CCBH
  
IHR: Institute of Historical Research
 
MA in Contemporary British History
University of London

Study Contemporary British History in the heart of London, in one of the world's leading centres for historical research, with easy access to Britain's leading archives and libraries.

From autumn 2010 this course is offered at King’s College London, with full access to all the facilities of the College.

The course also now includes two exiting new History & Policy option courses - click here to read more about them.

Please click here to read the full programme specification at the KCL website, with details on how to apply.
This course provides training in and experience of historical analysis of issues of importance for the understanding of contemporary Britain. It focuses upon the study of British history over the past century, but assumes that British history must be understood in relation to other countries and regions, in particular the Empire/ Commonwealth, Europe and North America. The programme defines history broadly to include economic, social, cultural, political and diplomatic history. It is designed to provide all students with a common core course which surveys the main features of, and issues in, this range of approaches to British history since c.1900.

A second compulsory core course, History in Practice, enables students to discuss major themes in historiography and theory in relation to recent British history, to access and use sources, including documentary, visual and oral sources, and to apply a range of methods including use of IT and oral history.

A third strand allows students to chose a course through which they can specialise either in aspects of British history; Britain’s relationship with other countries or clusters of countries (the Empire/Commonwealth, Europe, the United States); comparisons or contrasts with other countries and regions, studied through such courses as Latin America from Colony to Modernity and American History on Film; or specific themes and approaches to history, such as women’s history, cultural history or the history of the Cold War. Each of these strands is taught over 20 weeks between October and Easter of each year, followed by a period of independent research for a dissertation.

Students also attend the weekly Contemporary British History research seminar at the Institute of Historical Research chaired by Professor Pat Thane and Professor Rodney Lowe at which speakers at the cutting edge of the subject area give papers about their work. A workshop is also normally held at Cumberland Lodge for MA and PhD students, including sessions on the relevance of contemporary history in areas such as policy-making and journalism.

The course is open to both full-time students over one academic year (October-September) and to part-time students over two academic years.
 

Contact the CCBH: Centre for Contemporary British History at the Institute of Historical Research, University of London, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU Telephone: 020 7862 8740 Fax: telephone office for number E-Mail: ccbhinfo@sas.ac.uk

© Centre for Contemporary British History at the Institute of Historical Research, University of London, 2008. All rights reserved.