Study contemporary British history at an advanced level in a strong research environment. Choose from a wide range of options, taught by experts in the field. The programme includes economic, social, cultural, political and diplomatic history. Leads to careers in research, journalism, the civil service, politics, teaching and finance. We provide a unique course covering contemporary historiography and research methods.
KEY BENEFITS
- Comparative approach to contemporary British history.
- Unique location in the heart of the British administrative centre with unrivalled access to library and archival resources and easy access to resources in Europe, as well as wide range of contemporary history experts at ICBH.
- Students attend the regular research seminar in Contemporary British History and have full access to ICBH's other exciting activitites, such as our oral history programme, History & Policy, conferences and research projects
- Annual residential workshop for ICBH MA and PhD students at Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Great Park
Specialist historiography and research methods course for contemporary history, including oral history, and expert dissertation supervision in contemporary political, economic, social and diplomatic history.
KEY FACTS
Student destinations
Research in our department or elsewhere; civil service; teaching, journalism, and politics.
Programme leader/s
Professor Richard Roberts
Awarding Institution
King's College London
Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent)
UK 180/ECTS 90
Duration
One year FT, two years PT, September to September.
Location
Strand Campus.
Year of entry 2013
Offered by
Arts and Sciences Cross-School Initiatives
Institute of Contemporary British History
Closing date
1st September.
Intake
Variable.
Fees
PT Home: £3950 (2013)
PT Overseas: £8000 (2013)
FT Home: £7900 (2013)
FT Overseas: £16000 (2013)
CONTACTS
Contact information
Postgraduate Officer, Centre for Arts & Sciences Admissions (CASA)
tel: +44 (0) 20 7848 7210/ 2574
fax: +44 (0) 20 7848 7200
For more information about the course, please contact either Professor Richard Roberts, (Course Director),
richard.roberts@kcl.ac.uk, or Dr Virginia Preston (Course Administrator),
virginia.preston@kcl.ac.uk
PURPOSE
To provide a distinctive programme suitable both for those intending to proceed to a PhD and for those who wish to study contemporary British history at an advanced level, preparing them for careers in journalism, the civil service, consultancy, teaching, publishing and elsewhere.
DESCRIPTION
This programme 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.
Alongside the development of techniques, skills and knowledge relevant to the interests and research needs of individual students of contemporary history, the programme aims to equip students for both independent research and analysis in primary and secondary material, and writing at an advanced level, thus fostering students’ intellectual development and independent learning ability required for continuing professional and personal development.
It is principally taught by staff within the Institute of Contemporary British History, including Professors Pat Thane, Richard Roberts, Vernon Bogdanor, Robert Blackburn, Roger Mortimore and Dr Michael Kandiah, who between them offer expertise in political history, social and demographic history, economic history, financial history, international history and diplomatic history.
STRUCTURE OVERVIEW
Core programme content
- Britain since 1900: Politics, Society, Economy, Culture, International Relations
- Contemporary History in Practice
- Dissertation of 15,000 words based on primary sources.
Indicative non-core content
Compulsory modules:- Britain since 1900: Politics, Society, Economy, Culture, International Relations;
- Contemporary History in Practice – covers methodologies in theory and practice, and contemporary historiography, including oral history.
Optional modules:Students choose two optional modules, which include:
- British State Welfare and the State of Welfare in Britain, 1900-45
- British State Welfare and the State of Welfare in Britain, 1945-2000
- Gender in British Society 1900-45
- Gender in British Society 1945-2000
- Parties, Voters and Political Culture in Britain 1900-1945
- Parties, Voters and Political Culture in Britain 1945-2000
- Britain and the Cold War
- Anglo-American Relations
- Financial Crises in History
- City of London 1815-2000
- History and Policy
- British Political History 1895-1945
- British Political History since 1945
- The Constitution in Crisis 1910-2010
- The Evolution of British Government since 1945
- Britain and Europe (tbc)
Not all courses are available in all years.
Students may also take agreed optional modules from other MA History programmes and other colleges in the University of London.
Dissertation:
A 15,000 word compulsory dissertation based upon primary sources and supervised by one of our expert contemporary historians.
FORMAT AND ASSESSMENT
Students will take modules worth a minimum of 180 credits. Taught compulsory and optional modules are assessed by coursework plus a compulsory dissertation. We offer additional training eg in oral history and a residential workshop for MA and PhD students developing research and presentation skills.
MODULES
More information on typical programme modules.
NB it cannot be guaranteed that all modules are offered in any particular academic year.
