Postgraduate Study in the Department of History

The Department of History at the University of Sydney offers coursework degrees that enable people to pursue their interests in the past more fully, or help prepare for study toward a PhD.

The department has expertise in a wide range of fields, and is especially strong in American history, Australian history, and the history of Europe from the Middle Ages to the present. Members of the department practise a diverse range of approaches to the past, with particular strengths in cultural history, gender history, and transnational history.

For entry into coursework masters programs, a bachelor's degree with a major in history is usually a prerequisite.

History Postgraduate Coursework Overview

Dr Chris Hilliard
Room 817 MacCallum Building

+61 2 9036 6032

Bachelor of Arts pass degree in history or an equivalent qualification.

Students complete six coursework units of study (one of which must be HSTY6987: Writing the Past) and write a dissertation. The dissertation is a supervised piece of work 10,000 words in length based on original research. It counts for two units.

The MA takes one year of full-time study (three coursework units plus a unit of dissertation work each semester). The degree can also be undertaken part-time (one-two units per semester) over several years.

Candidates must pass each unit of the degree.

Master of Arts (History) Degree Structure 2008

Bachelor of Arts at distinction average in history at the University of Sydney or an equivalent qualification, or transfer from the Master of Arts program (with a distinction average).

The MLitt consists of eight coursework units and a 20,000-word Treatise (which counts as four units).

Students who have already completed the requirements for the Master of Arts (History) and gained an average mark of 75 (distinction) may apply to transfer to candidature for the Master of Letters (History). They will have completed six coursework units of study as a part of the requirements for the Master of Arts (History) as well as two units of the dissertation. Those admitted in this way do four additional units, two elective units of study and two units of MLitt Treatise (10,000 words).

Master of Letters (History) Degree Structure 2008

Bachelor of Arts pass degree in history or equivalent qualification.

Candidates complete six units of study from the history postgraduate course offerings.

Graduate Diploma in Arts (History) Degree Structure 2008

Bachelor of Arts pass degree in history or equivalent qualification.

Candidates will complete four units of study from the History postgraduate course offerings.


Graduate Certificate in Arts (History) Degree Structure 2008