Contemporary British History

Our course offers you the chance to study Contemporary British History at an advanced level in one of the top ranked History departments in Europe.

You can choose from a wide range of options taught by experts in the field, covering British economic, social, cultural, political, military, imperial, and diplomatic history, as well as the history of British science, technology and medicine.

Our course leads to careers in research, journalism, the civil service, politics, teaching and finance.

Key benefits:

• One of the best history departments in the world, ranked in the top five in Europe (QS World University Rankings 2017).
• King's graduates enjoy one of the best employment rates and starting salaries in the UK. Ranked 4th in the UK for graduate employability (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2017).
• The central London location offers students unrivalled access to world-class museums, collections, archives and libraries as well as easy access to resources in Europe.
• Vibrant research culture, including seminars and conferences hosted by the department and Kings Contemporary British History, at which students are encouraged to participate and give papers.
• Unique course ranging widely across contemporary history, historiography and research methods.

2:1 undergraduate degree in history, politics or a relevant discipline, eg public policy, law or social science.

MA

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 180 credits.

Required Modules:

You are required to take:

• Advanced Skills for Historians (20 credits)
• Britain 1900-1945: Politics, Society, Economy, Culture, International Relations (20 credits)
• Britain since 1945: Politics, Society, Economy, Culture, International Relations (20 credits)
• Dissertation (60 credits)

Part-time students typically take the required taught modules and one optional module in Year 1 and two optional modules and the dissertation in Year 2.

Optional Modules:

In addition, you are required to take three modules (totalling 60 credits) from a range that typically includes the following from History and other departments:

• The Provisional IRA (20 credits) (History)
• English Exceptions since 1918 (20 credits) (History)
• Spiritual Nation: Secularization, Multiculturalism & Christianity in Britain, 1945-present (20 credits) (History)
• Britain & Decolonisation (20 credits) (History)
• The British Empire (20 credits) (History)
• London Calling: Colonial & Postcolonial Encounters with the Metropole (20 credits) (History)
• From Farm to Fork: Food in Modern Britain (20 credits) (History)
• Gender & British Society (20 credits) (History)
• Science, War & the Nation: Britain 1900-2000 (20 credits) (History)
• Downriver: Writing the Thames Estuary from 1890 to the Present (20 credits) (English)
• Anglo-American Relations (20 credits) (DPE)
• Britain & the Cold War (20 credits) (DPE)
• Election Campaigning, Public Opinion & Politics in Britain 1945-2010 (20 credits) (DPE)
• History & Policy: Policymaking Under Pressure (20 credits) (DPE)
• Parties, Voters & Political Culture in Britain 1945-2000 (20 credits) (DPE)

Other modules from the History Department and other departments may be taken in consultation with the course convenor.

King's College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to- date, innovative and relevant courses of study.

Fees:

• Full time overseas fees:

King's College London is one of the top 10 UK universities in the world (QS World University Rankings, 2018/19) and among the oldest in England.

King's vision is to make the world a better place, building on our history of pioneering research that has advanced and shaped modern life, such as: the discovery of the structure of DNA; research to better understand autism and develop life-changing therapies; informing air pollution awareness and policy; research that led to the development of radio, radar, television and mobile phones; and making maths available to the underprivileged. These are all ways that we are having a transformational impact on society.

Our intellectually rigorous teaching environment is coupled with a commitment to providing a rich and supportive student experience. We have more than 31,000 students (of whom nearly 12,800 are postgraduates, with 1,000 students enrolled in online masters courses) from 150 countries worldwide, meaning that students are part of a truly international community. Our 8,500 members of staff collaborate with students to help them get the most out of their degree. Many of our academics are also researchers working within and influencing their industries, meaning that students learn the latest thinking and understand its practical and contemporary relevance.

King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas'​, King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts are part of King's Health Partners. King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC) is a pioneering global collaboration between one of the world's leading research-led universities and three of London's most successful NHS Foundation Trusts, including leading teaching hospitals and comprehensive mental health services.