The Early Modern Studies MA will teach you critical reading skills, the ability to assess and weigh evidence, and construct persuasive arguments. It combines training in book history, bibliography, and palaeography with a range of theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of the early modern period (c. 1450 – c. 1750).
The course comprises a dissertation and three compulsory modules: Reframing the Renaissance; Forging the Early Modern; and Unstitching the Early Modern: Archival and Book skills. These core modules are designed to work as a graduate-level foundation and provide you with the specific skills to research and write academic essays and the dissertation. Compulsory modules cover a range of disciplines, helping you identify areas of interest for further study and gain the skills required for archival research.
You will also take 45 credits of optional modules and be exposed to concepts of research design and research methods, thus gaining the necessary knowledge to develop your research proposal and give you a broad understanding of the early modern period.
Graduates may seek employment within the cultural or heritage sector, as well as library work, the arts, and other roles that require intensive research or information management.
Our graduates are highly valued by employers for their interdisciplinary skills and linguistic and cultural knowledge. Transferable skills include intercultural understanding, translation, communication skills, and analytical rigour. Many graduates have been accepted to undertake further study as research students, both at UCL and elsewhere.
This MA will give you a very specific skill set, including archival research skills. Depending on the optional modules you select, you may also develop manuscript handling skills, language skills and knowledge in information technologies and database use.
UCL Careers offer a range of services, providing access to skills development, recruitment and networking events.
Popular career paths for SELCS-CMII alumni of graduate taught courses include publishing, journalism, or translation (16.2%), health and social care (8.5%), teaching or other educational activities (9.9%), IT, technology and telecomms (5.7%), PR, advertising, marketing (3.8%), policy and government (2.6%), accountancy and financial services (1.6%), performance and creative arts (1.8%) and media (8.3%).
Recent graduates have taken up positions with employers such as the BBC, TransPerfect Translations Ltd, Alzheimer’s Society, the British Library, the Financial Conduct Authority, The Guardian and the UK Government. Others choose to continue their studies further.