Main navigation
- Programs
- Subjects
- Universities
- Destinations
- Advice
The MA (Hons) in Modern History equips students to examine historical events from the last five centuries through a contemporary lens. You'll select from diverse optional courses spanning broad chronological, geographic, and thematic scopes. Covering approximately 1450 to the present day, the program offers studies on various nations and regions such as Britain, Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and parts of Africa and the Americas. Available specializations include intellectual, political, cultural, military, religious, gender, social, and economic history. This four-year program, administered by the School of History, trains students in critical analysis of primary sources, analytical evaluation of materials, and academic research techniques. In your first year, you'll study two supplementary subjects alongside modern history, typically continuing with at least one into your second year. The analytical skills developed through examining primary and secondary sources will prepare you for advanced historical exploration in your third and fourth years, when you can focus on global modern histories. Your final year includes opportunities for specialized research on a topic of your choosing. The curriculum emphasizes broad perspectives, requiring sub-honours students to take modules in complementary disciplines like English, art history, or geography. St Andrews modern history graduates gain comprehensive historical understanding and the ability to draw connections across eras and cultures.