The Masters in Scottish History provides you with thorough research training, an outstanding learning experience, and a wide set of transferable skills in the conception, design and execution of a research project. You will combine training in historical skills and methods with the wide range of world expertise in Scottish history. Whether you are looking to pursue your own historical interests or preparing for a PhD, Glasgow offers a lively and friendly environment, which is led and supported by internationally regarded historians.

• Scottish history at Glasgow is taught by one of the most wide-ranging, coherent and well-resourced teams in the country, offering world-leading expertise in the social, political and cultural history of Scotland from the medieval period  through to the 20th century, with a particular geographical emphasis on Gaelic Scotland, Scotland’s place in the British Isles and Europe, and on urban Scotland.
• Teaching and research in Scottish history are firmly embedded in a wider University context, allowing  you to benefit from exciting synergies with Celtic and Gaelic, archaeology and Scottish literature, all of which contribute to the work of the Centre for Scottish & Celtic Studies.
• In the most recent independent review of research quality (RAE 2008), History at Glasgow was placed in the top two Scottish universities and in the top ten of the prestigious UK Russell Group.
• You will enjoy ready access to the Baillie Collection, our prized collection of printed medieval and modern sources in Scottish, Irish and English history. The collection also offers printed state papers, Historical Manuscript Commission publications and a select collection of modern monographs.
• Our programme has strong links with the University's Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery, giving you access to primary source material including an enormous collection of anatomical and pathological specimens, coins, books, manuscripts and ethnography.
• You will join an extensive medieval research community. Glasgow has active charter and chronicle research groups in medieval studies, a reading group and regular staff-student seminars. The annual Edwards Lecture is the keynote event in the calendar of this scholarly community

Programme overview

• MLitt: 12 months full-time; 24 months part-time

All of our History Masters are built around a hands-on research training course, a core course on how the discipline has evolved and other courses focusing on your technical skills and other abilities like languages and palaeography.

If you choose to study Scottish History, there will be a guided selection of courses that will provide you with the specialised knowledge in that field. You will be taught through a series of seminars and workshops. Internationally recognised historians give guest lectures throughout the year.

In the final part of the programme, you will select a specialised topic and conduct original primary source research for your dissertation. You are supported in your research and writing up by an assigned supervisor with expertise in your field of inquiry.

Core courses

• Research resources and skills for historians.

Optional courses

Course options may include

• Politics and literature in Jacobean Scotland
• Culture, politics and society in the Highland clearances
• Interdisciplinary perspectives on Scottish culture
• Specialist course in Medieval Scottish studies
• Critical evaluation of sources and methods in Medieval Scotland
• Revolutionary Scotland: literature, culture and politics 1830-1939
• The Scottish Wars of Independence 
• Scottish popular culture.

The courses taught each year vary depending upon staff availability.

To widen your approach and develop an interdisciplinary perspective, you are also strongly encouraged to take one or two complementary courses in cognate subjects, such as

• Monuments in transition in Medieval Scotland
• Records and evidence 
• Introduction to museology 
• Approaching the past 
• Sources for early Medieval Scottish Christianity.

Courses in Scottish literature, English literature, theology, history of art and other College of Arts subjects can also be studied, by agreement with the programme convener.

Career prospects

Apart from continuing to study a PhD, you can transfer the arts research skills and methods you learn on this programme to positions in the public and private sectors, such as heritage, policy and projects, journalism and teaching.

This programme is subject to approval.

Entry requirements for postgraduate taught programmes are a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification (for example, GPA 3.0 or above) in a relevant subject unless otherwise specified.

Note: a short (one paragraph) statement of interest is also required.

English language

If your first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. See English Language Requirements.

We ask that you apply online for a postgraduate taught degree. Our system allows you to fill out the standard application form online and submit this to the University within 42 days of starting your application.

You need to read the guide to applying online before starting your application. It will ensure you are ready to proceed, as well as answer many common questions about the process. 

Guide to applying online

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