MA

History of Wales

Key Facts

Course Code V194

  • Qualification

    MA

  • Course duration

    1 year

Available for September start 2025

Apply Now

The MA History of Wales at Aberystwyth University offers you the opportunity to explore the history of Wales from a variety of thematic and chronological perspectives, to develop your research skills in Welsh history (including Welsh language tuition), and to pursue your own research project in an aspect of Welsh history under expert supervision from a specialist in the field.

This course draws on the unrivalled expertise of our team of Welsh historians to offer a degree scheme suitable both for those who have studied Welsh history in the past and those for whom it is a new field of study.

Typical Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements 2:1 Bachelors (Honours) degree in a relevant subject area, or equivalent. Non-graduates will be considered individually based on relevant work experience.

English Language Requirements IELTS 6.5 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent

Other Requirements Applicants are encouraged to submit an up-to-date CV as part of their application.

Back to the top

Fees and Finance

Course Fees:

Please see the tuition fee pages for current tuition fees. Please note that all fees are subject to an annual increase.

Funding:

Funding opportunities may be available; please check our funding calculator for details.

Course Overview

Why study MA History of Wales at Aberystwyth University?

  • Study just five minutes away from one of five UK copyright libraries, the National Library of Wales, home to a multitude of sources for Welsh history, from the medieval period onwards, including estate, court and church records, maps, photographs, newspapers, private archives of many leading figures in Welsh history, the Welsh Political Archive and the National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales.
  • We have strong links with the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments, based in Aberystwyth.
  • Aberystwyth has a long tradition of publishing key works in the history of Wales and many prominent Welsh historians have taught here.
  • History has been taught in Aberystwyth since 1872, making our department the oldest in Wales and one of the foremost in Britain.
  • All our lecturers are active researchers who are research active and authorities in their respective fields.
  • You'll benefit from small group teaching.
  • You may be able to undertake a work placement with a leading heritage organisation.

About this course

Duration:

1 year full-time or 2 years part-time.

Modules September start - 2025

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Careers

Our graduates have expansive and varied careers in museums and archives, heritage administration, tourism, public administration, the civil service, local government, teaching, journalism, the broadcast media and publishing.

Skills

This course will enable you to develop:

  • your subject-specific knowledge and experience
  • practical skills with regards to locating, interpreting and analysing historical sources 
  • your critical faculties
  • study and research skills
  • strong writing and analytical skills as well as the capacity to work independently
  • your abilities in structuring and communicating complex ideas clearly, accurately, and authoritatively
  • and sustain a self-initiated programme of work.

Teaching & Learning

How will I learn?

This course is delivered primarily via seminars, although some research training modules also incorporate workshops and lectures. You may also be able to undertake a work placement for credit through the Working with History module.

One of the core modules, Research Methods and Professional Skills in History, will also require students to attend Departmental Research seminars, where you will be immersed into the research culture of the Department.

What will I learn?

In the first semester, you will study a core module that introduces you to the key concepts, themes and debates in Welsh history. Throughout the year, you will also study a compulsory research training module (Research Methods and Professional Skills in History).

You will then take a further four optional modules, including at least one additional research training module, which will allow you to benefit from specialist research training tailored to your own particular research interests. Optional modules cover topics in Welsh history from the medieval to the modern period. Although modules are taught in the English language, there will be opportunities to take Welsh language classes, which will be of particular benefit to those looking to engage with Welsh-medium sources. 

In the final semester, you will complete your MA dissertation, an original research project (15,000 words) undertaken under the close supervision of a specialist within the Department.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment for this course is largely essay based, with some research training modules also incorporating oral assessment, reports/short projects and practical exercises.

The Research Methods and Professional Skills in History module will be assessed via an oral assessment of MA conference presentation, an assessed outline of an MA conference presentation, a critical assessment of a departmental research seminar, and a dissertation research proposal. 

Successful submission of the MA dissertation at the end of the academic year leads to the award of an MA.