History

MA

  • Entry year 2026 or 2025
  • Duration Full time 1 year, Part time 2 years

Overview

Lancaster University’s research specialisms cover a broad range of historical periods and geographies, and we are recognised experts in training future historians. You will explore how historical scholarship impacts the real world, from informing government policy to courtroom advocacy; how it shapes public understanding of the past, and how big historical themes play out across the centuries and around the world.

With advanced knowledge and skills, you'll be ready to launch a standout career, whether as a professional historian or in a wide range of exciting fields

Why Lancaster?

  • Focus on medieval, early modern or modern history and gain insights on topics ranging from environment to war, health, and heritage

  • Hone your specialist skills - finding and interpreting primary sources, working with archive materials, evaluating evidence, and writing for a range of audiences

  • See behind the scenes of the historical profession and learn how historians have an impact on real world challenges

  • Pursue your own historical investigation, discovering new evidence and forgotten stories

  • Take your skills into a range of exciting careers or progress to doctoral study

Why the past matters

On this challenging master's programme, you will explore the many ways in which historical research, knowledge and skills have an impact. You will learn how to apply your historical craft to real-world challenges. Developing cross-chronological insights and global perspectives on the past, you will explore the significance of important historical themes - including changes in environment and climate; the relationship between war, health and society; and the preservation and promotion of histories through the heritage industry.

You will discover how public understanding of the past is shaped through exhibitions, historical fiction and gaming, trade publishing and documentaries, and you’ll build your fluency and confidence in communicating with a range of audiences. In short, you’ll develop the ability to make your own contribution to our knowledge of the past.

Becoming a historian

Our expert historians will lead you behind the scenes of the historical profession and train you in the specialist techniques needed to undertake original research and engage with debates at the forefront of the discipline.

You will discover how and why historians disagree with their peers and predecessors, and how they frame their findings as significant. Meanwhile, you will develop the historian’s essential skill: finding and interpretating primary sources.

You’ll also hone your skills in academic history at an advanced level: how to explore an archive and develop your research topic, how to assess the research of other historians in book reviews, and how to write for academic audiences and respond to peer review.

Follow your interests

You can choose to focus on medieval, early modern or modern history, honing the high-level skills you need to investigate a historical topic that fascinates you.

You will make your mark as a historian in your dissertation. Under the guidance of an expert supervisor, you’ll put into practice your advanced skills in research, handling primary sources and critical thinking to illuminate old controversies or uncover stories that previous historians have missed. Build expertise in a topic that enthralls you, experience the thrill of making discoveries as you piece together the past, and learn to communicate what you have found effectively.

We offer the option to take up the study of languages – an option which opens the door to new historical sources, as well as enhancing your career possibilities. You can begin or continue to study a foreign language, from Latin (if your interest lies in medieval history) to modern French, German, Italian, Spanish or Chinese.

Careers

This MA equips you with the high-level skills in analysis, research and communication that are ideal for a wide range of roles in private and public sector organisations. Alternatively, you will be equipped to progress to higher level postgraduate research and a PhD.

Graduates of this course go on to careers in fields such as:

  • Project management
  • Cultural heritage management
  • Galleries, museums and archives
  • Research analysis
  • Geographic information systems
  • Digital librarianship

You’ll be in a strong position to continue your studies at doctoral level, and many of our graduates have secured funded PhDs. Postgraduate study is a great opportunity to further your research and deepen your historical expertise in a specific area.

Careers and employability support

Our degrees open up an extremely wide array of career pathways in businesses and organisations, large and small, in the UK and overseas. Our specialist Employability team is ready to support you, whether you are starting out your career after leaving higher education or returning to university to open up new career options.

We provide individual employability advice, application support, career events, development opportunities and resources to help you plan and achieve your career goals. We also run a paid internship scheme specifically for arts, humanities and social sciences students.

The Lancaster Award is available to all postgraduate taught students and recognises work experience, volunteering and personal development alongside your studies. Developed with employers, it helps you reflect on key skills, boost your CV and articulate your strengths with confidence.

Whether you have a clear idea of your potential career path or need some help considering the options, our friendly team is on hand.

Find out more about Lancaster’s careers events, extensive resources and personal support for Careers and Employability

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

2:2 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in History, a related combined major or a degree in other related humanities disciplines.

English language requirements

We require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test.

We also consider other English language qualifications and if your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.

Help from our Admissions team

If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, complete our enquiry form and one of the team will get back to you.

We also have more details on our website about:

Pre-master's programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master's pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master's degrees. Visit INTO Lancaster University for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Course structure

We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future. The University will make every reasonable effort to offer programmes and modules as advertised. In some cases, changes may be necessary and may result in new modules or some modules and combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Core

core modules accordion

Optional

optional modules accordion

Fees and funding

We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2026/27 entry fees have not yet been set.

Additional fees and funding information accordion

Scholarships and bursaries

Details of our scholarships and bursaries for 2026-entry study are not yet available, but you can use our opportunities for 2025-entry applicants as guidance.

Check our current list of scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to the stated entry year and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. Find out more about our  Charter and student policies.