British and European History, from 1500 to the Present

It can serve either as free-standing master’s programme or as comprehensive preparation for DPhil research in the fields of history within its scope.

• an introductory methodology course, comprising weekly classes on ‘Sources and Resources’ and on ‘Theory and Methods’ during Michaelmas term;
• an optional subject, taught in eight weekly classes during Hilary term. It is expected that students will choose options broadly relating to the topic of their proposed research;
• a 'Writing History' course, taught in Trinity term, complementing previous work done on historiography, sources and methods by exploring the challenges faced by historians regarding the framing, structuring and presentation of their work;
• an extended dissertation proposal of between 2,000 and 2,500 words, submitted in week 6 of Trinity term of the first year;
• a methodological master class in Hilary term of the second year, during which you are invited to relate your own dissertation research to wider historiographical, theoretical and methodological issues; and
• a dissertation: the Long Vacation between the two years and the Michaelmas term of the second year is dedicated to archival research, providing the basis of a 30,000-word dissertation which is written up for submission in week 6 of Trinity term.

Teaching and examination comprises:

Please note that not every optional subject listed may be on offer every year, depending in part on levels of student demand.

If you wish to proceed to the DPhil you will be encouraged to develop your doctoral proposal in consultation with your supervisor during the first few months of their second year, so that you will be well placed to make a doctoral application. The admission of any candidate for further study at Oxford will depend on their overall performance in the master’s programme, together with the viability of any proposed research topic and the availability of appropriate supervision within the faculty.