History (Online Learning) MSc

Level: Postgraduate taught

Subject: History

Year of entry: 2026

Study options

Mode of study

Online learning

Part-time intermittent study
  • MSc | 6 years | Start date: September 2026
Full-time
  • MSc | 1 year | Start date: September 2026
Part-time
  • MSc | 2 years | Start date: September 2026

Key facts

School

School of History, Classics and Archaeology

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Accreditation

Not available

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15 October: Postgraduate Online Learning Essentials

Find out what it’s like to study online at Edinburgh, with insights into learning, community and the support available to online postgraduate students.

Register now

Open Days on Demand

Dive into an extensive selection of programme-specific session recordings hosted by our Academic and Professional Services staff.


About the degree programme

Launched in 2013, our innovative online MSc in History allows you to take advantage of the remarkable range of historical expertise available at the University of Edinburgh.

Thanks to our e-learning tools and extensive digital resources, you can gain a world-class postgraduate qualification without the expense of relocating.

Our flexible structure allows you to fit your studies around work or family commitments and to develop your own specialised interests under the expert guidance of experienced academics. The thematic breadth of this programme means you can choose from a diverse range of topics and you will be able to further your own specialised interests through the dissertation.

This programme will give you specialised knowledge and understanding of history and its central issues and give you the skills to examine historical sources and evaluate existing research. Choose from a diverse range of topics - from American politics to modern Japanese history, or interwar Europe to medieval Scottish history. You'll then be able to further your own specialised interests through the dissertation. 

Taught by one of the largest groups of historians in any British university and ranked 13th in the world for history (QS World University Subject Rankings 2025), you will encounter a stimulating environment in which to further your interest in practically any era of history and many regions of the world.  

If you have recently graduated and would like to continue your studies, are considering returning to education, or wish to retrain or pursue a personal interest in the subject of history, the online MSc provides the ideal balance between a busy life and studying towards an internationally recognised graduate qualification, without the disruption or expense of relocation. Over 150 students have already graduated from our programme.

 

This short video gives you an introduction to our MSc History (Online Learning) programme from Dr David Kaufman.

Study options

Thanks to our state-of-the-art e-learning software and extensive digital resources, the programme is delivered entirely online. This enables you to manage work, childcare or other personal commitments whilst studying at your own pace and developing your own specialised interest under the expert guidance of our distinguished academics.

You will benefit from the flexible structure of the programme, which allows you to earn a graduate certificate, diploma, or MSc by completing skills training courses and specialised option courses.

The online programme is currently available for students wishing to study full-time and part-time, with courses commencing in September. You can exit the programme at any stage with the qualification you have earned, which is determined by the number of credits successfully achieved at the required level (180 credits are required to complete the MSc).

Many of our online students balance their studies alongside other commitments. The programme’s flexible structure supports this, allowing our part-time intermittent students the opportunity to take fallow semesters, in which you remain on the programme but do not register for courses.

Taught by academic staff who are experts in their field, you will benefit from our research-led teaching approach. Teaching is centred around two 11 week semesters each year, mid-September to December and mid-January to April. There are no courses offered from May to August (inclusive), although depending on your study option you may be working on your dissertation during the May to August period.

Degree certificates do not state that the programme is delivered online.

Studying for a single course

Studying a single course will take a semester.

Completion of any specialist option course20 credits
Studying for the Postgraduate Certificate

The certificate is expected to take a semester to complete via full-time study, or up to three semesters part time.

Certificate (60 credits) 
Completion of either core course (Historical Skills & Sources or Approaches to History)20 credits
Specialist option course20 credits
Specialist option course20 credits
Studying for the Postgraduate Diploma

The diploma is expected to take two semesters to complete via full-time study, or up to six semesters part time.

Diploma (120 credits) 
Historical Skills & Sources (core course)20 credits
Specialist option course20 credits
Specialist option course20 credits
Specialist option course20 credits
Specialist option course20 credits
Approaches to History (core course)20 credits
Studying for the MSc

The full MSc is expected to take a year to complete via full-time study, 2 years part-time study or between 2-6 years flexible study. You must complete all requirements for the Diploma before undertaking the dissertation.

MSc (180 credits) 
Historical Skills & Sources (core course)20 credits
Specialist option course20 credits
Specialist option course20 credits
Specialist option course20 credits
Specialist option course20 credits
Approaches to History (core course)20 credits
12,000-15,000 word dissertation60 credits

 

Why is the final qualification an MSc rather than an MA?

The ancient Scottish universities (including the University of Edinburgh) traditionally offer the Master of Arts (MA) as an undergraduate academic degree. Our postgraduate History, Classics and Archaeology degrees are designated as the Master of Science (MSc) to distinguish them from undergraduate degrees.

Programme benefits

  • The University of Edinburgh has been delivering online degrees since 2005, with more than 11,000 graduates from over 180 countries.
  • We have been teaching our online History MSc for over 10 years.
  • Our online learning History MSc offers you the opportunity to study at an advanced level, in a way that works for you.

