History of Britain (MA) - 2012/2013 entry

This course aims to give you an appreciation of distinctive aspects of the British historical experience, from the Reformation period to the present day, while also fostering awareness of shared social and cultural norms.

The development of devolved government for constituent parts of the British Isles has provoked greater interest in how and why the British nation-state came into being. It has also fed into existing debates about whether the territorial state is the most useful or constructive means of assessing historical developments – how does the enquiry into state formation and the creation (and re-creation) of national identities relate to historical approaches focused on religion, race, gender and class?

By drawing on the expertise of staff directly engaged in Scottish, Irish and English research areas, the programme provides support and encouragement for students aiming towards independent research, intending to develop new skills in relation to existing careers, or hoping simply to develop their own understanding of the richness, diversity and complexity of the British historical experience.

Find out more about studying in the Department of History, Classics and Archaeology.

• Exciting, collaborative programme, offering you the opportunity to use the British Isles as a focus for the study of broad historical themes.
• Conveniently located for the British Museum, the British Library, and a range of specialist research centres.
• Watch our video: Professor Catharine Edwards talks about studying in the Department of History, Classics and Archaeology.

Core module:

The introductory core module aims to equip you with the conceptual background necessary for historical study at postgraduate level. It includes 10 broad lectures and 10 weekly seminars dedicated to exploring specific topics and questions on the History of Britain.

Choose three option modules from a list covering a wide chronological and thematic spread. These may include:

• Britain's Medical Market Place
• Civil Society: Ideas, Practices and Dilemmas in the Modern World
• Coming to London: Migration, Mobility and the State in the Imperial Metropolis
• Early Modern London
• Jews and Antisemitism in Modern Europe: Histories and Approaches
• Plots, Conspiracy Theory and Political Culture in Early Modern Britain and France
• Power and Authority in Britain, 1603–1689
• Queer Histories, Queer Culture
• Race and the Victorians
• Religion in Society and Politics: Britain and Ireland 1801–2001
• Representations of Poverty 
• Social Conflict and Urban Change in the Nineteenth Century
• Technology, Modernity and the Nation: Britain and Germany 1800–1930
• The Decline of Magic: Magical Ideas in English Society, 1650–1750
• The Victorian Communication Revolution
• Towns and Cities in Early Modern Britain
• Vice and the Victorians
• Dissertation

You will find the British Museum and the British Library just a few minutes' walk from Birkbeck. Other nearby specialist centres of research include the Institute of Archaeology, the Insitute of Classical Studies and the Institute of Historical Research, all of which offer regular seminars on research areas covered by the department. 

Birkbeck also has active history and archaeology societies.

If you are interested in further research, we offer a PhD/MPhil in History.

Graduates go on to careers as researchers, as archivists, in museums and galleries, in education, and as journalists.

Teaching staff

The Course Director is Dr Julia Laite. Other staff who teach on this MA programme include:

• You should apply as early as possible.
• Interviews from January.