Historical Research MRes

www.historyandpolitics.stir.ac.uk

The MRes in Historical Research trains students to be historians and prepares them for doctoral research. Both are achieved through the completion of independent study modules, field seminars and skills training, under close and careful supervision. Research topics are chosen from a range of fields in consultation with supervisors; there are also two pathways specifically for in-depth study in Medieval Scottish History and the American Revolutionary Era.

Programme Objectives

The school’s postgraduate training programme is designed primarily to prepare you for further research.

Entrance Requirements

An upper second class Honours degree or better in History or relevant subject from a university recognised by the University of Stirling.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, you must provide evideNce of your proficiency such as a minimum ILETS score of 6.5 (minimum 6 in each skill) or TOEFL 577/233/90 (Paper/Computer/Internet).

Funding

For information on possible sources of funding, visit: www.stir.ac.uk/postgrad/finance and www.history.stir.ac.uk/applicants-pg/funding

Modes of Study

Full-time: 12 months
Part-time: 24 months

Programme Start Date

September

Programme Director

Dr Colin Nicolson

School of History & Politics

Research Interests

The School of History & Politics has research strengths in African, American, British, European, Irish and Scottish history, with clusters of scholars researching medieval Scotland, the 18th-century transatlantic world, urban history and environmental history. Most research is in the modern period, but earlier periods may be studied in environmental and Scottish history (both from the medieval period). Staff are experts in the theories, methods and approaches pertinent to political and social history, cultural and economic history, and religious and environmental history. Students taking the American Revolution or Medieval Scottish pathways will be supervised by scholarly leaders in these fi elds, Dr Colin Nicolson (American) and Dr Michael Penman and Professor Richard Oram (Scottish).

Structure and Content

Students can choose one of three pathways: MRes in Historical Research; MRes in Historical Research (Medieval Scottish History); or MRes in Historical Research (the American Revolutionary Era). Entry is to the MRes in Historical Research, and you will consult with an assigned supervisor to plan your pathway.

• Historiography: Students taking the MRes in Historical Research undertake independent study of the historical literature of a chosen field. Coursework comprises a 10,000-word paper that critically reviews historians’ works and identifies a topic suitable for original research in a dissertation (module 4 below). There are no classes; one-to-one supervisory sessions are scheduled at mutually convenient times. Students wishing to pursue pathways in Medieval Scottish History or the American Revolutionary Era can study the historiography of these areas in weekly seminars. The seminar in Medieval Scottish History caters for students of varied experience and aims to develop their understanding of historical sources from c.1100-c.1560. The seminars on the American Revolution examine the origins and nature of the Revolution, from c.1760 to 1790, and prepare students in researching British and American archival sources. Coursework involves one 4,000-word essay and a reflective presentation.

• Module 2 (all year). Research Skills Training: Students plan a personal itinerary, with direction, that entails attendance at events organised by the Stirling Graduate School and Stirling historians. Sessions include personal development and career planning, making grant applications, undertaking qualitative and quantitative analyses and database management. An intensive one-week programme covers history-specific skills including historical approaches, documentary editing, palaeography, and using biographical sources. Extra classes in languages can be arranged. Students attend History research seminars and present a short working paper at the History postgraduate symposium in June. Coursework involves the preparation of a research bibliography for the dissertation and due performance at skills’ workshops.

• Module 3 (January to March). Sources and Methods: Students discuss with their supervisor how to apply and develop their research skills. This may entail further training, such as in languages or palaeography, or attendance at external courses on relational database construction or social theory. Students also examine a body of sources related to their research topic, and practise the methods that they have been learning. Coursework comprises: a 5,000-word paper explaining the research ‘value’ and significance of the selected sources and setting out the appropriate concepts, theories and methods to be used in analysis and interpretation, a skills test.

• Module 4 (April to September). Dissertation: Having researched the existing secondary literature and the primary sources, and having received training in appropriate research skills, students now go on to complete a dissertation of up to 20,000 words.

Timetable

Contact the School for information on your timetable and reading lists.

Career Opportunities

The MRes has been designed with three career destinations in mind: to prepare graduate students for further research at doctoral level and as a route to an academic career; as a terminal higher degree; the MRes will also enhance continuing professional development, particularly in teaching, journalism, marketing, and heritage management through in-depth study of particular fields; by aiming to develop critical analytical skills and research techniques, the programme provides preparation for a wide variety of research-based careers in the public and private sectors.

Research Opportunities

The School welcomes applications in research fields where it has an international reputation.

History
In African, American, British, environmental, European, Irish and Scottish history. There are clusters of scholars researching medieval Scotland, the 18th-century transatlantic world, urban history, and environmental history and revolutions and counter-revolutions.

Politics
In the areas of the Balkans and the Middle East, the British Labour Party, devolution and Scottish politics, minority nationalism in European Union, political theory, and the geo-politics of Eurasia, Eastern and Western European politics.

The School hosts regular research seminars and conferences. Funds are available to postgraduates to attend seminars and conferences elsewhere. The School has three postgraduate rooms with networked computers.

Stirling is situated only one hour by public transport from Edinburgh and Glasgow. Edinburgh hosts the National Library of Scotland, the National Archives of Scotland as well as the Scottish Parliament. Glasgow is home to various significant collections such as the Mitchell Library, and the Greater Glasgow Health Board Archive. The University library’s own holdings include the Tait and Watson labour history collections. A local arrangement with the trustees of the Leighton Library, Dunblane, also allows postgraduates to consult items from the 4,000-volume collection dating from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

For information on research activity of the staff of the School, visit:
www.historyandpolitics.stir.ac.uk/

Research Proposal

Prospective applicants are invited to contact the School so that staff can provide informal advice on the preparation of their application and identify research topics. Thereafter, applicants should supply, along with their application form, a research proposal of up to 2,000 words, explaining in broad terms the research project they hope to pursue.

This should mention some of the main recent literature in the field and potential primary sources, and suggest possible lines of enquiry and methodologies.

RAE Rating

The UK-wide Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) confirmed the quality of the work being done by our researchers. 85% of the University of Stirling’s research has been judged to be internationally excellent and internationally recognised, with the top 10% of that judged to be world class.

View the full outcomes of Stirling’s RAE performance

Use the online enquiry service to find out more or to request a prospectus.

If you are ready to apply you can fill out an online application form now.