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Contemporary History at University of Sussex - UCAS

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2023 - 20242024 - 2025
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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

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Course summary

Our innovative and diverse MA focuses on key themes in the history of Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East from the late 19th century onwards. Some of the themes that you may explore include:

  • the emergence of modern human rights
  • the impact of the ‘cultural turn’ and identity politics on the discipline of history
  • the role of community archives, digital resources and family histories in the creation of ‘people’s history’ and ‘public history’
  • historical explanations for the extraordinary violence that afflicted the world in the first half of the 20th century.
You’re introduced to historical methodology and practice – especially the ‘cultural turn’ and ‘global turn’ in historiography – and how they might be used in devising and researching your individual research project. You can also take part in our world-leading work on contemporary Britain. Our approach places everyday experiences within their social, cultural, economic and political contexts. We draw on the unparalleled resources of the renowned Mass Observation Archive. We are also home to innovative research centres, including the Centre for German-Jewish Studies, the Centre for Intellectual History and the Centre for World Environmental History. You’ll immerse yourself in the field’s literature and integrate the historical perspective with that of other social sciences. As a graduate, you’ll be prepared to undertake doctoral research and have the ability to critically understand the modern world – valuable skills for a variety of careers and employment opportunities. Core modules Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most. Historical Skills and Methods The People’s Heritage Human Rights in History Dissertation Options Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. Careers Studying for a Contemporary History MA at Sussex will develop your skills in attention to detail, research, written communication and teamwork. Many of our graduates have gone on to careers in areas such as: teaching, research and publishing law and the Civil Service, museums, libraries and archives. Others have gone on to further study. Entry requirements You should normally have an upper second-class (2.1) undergraduate honours degree or above.

Modules

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2023/24. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to COVID-19, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let our applicants know of material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity. Core modules Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

  • Historical Skills and Methods
  • The People’s Heritage
  • Human Rights in History
  • Dissertation
Options Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research. While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
  • Race, Photography, Archives
- The China Dream: Intellectual Discourses of Modernity from the late Qing Dynasty to the Present

Entry requirements

Degree requirements: You should normally have an upper second-class (2.1) undergraduate honours degree or above. Subject-specific requirements: Your qualification should be in history or another humanities or social sciences subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing. For more information about our entry requirements and English language requirements, please visit our website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Additional fee information

More information on our tuition fees, funding options and scholarships for UK and international students is available on our website. Find out more here: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/fees-funding

Sponsorship information

More information on our tuition fees, funding options and scholarships for both UK and international students is available on our website. Please click on the course URL to see up-to-date information.

Contemporary History at University of Sussex - UCAS