The Master of Research in Historical Research is a one-year research-oriented course that and allows specialisation in particular historical areas. You will be allocated an individual supervisor to direct your independent study and plan the curriculum to reflect your interests and needs. You should maintain regular contact with supervisors and agree a schedule of meetings to discuss your work and review draft submissions.
The course is split into four sections:
Historiography
You’ll undertake independent study of the literature of a chosen historical field. Coursework comprises a 10,000-word paper that critically reviews historians' works, and identifies a topic suitable for original research in a dissertation. There are no classes. One-to-one supervisory sessions are scheduled at mutually convenient times.
Research skills training
You’ll plan a personal itinerary, with direction, of specific activities to support your research project. Activities cover generic skills, employability skills, breadth of knowledge, and subject skills. These can entail attendance at workshops on dissertation planning and research design, preparing a research bibliography, learning a research method, building a database, undertaking archival research, document analysis, and engaging with personal development events. Additionally, there are opportunities for workshops in historical research methodology, languages, and palaeography. Alternatively, students can enrol in taught social research modules covering qualitative and quantitative methods.
Sources and methods
You’ll discuss with your supervisor how to apply your research skills to historical evidence. You will examine a body of sources related to your research topic and practice the methods you have been learning. Coursework comprises a 5,000-word paper explaining the research 'value' and significance of the selected sources and setting out the appropriate concepts, theories and methods to be used in analysis and interpretation. There’s also a skills test to ascertain competency in source analysis and try out methods before the dissertation.
Dissertation
Having researched the existing secondary literature and the primary sources, and having received training in appropriate research skills, you will then go on to complete a dissertation of up to 20,000 words.
Modules
The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the current academic year (September 2021). Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.
Year 1, Autumn semester
Compulsory module
- Historiography for Masters of Research (HTRPP11) 20 credits
Option module
Select 20 credits from MRes Historical Research options list
- Training for Masters in the Arts and Humanities 1 (ARTP001) 20 credits
- Quantitative Data Analysis (ASRP004) 20 credits
HTRPP11 required for MRes in Historical Research - continues and assessment submitted in spring semester.
Year 1, Spring semester
Compulsory module
- Sources and Methods for Masters in Research (HTRPP12) 20 credits
Dissertation
Select 100 credits from Dissertation for Masters of Research list
- Dissertation for Masters of Research (HTRPP03) 100 credits
continued in summer
Option module
Select 20 credits from MRes Historical Research options list
- Training for Masters in the Arts and Humanities 2 (ARTP002) 20 credits
- Qualitative Data Analysis (ASRP005) 20 credits