MA Maritime History
Maritime History covers all aspects of mankind's relationship with the sea, with links to broader aspects of economic, political, cultural and social history. Its many facets include: shipping and shipbuilding, both naval and mercantile; trade and commerce; fishing; seapower; labour; ports and coastal communities; exploration and maritime policy. This MA focuses on maritime history since the late eighteenth century, with an emphasis on developing student skills in historical research.
The programme is particularly aimed at those with an existing interest in the recent maritime past who are keen to deepen and broaden their knowledge, and to investigate problems through individual research. It is also relevant to those with a first degree in History or a related discipline, who want to develop their maritime history expertise.
Teaching for the MA in Maritime History is generally through seminar discussion, rather than formal lecture.
Students take eight taught units. Two units deal with themes in British naval and mercantile maritime history since the late 18th century and a third unit is concerned with 20th century international maritime history. A unit dealing with sources, methods and archives for maritime historians is followed by a unit based on case studies which considers how individual historians have approached research projects.
A further unit is chosen from another Masters programme offered by the university; for example in Humanities, Heritage Management, Social Sciences or from the MA in International Maritime Policy. Students also write a 20,000 word supervised research dissertation on an agreed topic reflecting their individual specialist interests.
Professor Roger Knight leads an MA Maritime History seminar
Entry Requirements
Applicants are expected to have either:
- A good honours degree, or equivalent qualification, in an appropriate subject area.
- Relevant personal or professional experience acceptable to the course committee.
UK-based applicants will be interviewed prior to acceptance. Students with 'non standard' qualifications are encouraged to apply. The overriding criteria when examining all applicants is that qualifications are sufficient for the student to undertake the course with a reasonable prospect of success. In some cases applicants may be asked to provide examples of writen work prior to acceptance.
Programme of Study
This programme can be studied by the following modes:
1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Students studying the MA in Maritime History take the following courses:
Themes in British Maritime History Since the Late 18th Century: The Merchant Navy
Themes in British Maritime History Since the Late 18th Century: The Royal Navy
20th Century International Maritime History
Sources, Methods and Archives for Maritime Historians
Students also choose an appropriate course from another Masters programme from within the University, or they can take 20th Century Naval History or Defence and Security from the MA in Maritime Policy programme.
Full-Time Attendance
|
Term One |
Term Two |
| TRAN 1003 Themes in British Maritime History Since the late 18th Century: The Royal Navy | |
| TRAN 1002 Themes in British Maritime History Since the late 18th Century: The Merchant Navy | |
|
TRAN 1004 Sources, Methods and Archives for Maritime Historians |
Course chosen from another MA/MSc Programme |
|
TRAN 1001 Research Dissertation (20,000 words) |
|
Part-Time Attendance
|
Year One |
Year One |
|
TRAN 1003 Themes in British Maritime History Since the late 18th Century: The Royal Navy |
|
|
TRAN 1002 Themes in British Maritime History Since the late 18th Century: The Merchant Navy |
Course chosen from another MA/MSc Programme |
|
Year Two |
Year Two |
|
TRAN 1004 Sources, Methods and Archives for Maritime Historians |
|
|
TRAN 1001 Research Dissertation (20,000 words) |
|
The GMI reserves the right to change this timetable.
The dissertation titles that our current MA Maritime History students are working on are:
|
Student Name |
Dissertation Title |
| Georgia Balta |
The British Commerical Empire and the Greek Revolution: Ships, Guns and Commercial Policy |
| Paul Covell |
To what extent was Furness Withey Group representative of the decline in the British Merchant Fleet in the late 20th Century? |
|
Edgar Noise |
How did replenishment at sea of the Royal Navy evolve from 1939-1945 |