History (Taught)

Acquire the skillset of a true historian in the historically rich city of Cambridge. Discover many historical and interdisciplinary approaches, develop advanced research techniques, learn to think critically and solve complex problems – crucial skills for your future career.

Our MA History will introduce you to contrasting periods and forms of history (social, cultural, political, digital) and different research methods. You'll access current forms of historical thinking exploring issues around material culture, race, the spatial turn and globalisation.

Through studying MA History at ARU, you’ll become part of a vibrant postgraduate community. Based in the beautiful and historically significant city of Cambridge, you'll be in the midst of a dynamic academic environment, benefiting from our many links with local organisations and access to archives including the Cambridgeshire Collection, The Archives Centre at Churchill College, the Cambridge University Library and Imperial War Museum, Duxford. London and the British Library are only 50 mins away on the train.

You’ll use different historical and interdisciplinary approaches and acquire the skillset of a true historian, not just an antiquarian, able to think critically and solve complex problems – identified by the World Economic Forum as amongst the most required skills for the future workforce.

You'll also become an independent learner, able to manage your own projects and research in a confident and flexible manner, devise and sustain arguments and solve problems successfully. You'll develop transferable skills which will enhance your prospects of employment and of promotion.

Such skills are transferable to careers in research, administration, teaching, heritage, fundraising, librarianship, archivism, marketing, IT-related industries and the media, as well as doctoral study.

You'll be taught by leading experts in their field who will share their knowledge and skills with you. Many of our staff are award winning, such as Professor Lucy Bland, whose book Britain’s Brown Babies won the Social History Society Prize for Best Social History Book for 2019.

Graduation does not have to be the end of your time with us. You can choose to continue your academic career with a research programme at ARU, such as a PhD in History, which a number of our MA graduates are currently undertaking.

The impact of our History research was judged as "world-leading" in the Research Excellence Framework 2021 (REF2021).

Teaching times 2025-6 (subject to change for 2026-7): Tri 1: Monday 2-5pm and Thursday 2-5pm; Tri 2: Monday 1-4pm and Tuesday 10am-1pm.