MA / PGDip / PGCert History and Politics
Birmingham, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 up to 2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
29 Aug 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 10,900 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* £10,900: full time | £5,450: part time | international: £28,220 full-time
Introduction
This dynamic, interdisciplinary programme encourages you to think beyond conventional boundaries, preparing you for further postgraduate study or a wide range of careers across the public, private, and non-profit sectors.
You can study the MA and PGDip full-time or part-time. The PGCert can only be studied full-time. The MA runs over 12 months full-time; the PGDip runs over 8 months full-time and the PGCert runs over 4 months full-time.
Together, these two disciplines offer a rich and varied intellectual experience. You’ll develop a broad range of advanced skills in research, analysis, and communication, with a focus on intellectual creativity, synthesis, and critical thinking.
On the History side, you'll engage deeply with key historical events, theories, and methodologies. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the Department’s diverse research specialisms, gaining an insight into the major theoretical and methodological debates shaping the field today.
On the Politics side, you’ll explore pressing political issues and key debates, developing a solid understanding of political theory, concepts, and research methods. You’ll be encouraged to think critically and apply your learning to real-world scenarios, enhancing your ability to engage with complex political questions.
- Learn from the expertise of two departments - the School of History and Cultures and School of Government. Both are ranked in the top 10 in the country in the Research Excellence Framework exercise 2021.
- Make the most of our outstanding international reputation for research by engaging with events and research seminars in both disciplines.
- Enhance your knowledge from a global perspective with our modules covering topics from all over the world.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.
Scholarships for international students
At Birmingham, we believe in removing all barriers to education, so all of our talented students can achieve their full potential. As an international student you can take advantage of our wide range of University run scholarships as well as the many scholarships and bursaries from external funding organizations.
125th Anniversary Scholarships for International Students
We have a proud heritage of removing barriers to education. In 2025, we celebrate our 125th anniversary as a University. To mark this milestone, we’re offering £5,000 scholarships to students from a select number of countries.
Curriculum
Please visit the course webpage below for up-to-date information on modules.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
By studying a postgraduate degree in History and Politics at Birmingham, you’ll develop transferable skills suited to a range of career paths. These skills include the ability to collate together information, strong written and verbal communication skills, and analytical skills
Careers Network
Get ready for tomorrow, with advice, guidance and opportunities at every step of your studies. From developing new skills to preparing for a PhD, our Careers Network can help you gain an advantage in the job market or advance in your field.
Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one-to-one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters. We also offer subject-specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.
Program delivery
At Birmingham, research and teaching go hand-in-hand. Lecturers and professors continue to research in their field, offering valuable expertise in History and Politics.
- Taught modules - each module represents a total of 200 hours of study time, including preparatory reading, homework and assignment preparation.
- Seminars – modules are mainly taught by small group teaching.
- Dissertation – you'll undertake a dissertation in either History or Politics.