Historical Research University of Stirling

Overview

The Historical Research  MSc course from  University of Stirling 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.

Key facts

• 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.
• This 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
• Career opportunities:
• to prepare graduate students for further research at doctoral level
• as a route to an academic career
• as a higher degree in its own right
• Taking the MSc can also enhance your continuing professional development and prepare you for a research-based career, particularly in academic research, teaching, journalism, marketing, government, and heritage management. By helping you develop critical analytical skills and research techniques, the course provides preparation for a wide variety of research-based careers in the public and private sectors.