The MA in International History allows you to examine and research key themes and regions in the making of world history from the late nineteenth century until the present day. Recently identified as one of the leading History Departments in Britain for the study of empire, Sheffield is a centre of path-breaking teaching and research in imperialism and nationalism, anti-colonial struggles, the impact of world war, and hegemony and globalisation, amongst many other topics. Particular regional focus is given to Africa and South Asia.

You take a team-taught core module which will give you an understanding of significant trends in the historiography of this field, covering topics such as theories of imperialism, the decentring of Europe, global wars, decolonisation, the rise and fall of the nation state, revolution and counter-revolution, and hegemony and its discontents. You will explore key developments in international history and consider major historiographical controversies and debates. You then choose from a range of options, covering subjects such as imperialism and the partition of Africa, the impact of colonialism in comparative perspective, and the significance of the life and times of Jawaharlal Nehru.

You build on this work in your dissertation, for which you will receive the regular and supportive supervision needed to help you define your topic and pursue it through to a successful conclusion. If you are interested in going on to doctoral research, you will receive guidance on how to put together a PhD proposal. This MA serves as a firm foundation for further research in this area but is also appropriate for those with a more general enthusiasm for international history. The analytical skills you acquire together with an advanced knowledge of international history will equip you for careers in business, government, the civil service and public administration as well as for further study in your chosen field.

If you are planning to pursue doctoral study after your MA, an optional module, PhD proposal, allows you to devise and refine a research proposal, following the guidelines and advice set out by the funding councils, particularly the AHRC. Another distinctive module on this programme is the Work Placement scheme.

Work Placement Scheme

This opportunity to acquire vocational experience is a unique feature of the Sheffield MA. A taught module entitled Work Placement provides an opportunity to develop history-specific vocational skills in a working environment. Examples of recent placements include archive work for a local archaeological consultancy company, exhibition research and design for English Heritage, working with teachers in Sheffield schools, cataloguing small collections in the Sheffield Archives, working in the Humanities Research Institute on Old Bailey criminal records, devising a publicity strategy, analysing digitised material, and designing online learning environments for school children studying history.