I chose an online MSc in History mainly because I've been interested in history for a number of years but because I work part-time it had to be an online-type distance programme. And I chose Edinburgh because it was a very prestigious university.

Mark Online MSc History, graduated 2018.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Part-time intermittent study
Full-time
Part-time

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

Deposit

You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme.

Funding opportunities

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026.

Qualifications

A UK 2:1 honours degree, a minimum US 3.25 GPA or international equivalent, in a subject related to this programme.

It is not necessary to have a full degree in History, but some previous study in History at honours/'upper undergraduate' level is strongly advised.

Relevant experience, or professional or other qualifications will also be considered.

International qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 6 in each component.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 135 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Trinity ISE
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

What you will study

The MSc is delivered entirely online. To complete the MSc you will complete two compulsory (core) courses and select a further four options from a wide range on offer, followed by independent research in the form of a supervised dissertation.

Compulsory courses

You will take two compulsory courses, which will provide a general introduction to graduate study in history and give you the opportunity to develop your research skills. 

The compulsory courses for this programme are:

  • Historical Research: Skills and Sources
  • Historical Research: Approaches to History

Option courses

We aim to offer in the region of 8-10 option courses each academic year. 

Our courses change from year to year and generally rotate on a two to three year cycle. This gives part-time students wider access to our full range of options across the duration of their studies. 

Option courses previously offered include those listed below. Option courses change from year to year and those available when you start your studies may be different from those shown in the list:

  • Empire or Continent?: British Foreign Policy in the Era of the Great War
  • The Lords of the Isles: Clan Donald, c.1336 - c.1545
  • The Closest of Enemies: Cuban-American Relations 1898-2014
  • Race, Religion, and Ridicule: The American South from Reconstruction to World War I
  • The Contemporary Theory of War
  • Myth and the History of Scholarship in Early Modern Europe
  • Theories of Empire in the Early Modern Period
  • Debating Marriage Between Antiquity and the Middle Ages
  • Gender, Empire, and Labour in the Nineteenth Century: Perspectives from the Wider World
  • An Imperial Game? Cricket, Culture & Society
  • Modern Latin American History
  • The Holocaust
  • The Trial of the Templars
  • Athens of the North - The Origins and Ideas of the Scottish Enlightenment
  • Willingly to War? The Origins of the First World War
  • Consensus to Thatcherism: Government and Politics in Post-War Britain
  • The American Civil War and Reconstruction
  • Ideology and Politics in the Soviet and Post-Soviet Space
  • Seeking 'Japan' in a Westernizing World: Revolution, Romance and Imperialism 1868-1945
  • British Empires, 1601-1948

Find courses for this programme

Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed.

The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme.

Part-time intermittent study
Full-time
Part-time

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Disclaimer

Please note that courses are subject to change.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

The online MSc History is delivered entirely online. Both the core and option courses are taught through a combination of live virtual seminars and online discussion forums.

Our approach

You will gain advanced knowledge and understanding of selected topics in history, as well as enhance your skills in independent research, critical analysis, and both oral and written presentation.

The teaching materials are written for the courses and the reading material is provided online through ebooks, eReserves and eJournal articles. Some course authors may suggest a few optional books that are recommended, but not essential for your studies.

All of our teaching is divided into themed weeks. The method of teaching will vary from course to course and may include screencast (pre-recorded) lectures, group work and reflective discussion posts. 

We consider full-time study to be between 35-40 hours for 60-credits of study.  Each course is 20 credits, for which you would be expected to study around 10-20 hours per 20-credit course taken (hours cover all work on the course, including reading/preparation, working on assessments, and participating in seminars and discussion forums). The total time spent per week is likely to vary, depending on assessments.

Induction

A comprehensive online induction for new students introduces our virtual learning environment and teaching methods prior to the start of your first semester. Through the induction you will lay the foundations for a good working relationship with course authors and classmates, gain confidence in the technology and establish a clear sense of what to expect from the programme and what is expected of you.

Before the induction we will email you with detailed Welcome Information, including essential advice about the University and the organisation of the programme.  

Forum Seminars

Learn Ultra, our e-learning platform, is where forum seminars are held. Most weeks there will be forum discussions that will engage with key readings or selected documents and are based around key questions or tasks set by the academic leading the course. These will lead into a student-led discussion as the week progresses. The forums are moderated and guided by the course author.

Live Seminars

Blackboard Collaborate is the e-learning platform we use to connect academic members of staff and students from all over the world in our live seminars. It enables you to contribute to the session using a microphone (and optionally your device camera) as well as a text chat. Live seminars provide a chance to interact face to face with other students and the course tutor. Many aspects of the traditional classroom are recreated virtually, for example the tutor can present slides, use a virtual whiteboard and you can even raise your hand to ask a question.

Attendance at live seminars is not mandatory. To provide more flexibility all sessions are recorded and can be watched at a time that suits you.

Course organiser contact

The course organiser will be engaging in the debates on the discussion forum, providing guidance and feedback and leading live seminars in Blackboard Collaborate.

