Tudor Studies MA

The Tudors are considered one of the most fascinating and influential periods of history. Our MA Tudor Studies degree is an interdisciplinary investigation of the Tudor age that covers 1485-1603. While considering the traditional areas of high religion and politics, you will also explore material culture, the performative nature of Tudor life, the cultural and artistic context, issues of gender, and the international context, by coupling the study of history and literature. This course positions Tudor history within an international content, taking into account the global connections that significantly contributed to and shaped England’s wealth and power. You will track concepts of Tudor identity and investigate migration from and to the Tudor state and explore ideas about race in this period.

This MA offers a programme of study that is cutting-edge. In line with the latest research in the field, it is genuinely interdisciplinary in nature and approaches the Tudors through a wide range of sources and paradigms. You will examine case studies based on primary sources including documentary, literary or material culture, including artwork and objects. You will directly compare historical and literary approaches to key themes, providing you with a temporal focus without being restricted to one discipline.

You will take a module called Applied Historical Research, which offers you the opportunity to take a work placement or internship in a field related to public history, which could include museums, heritage centres, historic preservation, libraries and broadcasting, or you could put together a one-day postgraduate conference. We have an extensive network of partnerships which include Historic Royal Palaces, The National Archives, the National Trust, Surrey History Centre, and the Mary Rose, as well as television production companies who make historical documentaries.

Teaching takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and individual tutorials are arranged outside of regular class time at times that are convenient to both you and your tutor.