Transnational, Global and Spatial History (MLitt) 2025 entry

This course promotes new transnational perspectives and ways of seeing the past through an explicit appreciation of scale in space and time. Students explore a range of approaches to the study of global trade, the development of networks, comparative history and cross-cultural encounters.

Start date
September 2025
End date
September 2026
Duration
One year full time
School
School of History

Application deadline

Thursday 7 August 2025

Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships.

“The programme has been challenging but also a valued opportunity to extend my abilities and push myself outside of my undergraduate comfort zone. Thanks to a combination of exceptional, personalised teaching and a small class size, I could not have asked for a better study experience.”
Ruby
- Melbourne, Australia

Entry requirements

The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.

Application requirements

  • CV or résumé. This should include your personal details with a history of your education and employment to date. 
  • a personal statement  
  • a sample of your own, single-authored academic written work (2,000 words) 
  • two original signed academic references 
  • academic transcripts and degree certificates 

For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.

English language proficiency

If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. See approved English language tests and scores for this course.

Course details

The MLitt in Transnational, Global and Spatial History is a taught postgraduate programme run by the Institute for Transnational and Spatial History (ITSH) in the School of History. 

Highlights 

  • This programme provides a unique introduction to the emerging field of spatial history, including the study of representations of space, landscapes, mental maps, spatial practices and topographies of memory. 
  • This programme promotes new transnational perspectives and ways of seeing the past through an explicit appreciation of scale in space and time. 
  • Students will explore approaches to the history of cities as hubs, transfers and travel, the circulation of ideas and the migration of peoples.  
  • Students will explore a range of approaches to the study of global trade, the development of networks, comparative history and cross-cultural encounters. 
  • Students will gain proficiency in powerful tools for mapping, geographic analysis and the study of social networks as well as skills in the use of non-textual sources and overcoming the challenges of translation and multi-lingual archives. 

Modules

The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your course. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the module catalogue.

  • Global Times - Plural Spaces (1 and 2): offers a strong foundation in the major approaches to comparative and transnational history as well as the emerging field of spatial history. 

Students take two additional modules. 

The recommended modules are:  

  • Skills in Digital History: Maps and Text: leads to the acquisition and development of skills in the digital humanities and skills required for using specific historical sources.  (Semester 1)
  • Directed Reading in Transnational History: designed to encourage the development of skills of historical analysis through concentrated study of a topic chosen by the student prior to the dissertation.  (Semester 2)

Upon request, a student may replace one or both of the recommended modules with alternative option. Most optional modules are offered in Semester 1.

Here is a sample of alternative optional modules that may be offered: 

  • Building Britain: The Construction and Deconstruction of Britishness since 1707: explores the concept of 'Britishness' and its construction and deconstruction, from 1707 to 2000. 
  • Disease and Environment (c.1500-c.2000): examines the manner in which sickness and death have shaped human history, both biologically and culturally, over the past 500 years. 
  • Environmental History: Nature and the Western World (1800-2000): studies environmental history over the past two centuries in an international context. 
  • Global Capitalism: Origins and Development from a Political Economy Perspective: explores some of the most fundamental economic phenomena that have shaped the modern world.
  • Perceptions of Central and Eastern Europe: examines perceptions of Central and Eastern Europe which have undergone significant transformation since the emergence of modern nationalism in the mid-19th century. 
  • Themes in American History: examines a selection of the most important issues in the history of North America, from its foundations as European colonies onwards.
  • Themes in Middle Eastern and Iranian History: looks at a variety of theoretical and disciplinary approaches, including Orientalism, as well as exploring questions of nationalism, statehood and identity. 

Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered; some may only allow limited numbers of students (see the University’s position on curriculum development). 

Student dissertations will be supervised by members of the teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. The completed dissertation of no more than 15,000 words must be submitted by a date specified in August. 

If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt. 

Teaching

Teaching methods include seminars, fortnightly tutorials and practical classes.

Class sizes range from individual supervision up to 12 students. 

Students will spend the final three months of the course focusing on researching and writing the final assessment piece for the MLitt, a dissertation of not more than 15,000 words. 

The modules are assessed by coursework only; there is no final exam.

Events

The School of History is home to a number of seminars which meet regularly throughout the teaching period from September to May. Papers are given by both St Andrews historians and invited guests. 

The Institute for Transnational and Spatial History hosts regular guest lecturers, events and reading groups.  

Fees

Home
£12,030

Overseas
£25,900

Application fee

Before we can begin processing your application, a payment of an application fee of £50 is required. In some instances, you may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Details of this, along with information on our tuition fees, can be found on the postgraduate fees and funding page.

Funding and scholarships

The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.

The School of History is pleased to be able to offer a number of competitive scholarships which contribute to the fees and maintenance for postgraduate study.  

School of History MLitt Awards

Offer the cash equivalent of one year's home fees and cannot be held in conjunction with other awards offering full fees and maintenance. 

Whenever it is relevant to your programme and possible, the School makes available competitive language bursaries for training prior to the start of an MLitt programme. To find out more, please contact pghist@st-andrews.ac.uk as early as possible. Note that, when available, the application deadline is normally in the early Spring.

15% Recent Graduate Discount

If you have graduated from the University within the last three academic years, you may be eligible for a 15% discount on postgraduate taught tuition fees. Terms and conditions apply.

Taught postgraduate scholarships    Postgraduate loans

After your degree

Careers

History postgraduates go on to pursue careers in a range of sectors including: 

  • journalism 
  • publishing 
  • think tanks 
  • government 
  • law 
  • teaching. 

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.

Further study

Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere.

Postgraduate research

Contact us

Phone
+44 (0)1334 46 2900
Email
pghist@st-andrews.ac.uk
Address
School of History
St Katharine's Lodge
The Scores
St Andrews
KY16 9BA

School of History website