Social and Cultural History MA

Course overview

This wide-ranging course focuses on the history of people, their societies and cultures. You will explore how people have lived and died across a broad span of historical periods and geographies.

The core modules and dissertation workshops will introduce you to key concepts in social and cultural history and improve your research and writing skills. You will also choose from a range of optional modules, allowing you to focus on societies and periods that are of interest to you. There are opportunities to pursue distinct routes through the course, including health histories and histories of identity.

You could study health care in Africa, communities and castes in India, European life courses or the movements of people across the world. You’ll be able to focus on gender, race and religion as well as other issues that have shaped the lives of individuals and communities, from the medieval to the modern.

Taught by expert researchers within the School of History and across the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures, this course uses the latest approaches and thinking in social and cultural history to give you an insight into the lives of others.

This course is also available to study part-time over 24 months.

Specialist resources and facilities

We have a wealth of resources for social and cultural historians. The world-class Brotherton Library and its Special Collections contain a huge number of early printed, archive and manuscript materials including the Liddle Collection on the First and Second World Wars, Leeds Library of Vernacular Culture, manuscript and commonplace books, travel journals and one of the best collections of cookery books and household manuals in the country.

Extensive collections of national, regional and local newspapers from over the years are available on microfilm, as well as cartoons and satirical prints from the British Museum and extensive collections of letters and correspondence. The Yorkshire Fashion Archive and M&S Archive on campus allow you to gain a real insight into popular culture over time.

For those choosing the health histories route, there is the opportunity to draw on the policy strengths and links of the Leeds Centre for Global Health Histories, which works with the World Health Organisation and national governments around the world. For those interested in identities, there are opportunities to work with leading scholars associated with interdisciplinary centres such as the Centre for Interdisciplinary Gender Studies and the Centre for African Studies.

Course details

For this course, you will take two core modules to develop your knowledge and skills. In ‘Concepts and Debates in Social and Cultural History’ you will explore central approaches and historical discussions in the subject, while ‘Communicating History’ will build your understanding of research methods and ways of communicating and disseminating historical ideas.

You will choose additional optional modules from a wide range on offer. You may choose to select options relating to a specific track, such as health or identity, or create a more bespoke collection reflecting your own interests. You can draw on the diverse expertise of our tutors by choosing modules across Indian, African, North and Latin American, British and wider European histories, as well as time periods from the medieval to the present day.

You will also have the opportunity to work collaboratively with partner organisations, such as the West Yorkshire Archive Service, by studying the ‘Making History: Archive Collaborations’ optional module.

This programme will equip you with a broad skill set for historical research as well as a good base of subject knowledge. You will be able to demonstrate these with your dissertation, which allows you to conduct independent research on a topic of your choice under expert academic supervision. You will submit this by the end of the programme in September.

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.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Social and Cultural History MA Full Time in the course catalogue

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Social and Cultural History MA Part Time in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

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

Learning and teaching

We use a range of teaching and learning methods. The majority of your modules will be taught through weekly seminars, where you will discuss issues and themes in your chosen modules with a small group of students and your tutors. There will be opportunities for project-based learning in archival and heritage settings, and one-to-one supervision to support your dissertation research. Independent study is also crucial to this degree, giving you the space to shape your own studies and develop your skills.

Listen to the School of History podcast – a series of interviews with our academic staff about their latest groundbreaking 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

We use different types of assessment to help you develop a wide range of skills. Depending on what modules you choose, you may be asked to give a presentation, create a short podcast or series of blog posts, develop a case study or write an analytic essay. In addition to the dissertation, you will write a supporting research proposal.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (Hons) in history, or a degree scheme that includes a significant proportion of history, or a related subject such as cultural studies, literature, or sociology.

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

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 Social and Cultural 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 social and cultural history particularly interest you and why? Have you studied these before?
2. Why do you see social and cultural history as a particularly valuable subject to study?
3. 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.
4. What potential themes have you considered for dissertation research?
5. 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.
6. How will studying for this MA programme help you to achieve your longer term goals?

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

This course is taught by

School of History

Contact us

Student Education Service Office

Email: HistoryPGTadmissions@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £12,000 (Total)

International: £26,000 (Total)

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Part-time fees
Fees for part-time courses are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.

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 both build historical knowledge and gain high-level research, analysis and communication skills that will prove valuable in a wide range of careers. Graduates have found success in a wide range of careers in education, research, administration 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. Additional opportunities are available through our archival and heritage partners.

Careers support

Please view our Scholarships page for the latest information about 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 about Careers support.

Study abroad and work placements

Our optional placement module "Making History" provides a fantastic opportunity to gain relevant experience in areas relating to History such as archiving and heritage. You will gain 50 hours of work experience working on a project with a partner organisation. You will also develop your critical analysis skills through the completion of a critical essay and a project portfolio.