Additional contact with course organisers is available via multiple channels: you can arrange a Microsoft Teams or Zoom call, meet in the virtual classroom, and/or exchange emails.

Assessment

The majority of the final grade for the course will be based on the final essay, which is submitted at the end of each course. Usually, you can choose your own essay topic, provided it has been approved by the course organiser.

We will assess you through a combination of:

  • coursework
  • discussion forum tasks
  • source reviews
  • article reviews
  • oral presentations

Essays and reviews are submitted and marked electronically using an online system called 'Turnitin' which is integrated with our e-learning platform.

Dissertation

Under the broad expertise of our teaching staff you will have the freedom to define your own dissertation project, allowing you to specialise in your preferred area of study.

The taught courses are worth a total of 120 credit points. Provided you achieve the required standard, you may then proceed to a period of individual research under the supervision of an academic member of staff in the School, resulting in a final dissertation worth a further 60 credits.

The 12,000-15,000 word, independent primary source-based research project, is supervised by one or more members of the academic staff. One-to-one supervision will be available to you while you are completing your dissertation via email, and audio/video calls.

Examples of Previous Dissertation Topics
  • In the Shadow of Barra  
  • British Nurses of the First World War: the Impact of the Flu Pandemic of 1918-1919 and Memory  
  • The Irish of Pittsburgh's Strip  
  • The Scottish Paradox - Exploring Potential Explanations for Migration in Late Nineteenth Century to the United States  
  • Beyond Abolition: William Lloyd Garrison and the Struggle for Progressive Reform, 1865-1879  
  • 'Just Permitted to Live': Race and the Conception of Servitude and Freedom in the Atlantic World, 1600-1700  
  • Gender and the Changing Social and Moral Parameters of Punishment for Property Crimes During late 17th and Early 18th Century London  

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.  

How we support you

How online learning works

This degree programme is taught entirely online. There is no need to come to the city or University campus. 

All learning and teaching takes place within our virtual learning environment (VLE). Through the VLE, you can: 

  • access all your learning materials and study resources, including e-books and library resources
  • interact with your tutors and classmates 

An online degree from the University of Edinburgh is academically equivalent to an on-campus postgraduate degree and involves the same level of work overall. The qualification you get is of equal value. Your degree certificate will not mention that you studied the programme online.

Time commitment

This programme is designed to be fully flexible to fit around your schedule. You can study in your own time and access all your learning resources, such as reading lists, discussion forms and slides from anywhere in the world.  

If there are live online sessions, you can watch a recording later in the virtual learning environment at a time convenient to you.    

Typically, you will need to dedicate around 10 to 20 hours per week to your programme although managing this is up to you. This may also vary from course to course, and the time commitment may increase when assignments are due.  

See 'Find courses' in Programme details for more information about study time commitment

Equipment and software needs

To study this online programme, you will need access to:   

  • a computer or laptop  
  • the internet  
  • the latest version of a web browser  

As an online student, you will have access to a range of software you can download to help you complete your coursework, including Microsoft Office 365. 

IT support is available if you have technical difficulties.  

IT and computing help

Support for online students

Career opportunities

Our students take the programme for personal fulfilment as well as professional and academic development.

A postgraduate degree is an intellectually rewarding experience, enhancing both your skills and employability, and could facilitate a change in career direction or prepare you for further postgraduate research such as a PhD.

Some students of History pursue work in related areas such as museums, galleries, libraries and historic trusts, whilst others build on the transferable skills gained and pursue areas as diverse as business and media, to public administration and marketing. 

The programme could be of interest to those considering pursuing a teaching career. However, we recommend that you contact the regulatory authority for teaching in your country and teacher training institutions to discuss the statutory requirements for entering the profession before making a decision.

Further study

The School of History, Classics and Archaeology offers a PhD by Distance which may be of particular interest to students considering distance learning. Further information on our PhD by Distance programmes can be found on our website: 

PhD by Distance at the School of History, Classics and Archaeology

Graduate profiles

Anna

Degree: Online MSc History

Year of graduation: 2019

Current work: Research Historian at Boeing

If anybody is looking for a really good online programme that gives them that community feel but also the flexibility to do things they need to do, like work, this one is definitely going to be beneficial.

Changing careers at a distance - Anna

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website 

How to apply

You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.

If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant.

When to apply

Programme start date Application deadline
14 September 2026 7 July 2026

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible so that we have enough time to process your application. This is particularly important if you are also applying for funding. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.

For an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including your transcripts.

If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, we will still review your application and issue a decision providing it is otherwise complete. 

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

You will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

History Skills course

Build your confidence as a historian and prepare for postgraduate study with this stand alone short course.

Learn more about History Skills: Preparing for Postgraduate Study (Online)

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

General enquiries

Have a question about postgraduate study?

Postgraduate enquiries

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Academic contact

Dr David Kaufman (BA, PhD, FRHistS)

Programme Director

Contact details

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