Historical Research (Taught)

The Master of Science in Historical Research is a one-year research preparation course intended to prepare postgraduates for a research-based career and enable specialisation in social and/or economic history.

The MSc is designed to:

train historians in social research methods
demonstrate your ability to undertake interdisciplinary research to doctoral level at Stirling; or other universities in Britain and overseas
provide a foundation for applications to research councils (AHRC, ESRC) and doctoral training partnerships (including SGSAH) that fund PhD research
specifically prepare graduates to apply to the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science for PhD studentship funding in social and economic history (see below under professional accreditation)
prepare you for a research-based career
enhance career prospects and career development
These aims are achieved through the completion of independent study modules, taught modules in applied social research, optional study modules appropriate to your field of study, and skills training conducted under supervision. You’ll be allocated an individual supervisor to direct your dissertation and plan your programme.

Our course prepares you for further research by:

compulsory taught modules in project design, qualitative and quantitative data analysis
directed independent study in the historiography of a research topic
skills development in statistical and database packages
self-directed skills training
practical experience in applying research methods to interrogate primary sources and datasets in the dissertation
developing written and verbal critical analysis

Training for Master's in the arts and humanities; research preparation; hermeneutics; religion and politics; cultural representations of Spain and Latin America; dissertation preparation. Dissertation.

Assessment will include essays, reports (which may take the form of written documents, websites or PowerPoint presentations, depending in your particular research interest) and a research skills portfolio that includes personal reflection.
At the end of the second semester, you will also give a twenty-minute presentation of your intended dissertation to other postgraduates and staff at the Postgraduate Day event.