Programme structure: History with Black Humanities (MA) - what's running in 2026/27

Please note: Programme and unit information may change as the relevant academic field develops. We may also make changes to the structure of programmes and assessments to improve the student experience.

    This section describes which Units you will take in which year of study. It indicates which units are mandatory and where you will be able to choose. The overall pass marks you will need to achieve in order to progress or achieve an award are shown. The full regulations concerning progression and completion are held in the University's Regulations and Code of Practice. Any particular aspects of your programme that are unusual will be highlighted. If any Units are must pass this will be shown below. The linked unit specifications detail any additional requirements.

    What do the Levels represent?

    What do the teaching blocks (TB) mean?

    If you are selecting optional units, ensure that you have a balanced workload through the year.

  • Year 1 (2026/27)
Unit name Unit code Credit points Status Teaching Block
Critical Issues in the Humanities HUMSM0019 20 Mandatory TB-1
Researching and Writing History HISTM0055 20 Mandatory TB-2
Black Humanities II Not available in this year HUMSM0015 20 Mandatory
Black Humanities I Not available in this year HUMSM0013 20 Mandatory
Dissertation HISTM1000 60 Mandatory AYEAR
Students can choose to take the practice-based dissertation instead of the dissertation:
Practice-based dissertation HISTM0106 60 Optional AYEAR
20 Credits from Masters Thematic Option Units;
Environment and History HISTM0078 20 Optional TB-1
Themes in the History of Colonialism HISTM0017 20 Optional TB-1
Explorations in Early Modern History HISTM0081 20 Optional TB-1
Creative Writing Workshop ENGLM0092 20 Optional TB-2
Personal Option Unit 2 HUMSM0004 20 Optional TB-1,TB-2
20 Credits from Masters Specialist Option Units;
Race in America HISTM0084 20 Optional TB-2
Making History Public HISTM2016 20 Optional TB-2
Oceans & Globalisation: 1700-1945 HISTM0100 20 Optional TB-2
Supervised Individual Study AFACM0008 20 Optional TB-1,TB-2
Creative Research Skills HUMSM0018 20 Optional TB-2
MA History   180    

Award requirements

The pass mark set by the University for any level 7 unit is 50 out of 100.

For detailed rules on the award of credit, reassessment and award of a qualification please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.

Degree classifications:

A classification will be awarded in the following qualifications:

  • Taught postgraduate Masters degree, including a Master of Research (MRes)
  • Postgraduate Diplomas and Certificates where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications
  • Exit awards of Postgraduate Diplomas and Certificates in designated programmes (as described in the programme specification) where students choose to withdraw from the intended programme but otherwise achieve the necessary credit points for the exit award.

A classification is not awarded for exit awards where students are required to withdraw from the programme on academic grounds.

The overall final programme mark is calculated as the average of all unit marks in the programme, weighted by credit point value.

The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:

  • Distinction = final programme mark of 70+
  • Merit = final programme mark of 60-69
  • Pass = final programme mark of 50-59
  • Fail = final programme mark of 49 or less

* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.

Diploma/certificate stages:

To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 100 must be at level 7.

To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level 7.

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