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.
KEY BENEFITS
- Comparative approach to 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
- Strong research environment including numerous seminars and lectures at which students can participate
KEY FACTS
Student destinations
Research in our department or elsewhere; civil service; teaching, journalism, and politics.
Programme leader/s
Professor Pat Thane
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 2012
Offered by
Arts and Sciences Cross-School Initiatives
Institute for Contemporary History
Closing date
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/Variable
Fees
PT Home: £3750 (2012)
PT Overseas: £7500 (2012)
FT Home: £7500 (2012)
FT Overseas: £15000 (2012)
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 Pat Thane, (Course Director), or
Dr Virginia Preston (Course Administrator)
Email
Website
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.
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, 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 taught by staff within the newly formed Institute for Contemporary History, led by Professor Pat Thane, drawing on the expertise staff within the Institute, the Department of History, the School of Law, and the Department of War Studies, in subjects such as political history, social and demographic history, economic history and international history.
Compulsory modules:
Britain since 1900: Politics, Society, Economy, Culture, International Relations; Contemporary History in Practice – covers methodologies in theory and practice, and contemporary historiography.
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 in Europe, Britain and the Cold War in the Extra-European World, Financial Crises in History - Public Debt and Exchange Rate Crises, Financial Crises in History - Banking Crises and Asset Price Crashes, Oral Data-gathering for Contemporary Historians, History and Policy: Policymaking under Pressure, History and Policy: Long-term Policy Problems. (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.
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
- 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 in Europe
- Britain and the Cold War in the Extra-European World
- Financial Crises in History - Public Debt and Exchange Rate Crises
- Financial Crises in History - Banking Crises and Asset Price Crashes
- Oral Data-gathering for Contemporary Historians
- History and Policy: Policymaking under Pressure
- History and Policy: Long-term Policy Problems
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.
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: 7YYH0002
Credit level: 7
Assessment:
coursework
1 x 5,000 word essay
The course will examine the ways in which the Cold War affected the UK’s foreign, military and domestic policymaking in the extra-European world. 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: 7YYH0003
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 begins with an introductory overview and conceptual framework. This is followed by thematic case studies drawn principally, but by no means exclusively, from British and US experience. The episodes will be examined comparatively both with each other and with recent financial experience. The course has two thematic strands: public debt crises, such as the sovereign debt crises of the 1930s, the Third World debt crisis of the 1980s and the defaults by US states in the 1840s; and exchange rate crises, for instance Britain's sterling crises of 1931 and 1967, the breakdown of the international Breton Woods System in 1971-73, and the East Asia Crisis of 1997-98.
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: 7YYH0009
Credit level: 7
Assessment:
coursework
1 x 5,000 word essay
This module, taken either on its own or together with ‘History and Policy: Policymaking under Pressure’, 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: 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: 7YYH0005
Credit level: 7
Assessment:
coursework
1 x 5,000 word essay
This course deals with both the theoretical issues relating to oral history and constructing and undertaking an oral history/interviewing project. Topics covered will include:
- The nature and history of oral history
- The problem of memory
- Memory and evidence
- Theories and methods of interviewing
- Ethics and law
- Advocacy and empowerment.
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
First or 2:1 honours degree or overseas equivalent in history or a related subject such as politics. Students without a history degree may be required to show relevant research and analysis skills in order to be accepted.
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. You will receive notification when your application has been passed to the admissions tutor for assessment.
PERSONAL STATEMENT & SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Please 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/
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.