Course summary

This innovative course offers specialist investigation of the history of world affairs from the late nineteenth century until today. It focuses on the global implications of interactions between states, societies and other international actors, and on the impacts of transnational phenomena on international affairs over time. Leading scholars in the field of international history will guide your study of the origins and significance of some of the key challenges we face in our times, including conflict, security, diplomacy, migration, refugeedom, international co-operation, and transnational activism. The course also offers the chance to work with some of our experts in global history and tackle issues such as empire, decolonisation, and global public health challenges. By studying the most important changes in the global arena over the last one hundred years, you will develop a portfolio of skills to help you pursue your career goals and compete strongly in your chosen professional field. You'll take core modules that cover major themes in international history and the methods and approaches used by international historians. You'll also be able to choose from a wide range of optional modules spanning the history of nations, continents, periods, and themes. Your degree will be completed by a dissertation which will give you the opportunity to demonstrate your skills as a historian. This will be a 15,000 word project, completed under the supervision of one of our expert international historians, and based on your own research. Specialist facilities For over fifty years, the School of History at Leeds has built an outstanding reputation for teaching and researching international history. Across this time, the University of Leeds' world-leading international historians have established an impressive range of study resources in this field with extensive monograph, journal and digital resources. In addition, the Brotherton Library’s recently refurbished Special Collections Research Centre holds a wealth of relevant original archive material and documentation for you to use in your research. Some of its major collections in international history include the Papers of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office; the Leeds Russian Archive, a key resource for the study of Anglo-Russian relations in the 20th century; and the Liddle Collection, which contains the personal papers of thousands of people who lived through the world wars of the twentieth century. There are additional excellent resources for international historians in the Leeds region, including collections in the Leeds Library, the Royal Armouries, and the West Yorkshire Archive Service. The British Library also offers a reading room with access to its vast holdings just outside the City of Leeds.