Module code: 7YYH0015
Credit level: 7
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.
Asssessment: 2 x 5,000 word essays.
Module code: 7YYH0016
Credit level: 7
The course explores the ‘history of history’ and its key developments and methodologies. Students will be learn about the historiographical framework and the main historiographical debates related to each of the topics taught, which include political history, gender history, legal history, visual sources, oral history, economic history, social history and cultural history.
Assessment: 1 x 5,000 word essay, 1 x presentation, 1 x 3,000 word sources project report.
Module code: 7YYH0001
Credit level: 7
Assessment:
coursework
1 x 5,000 word essay
This course will examine the ways in which the Cold War affected the UK’s foreign, military and domestic policymaking in the broader European context. It will be the aim of this course to demonstrate that the Cold War was not simply a conflict between the two superpowers, with lesser powers like the UK simply acting as their agents, but that in UK’s case the response was based upon the long history of Anglo-Russian and subsequently Anglo-Soviet relations; on the challenges that Britain faced as European power with a declining global Imperial presence; on her position in Europe after the World War II; on her military strength (or weakness); and her determination to remain on the ‘top table’ of world affairs.
Module code: 7YYH0012
Credit level: 7
Assessment:
coursework
1 x 5,000 word essay
This module will consider the history of social policy and welfare in British society up to the end of the Second World War. It will consider this in the context of earlier social policy developments, including Poor Law reform. In particular it will look at issues around housing, employment and unemployment, women and gender, old age and pensions, children, central/local government relations and public finance. It will examine the Liberal governments of 1906-1914 and the extent to which they pioneered a new relationship between the state and the poor, the effects of the First World War on state social and welfare policy, the expansion of state social expenditure in the interwar period and the Beveridge Report of 1942.
Module code: 7YYH0013
Credit level: 7
Assessment:
coursework
1 x 5,000 word essay
This module will examine the history of the welfare state and social policy in British society after 1945. It will consider post-war reform, the extent to which it was a new departure and its effects on poverty. It will examine the impact of the Cold War on social policy and consider the relationship between the welfare state and the state of the economy. It will also cover such issues as ageing and welfare, demographic change and child welfare. It will consider comparative perspectives on these issues and the debates both among historians and policy-makers about social policy and welfare.
Module code: 7YYH0004
Credit level: 7
Assessment:
coursework
1 x 5,000 word essay
This course covers some of the principal types of financial crisis of the previous three centuries. It considers two thematic strands: banking crises, such as the US banking crises of the 1930s, the collapse of Austria's Credit Anstalt in 1931, the Nordic banking crisis of the 1990s, and the demise of Northern Rock; asset price crashes, for instance the South Sea Bubble of 1719, the Wall Street Crash of 1929, and the Technology stock crash of 2000.
Module code: 7YYH0006
Credit level: 7
Assessment:
coursework
1 x 5,000 word essay
This course examines various aspects of the history of gender in the UK in the first half of the 20th Century, when women gained the vote and were able to take an increasing part in public life. The topics covered include the impact of the First World War on gender relations, whether the women’s movement declined in inter-war Britain, and whether there were significant changes in British women’s life experiences in the 1920s and 30s? It will consider comparative perspectives on the history of gender, particularly in other western European countries, and examine other topics such as sexuality, work, politics and consumption.
Module code: 7YYH0007
Credit level: 7
Assessment:
coursework
1 x 5,000 word essay
This module will examine the history of gender in the UK in the second half of the 20th century. In particular it will consider how women’s lives changed in the 1940s and 1950s, and the extent of the impact of the Second World War. It will ask what happened to the women’s movement in post-war Britain and consider ‘Second Wave’ feminism. It will examine comparative perspectives on the history of gender. Other topics will include the history of gender and work, for example the impact of equal opportunities legislation in the UK and Europe, sexuality, consumption and politics, considered at both a national and local level.
Module code: 7YYH0008
Credit level: 7
Assessment:
coursework
1 x 5,000 word essay
This module, taken either on its own or together with ‘History and Policy: Long-term Policy Problems’, will be of interest to anyone seeking a history MA with a unique and contemporary twist that is clearly relevant and applicable to the present. It is designed both for people who have worked in a policy or media-related field and want to pursue their historical studies in a format relevant to their career and for those looking to go on to doctoral research and be able to demonstrate the impacts of their research in the public sphere. It will consider how policy is made, how history can contribute to the policy-making process, and how it has been used to inform policy decisions.
