International History MA

Course overview

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 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 100 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.

Specialist facilities

For over 50 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 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
• the Liddle Collection, which contains the personal papers of thousands of people who lived through the world wars of the twentieth century.

Take a look around our three main libraries:

• Brotherton Library
• Laidlaw Library
• Edward Boyle Library

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 Leeds.

Course details

The course has two core modules (worth 30 credits each) and you will choose a further two optional modules (worth 30 credits each).

The core modules will help you to develop the skills you need to succeed in postgraduate study, as well as deepening and broadening your understanding of the field of international history. The optional modules will allow you to focus on the areas of international history that interest you most. The dissertation will allow to put your skills into practice in an extended piece of historical writing.

The course can be taken on a full-time (12 months) or a part-time (24 months) basis. Full-time students will take two 30-credit core modules in semester 1 and two optional modules in semester 2. The dissertation will be submitted after 12 months of study. Part-time students take one 30-credit core module and one 30-credit option module in each year of study, with the dissertation submitted after 24 months.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

Year 1 compulsory modules

Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Learning and teaching

This course will connect you with the latest research and thinking in international history. Our staff are dedicated teachers as well as experts in this field, and their teaching is informed by their own cutting-edge research. Most of your optional modules will be taught through weekly two-hour seminars, where you’ll discuss major concepts, debates, and sources with a small group of students and your tutor.

Independent study also forms an important part of this degree, giving you the space to develop into a researcher in your own right. You will be supervised by one member of staff for your dissertation and can arrange to see members of staff in their office hours to discuss any issues. The school has a rich culture of research seminars, which bring together our staff and students, as well as historians from other universities and organisations giving papers which you can attend.

Listen to the School of History podcast – a series of interviews with our academic staff about their latest ground-breaking publications, their research interests and how they bring them into the classroom, and what inspired them to become historians in the first place.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Students will be assessed through a variety of methods, which may include essays, dissertations, book and literature reviews, or podcasts. Fairness and inclusivity will be ensured through opportunities for formative assessment, and in the provision of training where skills and support are required. You might also be offered a choice of assessment, for example between an essay and a podcast or between a presentation and a literature review.

The assignment tasks you will complete have been designed to help you develop critical skills that are valued by employers. In the course, you will need to be able to research independently in order to evaluate claims and arguments to come to a reasoned conclusion. You will also need to produce convincing evidence to support your conclusions. Tasks like presenting to an audience or working with others to produce a joint presentation will similarly help you to boost your employability skills.

Your lecturers will use a marking scheme to ensure fairness in assessing your work, which will also be considered by a second colleague and by an external examiner.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (Hons) in History or a related subject.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in all components. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Arts and Humanities (6 weeks) and Language for Social Science and Arts: Arts and Humanities (10 weeks).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Documents and information you need:

You’ll need to upload the following documents when completing the online application form:

• Your degree certificate and transcript, or a partial transcript if you’re still studying. Please provide official translations into English if applicable.

• A personal statement of around 500 words in response to the questions asked in the supporting statement section of the application form.

• If English is not your first language, you’ll need to submit proof of your English language results (eg IELTS).

We do not generally request references, unless further information is required to support the assessment of your application.

Where further information to support the assessment of your application is needed, we may ask for a recent sample of written work.

Deadlines:

Please see our How to Apply page for information about application deadlines.

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page will take you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Personal Statement Requirements:

Please explain why you have chosen to apply for the MA International History at the University of Leeds by answering the following questions in separate numbered paragraphs: These questions provide us with important information on your suitability for the course, so please complete them carefully and in detail.

1. What areas of international history particularly interest you and why? Have you studied these before?
2. Why do you want to study this programme at Leeds? Please comment on aspects such as available resources at the University and in the city, research specialisms within the school or academics you would like to work with.
3. What potential themes have you considered for dissertation research?
4. What skills and experience do you have that have prepared you for this MA? You may like to give details of any final year project you have previously undertaken, relevant work experience etc.
5. How will studying for this MA programme help you to achieve your longer term goals?
6. Why do you see International History as a particularly valuable subject to study?

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

Contact us

Student Education Service Office

Email: HistoryPGTadmissions@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £12,000 (Total)

International: £26,000 (Total)

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Career opportunities

This course will enable you to gain high-level research, analysis and communication skills, which will prove valuable in a wide range of careers.

History MA graduates have found success in a wide range of careers in journalism, policy making, research, and the private sector. Many others have continued with their studies at PhD level.

We offer different forms of support to help you reach your career goals. You’ll have the chance to attend our career groups, meeting students with similar plans, or you could become a paid academic mentor to an undergraduate completing their final year dissertation. You could also apply for one of the internships we offer each year.

Careers support

Please view our Funding and Scholarships page for the latest information about University and School scholarships.

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers Service website.