Modern European History

Contents

The degree consists of four parts:

Nation-State and Nationalism in Modern Europe
This is the core module of the degree, to be taken in the spring semester. It will consist of 10 weekly 2-hr. seminars, and will focus in particular on how and why the nation-state has come to be viewed as the normal form of political organization in Europe. Consideration will be given to such themes as the formation of the nation-state; changing ideas of citizenship; the development of national economies, institutions and cultures; the impact of total war, the welfare state and European integration on the nation-state.

Historical Methods
The purpose of this module, which is taken during the autumn semester by all MRes students in the Department of History, is to study some major historians of different ‘schools’ or ‘approaches’ along with the ideas which inform such historical work. It is taught by a range of specialists in the fields of social, cultural, intellectual, political and economic history.

Research Skills Training
All students will undertake training related to their research needs. If no such skills training is required, you must instead submit an historiographical and bibliographical essay related to the subject of your dissertation. In addition, all students will be required to attend the 20th Century Research Seminar, organized and run by the Department of History.

Dissertation
You will research and write your dissertation throughout the academic session, under the specialist supervision of a member of staff. The thesis must be no longer than 20,000 words and is submitted at the end of September in the year following entry into the degree. (For part-timers this will be two years following entry into the degree).

The modules are assessed in various ways - by examination, coursework, attendance etc.