Module code: 7YYH0010
Credit level: 7
Assessment:
coursework
1 x 5,000 word essay
This module will examine the political culture of the UK in the first half of the 20th century. It will consider the ways in which parties have developed and have adapted to change for example with the expansion of the popular vote and the development of mass communication. It will also consider the impact of the two World Wars on party politics.
Key topics will include: political communication, the decline of the Liberal Party, the rise of the Labour Party, the impact of mass suffrage, the General Strike, the formation of the National Government, the recovery of the Conservative Party after 1922 and its hidden dominance from the mid-1930s, and party political structures during the Second World War.
Module code: 7YYH0011
Credit level: 7
Assessment:
coursework
1 x 5,000 word essay
This module will examine the political culture of the UK in the second half of the 20th century. It will consider how the political parties adapted to a mature mass electorate and major changes in mass communication. It will examine how European integration and the decline of Empire have shaped developments in British politics. It considers the patterns of political involvement in both parties and non-party organisations such as CND, and how these have shifted since the end of the Second World War.
Key topics will include: the Second World War and party organisation, the impact of the welfare state on the political parties and voters, political communication, the long periods of Conservative dominance, Labour and permissive legislation, the political crises of the 1970s, the rise of Thatcherism and that of New Labour.
ACADEMIC ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
General entry advice
The basic entry requirements are a recognised first degree of at least upper second class honours (or equivalent overseas qualification) in history, politics or a relevant discipline, eg public policy, law or social science. Evidence of achievement of an academic level comparable to at least upper second class honours standard through past studies, and where previous study, work or experience (for example, in government or NGO service) has made the applicant a suitable candidate, will also be considered.
APPLYING TO KING'S
To apply for graduate study at King's you will need to complete our graduate online application form. Applying online makes applying easier and quicker for you, and means we can receive your application faster and more securely.
King's does not normally accept paper copies of the graduate application form as applications must be made online. However, if you are unable to access the online graduate application form, please contact the relevant admissions/School Office at King's for advice.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
We may wish to interview applicants, either in person or over the phone if they are normally resident overseas. Once references and transcripts are received, we aim to process all applications within four to six weeks although this may take longer in February, March and over holiday periods.
PERSONAL STATEMENT & SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Please submit a one page personal statement with your application, explaining why you wish to apply for this programme and why you feel it matches your interests, academic background, and, if relevant, your career plans. Please also list the optional modules in which you are interested.
FUNDING
AHRC; self-funded. Overseas applicants should seek advice from the British Council on country-specific funding opportunities and consult our graduate funding database at
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/graduate/funding/database/. King's alumnae can apply for Alumnae Bursaries (see the funding database for details).
Student profiles
Contemporary British History MAI chose to study at King’s for my MA because it’s a world center for academic research and because the
Institute of Contemporary British History is based here. As a result, there is a strong community of academics with varying specialties with whom to work with. The opportunity to attend talks and seminars from well renowned historians in my area of study, such as
Pat Thane, the course convener, as well as newer academics undertaking exciting research has been fantastic and I have loved making connections with other academics.
The course in Contemporary British History is brilliant as it gives its students the chance to get to grips with the history of Britain in the twentieth century as a whole, in its political, social and economic context, as well as specialist studies based on your own interests. My own research is going to look at race relations and multiculturalism in Britain by exploring the experience of mixed race marriages in Britain in the 1940s and 50s.
Through the MA, I have been able to work with the innovative History and Policy project, also based at King’s, which connects historians with policy makers. This included an expert workshop day involving such people as Anthony Seldon and Lord Chilcott. This was a hugely enjoyable experience, and was particularly relevant to me as I hope to go into the Civil Service once I have finished my MA.
Staff profiles
Contemporary British History MA
We are very to be offering our excellent MA in Contemporary British History to King’s students. I publish widely in the areas of social and economic history, Labour party history, women’s history and demographic history – for example, I’ve just edited a collection of essays on Unequal Britain: Equalities in Britain since 1945. Central London is a wonderful location in which to study contemporary history, with access to archives, libraries and the institutions which shape the modern world. As a co-manager of History & Policy (www.historyandpolicy.org) I contribute to events and briefings for politicians, civil servants and journalists as well as academics, and encourage students to consider how their work might contribute in a policy context.
My current work includes completing a book with Dr Tanya Evans on unmarried motherhood in twentieth century Britain, arising from an ESRC-funded project. With my colleagues, including Professor Richard Roberts and Dr Michael Kandiah, we offer outstanding teaching for the MA covering the political, social, economic, financial and diplomatic history of Britain in the twentieth century.