Contemporary History

Our innovative and diverse ma focuses on key themes in the history of europe, north america, asia and the middle east from the late 19th century onwards. some of the themes that you may explore include: the emergence of modern human rights religious conflict the relationship between empire and environmental change historical explanations for the extraordinary violence that afflicted the world in the first half of the 20th century. you’re introduced to historical methodology and practice – especially the ‘cultural turn’ in historiography since the 1970s – and how they might be used in devising and researching your individual research project. you can also take part in our world-leading work on contemporary britain. our approach places everyday experiences within their social, cultural, economic and political contexts. we draw on the unparalleled resources of the renowned mass observation archive. we are also home to innovative research centres, including the centre for german-jewish studies, the centre for intellectual history and the centre for world environmental history. by immersing yourself in the field’s literature and integrating the historical perspective with that of other social sciences, you leave equipped to undertake doctoral research of the highest quality and significance.

ELP programs are offered by universities or pathway institutions to assist students in achieving the language proficiency required for academic studies. You can get admitted to your course with a lower language requirement if you do an ELP program.

Studying for a contemporary history ma at sussex will develop your skills in attention to detail, research, written communication and teamwork. many of our graduates have gone on to careers in areas such as: teaching, research and publishing law and the civil service, museums, libraries and archives. others have gone on to further study.

Work while you study

You can also work on a UK student visa, from 10 to 20 hours per week during the academic year, 40 hours per week or full-time during vacations.

Partnerships

Most universities in England have partnerships with different companies and organisations to ensure their students get enough professional training as students. In addition to increasing their students' chances to get hired by one of the universities. University of Sussex has partnerships with the following companies: