational art; command and leadership in war; ethics of war; experience of war; dissertation preparation.
Assessment method
Core modules are each assessed by an essay of up to 4000 words; students also complete a 12 000 word dissertation.
Entry requirements
A good Honours degree in history or an equivalent discipline; other professional experience or qualifications comparable to degree standard would also be considered.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
EU | £5263 | Year 1 |
International | £5263 | Year 1 |
England | £5263 | Year 1 |
Northern Ireland | £5263 | Year 1 |
Scotland | £5263 | Year 1 |
Wales | £5263 | Year 1 |
Channel Islands | £5263 | 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
Provider information
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT