MSc Economic History (Research)

About the MSc programme

Applicants for our MSc programmes should have at least an upper second class honours degree, or its equivalent, in the social sciences. The MSc Economic History (Research) provides training in methods including the role of theory, evaluation, analysis and explanation, quantitative techniques and computing, the use of sources and presentational skills, all of which give a foundation for more advanced research work in the subject. Students considering further graduate work and/or students who have received an ESRC 1+3 grant, must successfully complete the MSc Economic History (Research) degree.

The programme comprises two compulsory half units, a dissertation (which counts as two units) and optional courses to the value of two units selected from the prescribed list. Please note that some options have prerequisites and some have a restricted intake. The range of options available in any one year may vary.

Students leave the Department equipped for any profession that requires intellectual judgement, the ability to assess and analyse evidence and ideas, and good communication skills.

Economic history graduates can be found in management and administration in the public and private sectors; banking; journalism; economic consultancy; and library and museum services, to mention just a few.

Compulsory courses

(* half unit)

• Historical Analysis of Economic Change*
• Research Dissertation of 15,000 words (counts as two units) 

One of the following research training courses:

• Research Design and Quantitative Methods in Economic History*
• Quantitative Topics in Economic History I: Cross-Section and Panel Data*
• Quantitative Topics in Economic History II: Time Series and Economic Dynamics*

Options

Choose a total of two full units from:

• India and the World Economy*
• International Migration, 1500-2000: from slavery to asylum*
• Research Topics in Economic History A*
• Research Topics in Economic History B*
• The British Economy in Global Perspective, 1000-2000* 
• Research Issues in African Economic History* 
• International Economic Institutions since World War I*
• African Economic Development in Historical Perspective*
• Topics in Quantitative Economic History
• Economic Development of East and Southeast Asia
• Latin American Development: Political Economy of Growth*
• Latin American Development: Case-studies in Growth, Poverty and Social Change* 
• The Long-Run Analysis of Firms and Industries*
• The Historical Context of Business*
• The Rise and Decline of Economic Policy in 20th Century Western Europe
• History of Economics: From Moral Philosophy to Social Science
• The Development and Integration of the World Economy in the 19th and 20th Centuries
• Political Economy of Late Industrialisation*
• Great Depressions in Economic History*
• Economic History of Southeastern Europe and the Middle East, 1820-1970*
• Labour and Work in Pre-industrial Europe*
• Epidemics: Epidemic Disease in History, 1348-2000
• Japan and Korea as Developing Economies*
• Economic Globalisation: Long-term trends and consequences*
• Turkey: Political Economy and European Integration* 
• Quantitative Topics in Economic History I: Cross-Section and Panel Data* †
• Quantitative Topics in Economic History II: Time Series and Economic Dynamics* † 
• Scientific, Technical and Useful Knowledge from Song China to the Industrial Revolution*
• Shipping and Sea Power in Asian Waters, c1600-1860*

† If not taken as a research training course

Please note, Quantitative Topics in Economic History I and II cannot be combined with Topics in Quantitative Economic History.