Overview
Public interest in history and historical research is growing. Millions of people tune into history podcasts each month, and record sales of books about ancient history indicate an increased appetite to explore the events and stories that have shaped our world.
Millions of people tune into history podcasts each month, and sales of books about ancient history rose 67% in the UK and Ireland between 2013-2023 to the highest levels since Nielson BookData records began (Bloomberg).
Our MRes course is the perfect preparation for a career in historical research. You’ll be taught by leading experts whose own research is widely published and attracts funding from major bodies worldwide.
Develop the skills to become a historical researcher
During your studies you will:
- critically evaluate a wide body of historical literature;
- learn to directly relate relevant sources and methods to a research topic;
- learn qualitative and quantitative research methods;
- showcase your ability to focus deeply on a topic of interest.
With the support of an individual supervisor, you’ll focus on an area of history that interests you most. The course will enhance your career prospects in a range of fields, but has a primary focus on equipping you for PhD-level study.
Funding opportunities
The course is recognised by both the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council. Both have given PhD funding to outstanding Stirling graduates of the MRes to support their ambitions in academia.
Comprehensive employability and skills programme
Our employability and skills programme to helps you to develop the attributes that employers look for. In the Faculty of Arts and Humanities we have a dedicated Employability and Skills Officer. The University of Stirling’s Careers Service works in partnership with academic staff to ensure you are ready for the employment market.
Top reasons to study with us
Professional accreditation
The course is recognised by both the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council. Both have given PhD funding to outstanding Stirling graduates of the MRes some of whom are now in academic positions and pursuing research careers.
Work placements
Work placements can be arranged as training activities.
Flexible learning
If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.
Research overview
In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), Stirling History was 3rd in Scotland for quality of research outputs and impact, and 15th in the UK for impact. External Examiners regularly praise our postgraduate research supervision and our dedication to nurturing the career development of postgraduate researchers.
All our staff are research active, and, with postgraduates, sustain a vibrant and inclusive research environment.
History staff offer particular strengths in African, American, British, environmental, European and Scottish history.
History staff publish widely in their fields, writing books, essays, and articles in leading academic journals, historical documentary editions, and online resources. Several have won awards for their work. Current and recent research projects have been funded by:
- Arts and Humanities Research Council
- Economic and Social Research Council
- Historic Environment Scotland
- The Carnegie Trust
- The Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- The Colonial Society of Massachusetts
- The British Academy
- The Royal Society of Edinburgh
- The Leverhulme Trust
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
A minimum of a Second Class Honours degree (2:1 preferred) in a relevant subject or equivalent is required. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.
A research proposal is required along with your application. It should be a maximum of 1,500 words.
International entry requirements
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with 60 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 80 overall with 18 in reading, 23 in writing, 19 in listening and 21 in speaking.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.
Course details
The Master of Research in Historical Research is a one-year research-oriented course that and allows specialisation in particular historical areas. You will be allocated an individual supervisor to direct your independent study and plan the curriculum to reflect your interests and needs. You should maintain regular contact with supervisors and agree a schedule of meetings to discuss your work and review draft submissions.
The course is split into four sections:
Historiography
You’ll undertake independent study of the literature of a chosen historical field. Coursework comprises a 10,000-word paper that critically reviews historians' works, and identifies a topic suitable for original research in a dissertation. There are no classes. One-to-one supervisory sessions are scheduled at mutually convenient times.
Research skills training
You’ll plan a personal itinerary, with direction, of specific activities to support your research project. Activities cover generic skills, employability skills, breadth of knowledge, and subject skills. These can entail attendance at workshops on dissertation planning and research design, preparing a research bibliography, learning a research method, building a database, undertaking archival research, document analysis, and engaging with personal development. Additionally, there are opportunities for workshops in historical research methodology and classes in Latin and palaeography. Alternatively, students can enrol in taught social research modules covering qualitative and quantitative methods.
Sources and methods
You’ll discuss with your supervisor how to apply your research skills to historical evidence. You will examine a body of sources related to your research topic and practice the methods you have been learning. Coursework comprises a 5,000-word paper explaining the research 'value' and significance of the selected sources and setting out the appropriate concepts, theories and methods to be used in analysis and interpretation. There’s also a skills test to ascertain competency in source analysis and try out methods before applying in the dissertation.
Dissertation
Having researched the existing secondary literature and the primary sources, and having received training in appropriate research skills, you will then go on to complete a dissertation of up to 20,000 words.
Modules
Teaching
Delivery of the MRes is mainly through one-to-one sessions with the member of staff who will supervise your dissertation and provide direct feedback on the modules on Historiography and Sources and Methods.
Research skills training is planned in discussion with your supervisor and requires completion of two independent study modules taken over two semesters. Coursework in the first semester comprises a reflective portfolio on skills’ activities and in the second semester analysis of a discrete body of historical sources (such as text corpora or datasets) complementing work undertaken in the Sources and Methods module or the applied social research modules. You’ll also attend history research seminars and present a short working paper at the History postgraduate symposium in June.
Course director
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Scholarships and funding
Funding
If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.
Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
John Robert Hamilton Memorial Scholarship
The John Robert Hamilton Memorial Scholarship is available to give financial support to postgraduate students taking their history Masters degree at the University of Stirling.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
Our MRes Historical Research prepares you for a range of research-based careers. The skills you gain are ideally tailored to pursuing PhD study and an academic career, as well as historical research roles in teaching, journalism, marketing, government and heritage management.
Previous graduates have secured jobs with organisations such as:
- Historic Scotland
- The Scottish Government
- UK Civil Service
- Falkirk Council
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- University of Bristol
Specific roles our graduates have moved into include:
- Editor and Historian at The Center for Digital Editing, University of Virginia
- PhD study around the world
- Teacher
- Author
The MRes also provides a foundation for applications to research councils and doctoral training partnerships that fund PhD research. This includes organisations such as:
- Arts and Humanities Research Council
- Economic and Social Research Council
- Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities
Some of our students have also chosen to further develop their skills through voluntary internships working on collections of material held within the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, such as The Scottish Political Archive and the University's own archive.
Salaries for careers related to Historical Research vary, but some examples could include:
- Historian: £49,000 per year;
- Archivists and Curators: £30,000–£50,000 per year;
- Heritage Manager: £35,000–£52,000 per year;
- Political Analyst: £35,000 per year;
- Policy Advisors: £45,000–£80,000 per year;
- Media and Publishing Professionals: £35,000–£60,000 per year.
(Source: Indeed.com June 2025)
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