Global History

Birkbeck, University of London

United Kingdom, London

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408

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Birkbeck, University of London

United Kingdom , London

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Course Work

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

Main Site

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesJanuary-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 1 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 20,340 / year

Next Intake January-2026

Global History

About

Course Overview

This MA Global History: Empires, States and Cultures will expand and deepen your understanding of world history as you explore diverse interconnections across geographical and national boundaries.

Why choose this course?

Taught by experts in African, Asian, Atlantic, European and Middle Eastern histories, societies and cultures, this course offers you the opportunity to examine theoretical and empirical approaches to the study of global interactions across history.
You will be able to explore fascinating themes such as empires and imperialism; nations and nationalisms; decolonisation, migrations and diasporas; environmental history; the transnational history of ideas.
The course offers you valuable preparation for a range of academic and non-academic careers by providing you with training in research methods and the use of primary sources, while also nurturing your own specialised research interests.

What you will learn

You will study a compulsory module that explores specific topics in global history and highlights the advantages as well as the challenges of this approach.

Following your interests, you will then be able to choose from option modules that cover a wide variety of subject areas. These include history, classics and archaeology and allow you to specialise in the history of particular regions or time periods and deepen your knowledge further by original research for your dissertation.

How you will learn

This course is available to study full- or part-time and follows an evening timetable. It is taught via a combination of lectures and seminars, with a strong emphasis on your analysis and discussion of pre-assigned readings.

The October-start route of this MA is part of our Birkbeck Flexible Master’s UK, which gives you the choice of how you want to study - on campus, online or via flexible learning, which combines both.

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you will only be able to apply for the on-campus study option for this course. Online and flexible options will not be available to you because they may affect the conditions of your visa.

Discover the career opportunities available by taking Global History: Empires, States and Cultures (MA).

Requirements

Entry Requirements

A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above and references.

We offer a one-year Graduate Certificate in History, which can be used as a conversion course if you want to study history at postgraduate level, but have a degree in a significantly different discipline.

Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

Apply now to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

International students: Please note, if you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you will only be able to apply for the on-campus study option for this course. Online and flexible options will not be available to you because they may affect the conditions of your visa.

English Program Requirements

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this course is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.

Career

On successfully graduating from this MA Global History: Empires, States and Cultures, you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including in:

historically sensitive research skills
constructing complex arguments, especially those requiring a long-term perspective
understanding how the industry has changed over time and is continuing to evolve
assessing the impact of globalisation on societies
approaching political, cultural and economic issues from a global perspective.

Graduates can pursue career paths in research and archiving, education, the heritage industry, publishing, journalism and the media, and the charity sector. Possible professions include:

historian
higher education lecturer
archivist
journalist
heritage manager
politician’s assistant
academic librarian
museum/gallery curator.

We offer a comprehensive Careers Service - Birkbeck Futures - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.