Our course challenges you to examine war from broad historiographical and interdisciplinary perspectives, taking as a given that the history of warfare cannot be isolated from the study of general history. It encompasses more than what usually falls into the category of military history to include war from the viewpoint of combatants, societies, economies and cultures across the landscape of modern history, and in the spirit of war studies draws on the literature and methodology of other academic disciplines where appropriate.
Our MA History of War aims to equip you with the knowledge, understanding and skills you require to progress to advanced research in the field. To that end, it has been created with a compulsory module focused on research and analytical skills, supported by a range of optional modules addressing individual aspects of the history of warfare over time and across a wide geographical and thematic range. Our course prepares you for future doctoral research into the history of warfare and related fields. It can also be taken as a free-standing master’s degree if you are interested in warfare in the past and the intellectual, methodological and practical skills essential to its study.
This MA is based in the Department of War Studies, one of the only academic departments in the world to focus solely on the complexities of conflict and security. War Studies is an interdisciplinary department and all War Studies students benefit from research-led teaching in such subjects as the history and evolution of war and grand strategy, arms control and non-proliferation, migration, strategic thought, cyber, conflict and the environment, the influence of science and technology on international security, along with regional specialisms covering Africa, Asia (East and South), Russia and elsewhere.
Teaching
The following table will give you an idea of what a typical academic workload might look like as you progress through your studies:
| Module | Lectures, seminars and feedback | Self-study |
|---|
| Per 40 credit module |
Typically 2 hours per week over two 10-week terms. This can be split into
1 lecture + 1 seminar or combinations thereof. |
360 hours. |
| Dissertation module |
12 hours of training workshop/ supervision. |
588 hours for dissertation. |
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Assessment
- Most 20 to 40-credit modules are assessed through a combination of essays (3000-6000 words), presentation, oral vivas and/or exams.
- The dissertation module assessment will be based on a 100% dissertation assignment (up to 15,000 words).
Regulating Body
King's College London is regulated by the Office for Students.