A. Masters programmes are advanced degrees during which students engage in guided independent study, the results of which they discuss in structured classes. Depending on the module choices you make, full-time students on our programmes will usually have two to four classes per week (lasting for two hours each) during the autumn and spring semesters; part-time students will have at least one class per week (again lasting two hours).

The rest of your learning is conducted through tutorials, dissertation supervision and independent study external to the classroom, which means that you can organise your work in a flexible way. The department also offers several seminars and discussion groups that will further support your learning. These usually take place between 4 and 6pm.

A. Only one taught module is compulsory. This is Research Presentation (15 credits). Our students leave the MA having researched, designed and delivered a high-quality presentation at our MA Day Conference in May each year. The other compulsory module for the MA is the Dissertation. You will also take one other core module appropriate to your chosen MA (30 credits).

A. Aside from your core module, you will have free choice from an extensive list of (mostly 15-credit) options. The modules on offer in each programme with change each year, but you can see the list of current modules from the pages describing each programme.

More details on module choices.

A. Yes. You can take up to 30 credits in another department, with the approval of the MA Director.

A. Latin modules are offered to those on the Medieval and Early Modern MAs. It is possible to take other language modules elsewhere in the University, though not that count towards your MA.

A. There are no exams on our programmes; you are assessed by coursework (essays, sometimes other written assignments and the dissertation), and by an oral presentation (on 'Research Presentation'). Typically, you set the questions or titles for all of your assignments, in consultation with staff. Your assessed work is therefore directed by your own interests.

A. Training on an MA is normally required for admission to a PhD programmes (and funding competitions) in the UK.

Our MA programmes are designed to provide research training for those students who wish to continue to a PhD. The module 'PhD Proposal', in which you write and submit for assessment a PhD scholarship application, is particularly recommended for students intending to proceed to doctoral study but there are other training modules available to help you refine and develop your academic skills.

A. Our programmes are flexible. Most of our students will not continue on to a PhD. Many modules will allow you to pursue a simple desire to learn more about the past, while several are designed specifically with a view to your departure from education and entry to the community and a career. 'Presenting the Past' and 'Work Placement' are obvious examples, but all of our modules will allow you to develop in ways that will make a tangible difference to your personal and professional development.

A. The taught modules we offer can keep teachers, writers and curators up to date with new approaches and findings in History. We understand a dissertation is not always of use for professional development. You can take 120 credits (the taught modules in an MA programme without a dissertation) and be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma.

A. Yes, though for full-time students the University advises not to undertake paid employment in excess of 16 hours per week alongside their studies. Roughly half of our students work while taking their MA.

A. Yes. More students are choosing to do their MA part-time.

A. The MA group is always a friendly one and we are fortunate in having a very sociable postgraduate and departmental culture. We have had many overseas students in the department and many of our staff have worked in overseas universities. Benjamin Ziemann, the MA Director and other staff will be able to offer assistance in getting acquainted with the academic environment, here.

Previous students have acted as mentors in the past. Our MAs last one calendar year (September to September), or two if taken part-time. Taught courses run in either the autumn semester (September to January) or spring semester (February to May). The courses are short and modular (taught over 5 or 11 weeks), rather than year long. There are no exams. If you have any particular concerns, contact Benjamin Ziemann, the MA Director.

More information on being an International Student at Sheffield.

A. You can apply for MA study any time during the year. However, if you intend to apply for funding you will need to have applied before the funding deadline.

A. Your statement should communicate why you have chosen a specific programme at Sheffield, what you hope to gain from it, and why you are suitable for advanced study in History. You may discuss your knowledge of and/or interest in history or historical approaches, your previous academic performance, why the MA will benefit your aims regarding further study, career choice or professional development. You might comment on particular modules, including any ideas for a dissertation and expertise for its supervision.

A. Yes. We always have students whose first degree was not in History (for example, Politics, Journalism, English), or who came from a broader Arts programme. Our first semester module 'Research Skills' will help equip you with the necessary skills for the MA, and on your programme core module you will learn about key concepts, approaches and sources. We consider all applications on an individual basis.

Contact Benjamin Ziemann, the MA Director by email to discuss your situation. They can speak to you about your background and provide guidance on applying.

A. Some students do return to take a History MA after some time in work or looking after a family. You may find the return to education challenging, but you will have much to contribute to the discussions and have plenty of skills that will help you make a success of the programme. We would advise that you took the module 'Research Skills', so you are up to date with recent developments in historical methods.

Contact the MA Director to discuss your situation and any preparation you might do before you start the MA.

A. You should provide two references and a transcript of your BA results (or equivalent). If you are currently taking your BA degree this should be a transcript of your results so far.

If you are taking/took your BA degree at the University of Sheffield then we will upload a transcript for you.

A CV and written work are optional. If you do not provide written work and we think it is necessary to our assessment of your application then we can contact you to request it.

A. Usually these will be two academic referees. If you have been in work for some time, you may prefer to ask two people who can speak about your commitment to learning and to history, your ability to work independently, and to manage your workload under time constraints. It can still be useful to get back in touch with a former lecturer, though, and ask for a reference.

All applicants should try to get a reference from a third year tutor where possible. For Sheffield History undergraduates, it is useful if one of these referees is your Special Subject tutor.

A. After you have submitted your application, your referees will be sent a link so that they can upload their references directly to your application. This is the quickest method.

References and other supporting documents can also be sent directly to Beky Hasnip, the Departmental Postgraduate Secretary. See the ‘Applying’ tab for more information.

Beky Hasnip Department of History Jessop West 1 Upper Hanover Street Sheffield S3 7RA UK r.hasnip@sheffield.ac.uk

A. Faculty of Arts and Humanities and AHRC (Arts and Humanities Research Council) scholarships are now available. The deadline for applications is 29th March 2013 and you will need to have applied for a place on the course before being considered for funding.

More information on MA funding.

Past students have also been successful in obtaining Professional and Career Development loans from banks.

More information from the UK government on loans.

A. You can apply for both the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and AHRC scholarship competitions online.

Access information about the application process.

Important: Your references and transcript will also be considered alongside your funding application, so please make sure that your referees are aware that their reference should be written with a funding application in mind.

A. Your statements should communicate why you have chosen your specific programme at Sheffield, what you hope to gain from it, and why you are suitable for advanced study in History. You may discuss your knowledge of and/or interest in history or historical approaches, your previous academic performance and why the MA will benefit your aims regarding further research study and subsequent career. You might comment on particular modules, including your ideas for a dissertation and expertise for its supervision in the department.

A. Sheffield is a large city, with developed retail and cultural industries. However, its urban development and distinctive topography (situated in a large basin at the confluence of several rivers) mean that it feels much smaller than its demographic size. It is limited to the north and west by one of the UK´s large national parks, the Peak District. The city and its suburbs are also known for their many parks and green spaces.

More about Sheffield.

A. There is an accommodation office at the University. University accommodation is available for MA students, and the office will also advise you on private accommodation. Note that some contracts are for 9 months, though a MA lasts for 12 months full-time.

More on accommodation for postgraduate students.