How did writers, artists and others attempt to explain changes in the structure and value of their societies, with issues such as the revolution in France, the status and function of the arts, the relationship between the sexes, the authority of the aristocracy and the effects of Empire? Investigate these questions through a range of literary, visual and material sources.
You'll be introduced to staff specialisms in subjects such as gender, the body and women’s writing; empire, colonialism and the cultural history of warfare; reading communities and literary networks; science and medicine; landscape and visual culture; and fashion, material culture and consumption.
Whatever your disciplinary background, we'll introduce you to a range of conceptual and analytical tools to explore some of the languages, images and central themes of the history and culture of the period. Our staff have research teaching and expertise from Archaeology, English, History and History of Art departments.
You will choose three option modules from examples, including:
Some option modules combinations may not be possible. The option available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Your dissertation offers you the chance to examine a topic in depth and to develop your research skills.
Over summer, you'll work on a 12,000-14,000-word dissertation with regular supervision from a member of staff. You'll submit your dissertation in September.
If you are studying part-time, we encourage you to use the first summer of your two years to begin working on your dissertation topic.
Recent dissertation topics have included:
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
You'll normally attend two 2-hour seminars each week during the autumn and spring. If you are a part-time student, you'll attend one 2-hour seminar a week during the autumn and spring of Year 1 and Year 2.
Seminar groups consist of fewer than 15 students in most modules, though some core modules may involve a larger number of students. You'll complete essential reading for each seminar, and we encourage you to read more widely around the topic.
You'll attend a series of training lectures and workshops, designed to address presenting your work, writing at MA level, transferable skills and career development.
Over the course of the year, you'll have the opportunity to attend research seminars and day conferences hosted by the Centre and other arts and humanities departments.
Almost all major online databases for research into the 18th and early 19th centuries – including ECCO (Eighteenth Century Collections Online), EEBO (Early English Books Online), the British Periodicals Collection, the 19th-century British Library Newspaper Collection and the 17th- and 18th-century Burney Newspaper Collection – are available at the University.
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements .
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses . These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York .
You can apply and send all your documentation online. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.
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