MA(SocSci) (Hons) History/Sociology · University of GlasgowMaster's degree · 4 years
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University of Glasgow · Undergraduate

MA(SocSci) (Hons) History/Sociology Master's degree at the University of Glasgow

MA(SocSci) (Hons) History/Sociology at University of Glasgow integrates core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills development.

MA
Award
4
Years
Full-time
Study mode
75%
in work/study (15m)

About this course

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MA(SocSci) (Hons) History/Sociology is a Master's degree (MA) at the University of Glasgow, based in Glasgow Campus. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.

For Sociology graduates from this provider, 75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 30% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £23,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)

For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for History, see the sections below.

Course evidence score

The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.

8.1
/ 10
Excellent
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Strong78

Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Strong75

Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 75% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Excellent89

Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 89% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Curriculum & modules

Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.

Year 1 4 modules
  • History 1A: Scotland's Millennium: Kingdom, Union and Nation c 1000-2014Core
  • History 1B: A Medieval Mosaic: Europe and Its Neighbours in the Middle Ages, c.400-1500Core
  • Introduction to Scottish Culture Semester 1
  • Introduction to Scottish Culture Semester 2
Year 2 2 modules
  • History 2A: The Social and Cultural History of Europe, 1500-2000Core
  • History 2B: An Introduction to Global HistoryCore
Years 3 and 4 30 modules
  • Demanding The Impossible: European Societies In The 1960s
  • Patriarchy, Sex and Gender in Early Modern Europe
  • Rebellion, Treason and Political Opposition - 1066-1352
  • Anarchy & Society: The Reign Of Stephen
  • Oral History Theory and Methods (Hons)
  • The Highland Clearances
  • Punishment, Internment and Containment: The History and Archaeology of Prisons and Camps
  • Scottish Radicalism and Scottish Society, 1790-1945
  • The Transatlantic Slave Trade and the Development of Plantation Slavery
  • France, 1789-1914: Nation, Revolution and Empire
  • Society and Religion in the Medieval Crusader States
  • The Mongols and the West, c.1200 - c.1500
  • The Medievalists: the Middle Ages in 20th century Eastern and Central Europe
  • Plantation and Civility in the Hebrides and in Ulster, c1541-1639
  • Century of the refugee: refugees & statelessness in the long twentieth century, c.1900-present
  • The Making of Britain? Scotland and Ireland, 1707-c.1815
  • Czechoslovakia: A case study of a country in Europe through the history of film
  • A Global History of Giving: from Begging to Basic Income
  • Genocide in the Modern World
  • Urban Lives: Gender, Culture and Society in the Eighteenth-Century Town
  • History through film and literature: Crisis situations
  • What's in a Cup? The Global History of Coffee
  • Islands at War in the 20th Century: Invaders, Occupiers and Liberators
  • From the Space Race to Star Wars: US Conflict and Cooperation in Orbit, 1945-2019
  • Imperial States: Race, War, and Expansion in American History, 1860s-1920s
  • Becoming an Historian
  • Rwanda: Peace, Conflict and the Politics of History
  • The Making of the Spanish Empire: Indigenous American, African, Asian and European perspectives
  • From Scrolls to Screens: the Materiality of Manuscripts in the 21st Century
  • Surviving and Resisting Enslavement in the British Caribbean

Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.

Course in depth

What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.

What you'll study

A typical History degree progresses from foundations in historical method to specialised research. You'll usually begin with introductions to how historians work with sources and archives, alongside surveys of medieval through to modern world history. In your second year, you move to focused study of particular periods and themes through primary sources, and explore how historical interpretations change over time. You'll also encounter public history, museums, heritage and history beyond the university. In later years, you specialise further through advanced document-led study and options in areas such as modern history, medieval studies, global and imperial history, social and cultural history, public history and heritage, and archival research. You'll conclude with a dissertation: an original research project based on primary evidence.

Who it's for

This course suits students with strong academic foundations, most accepted entrants held A-levels or equivalent, typically achieving more than 240 UCAS tariff points. You should be interested in exploring how historical and sociological perspectives illuminate human societies, institutions, and change. The blend of core theory with applied practice and specialist options allows you to develop both disciplinary depth and practical research competence. It's designed for those considering careers in research, policy, heritage, education, or related fields requiring analytical and communication skills.

Careers & job market

Across History courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of working graduates, 55% are in highly skilled work or further study. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries (15 months post-graduation) typically range from £23,500 to £31,000, rising to £25,500–£36,000 after five years. These figures reflect broader labour-market outcomes rather than guaranteed individual outcomes. Your career path will depend on your specialisation choices, additional skills, and how you apply your degree in your chosen sector.

University & format

This degree is taught at the University of Glasgow, a public research university and member of the Russell Group, located on Glasgow Campus. It is a full-time, 4-year Master's programme taught in English, leading to an MA(SocSci) (Hons) award. The University of Glasgow is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; its degrees are nationally recognised.

Student satisfaction

How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.

The teaching on my course
91%
Learning opportunities
81%
Assessment and feedback
70%
Academic Support
78%
Organisation and management
76%
Learning resources
82%
Student voice
71%

Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 74%.

Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Applicant information

The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.

2027 entry deadlineCheck the provider deadline

Most postgraduate courses use provider-specific application dates. UCAS dates

2026 entryLive availability check

Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.

Entry & how to get in

Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent55% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: More than 240 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check the University of Glasgow's official course page for the current offer.

Who gets in

What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.

UCAS tariff of entrants

Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.

Qualifications held on entry

QualificationShare
A-levels or equivalent55%
an Access course35%
Other10%

Entry & your chances

An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.

Competitive entry

Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.

Will you get in? Plot your grades

Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.

Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.

Add your grades to see where you land

Your points will drop onto the distribution above, with an honest above / within / below read.

Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.

How to apply

Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.

Apply byCheck the provider deadlinefor this course
Typical gradesA*A*A*+A-level equivalent admitted students held
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.

  2. 2
    Write your personal statement

    A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.

  3. 3
    Submit by Check the provider deadline

    Most postgraduate courses use provider-specific application dates. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.

  4. 4
    Reply to your offers

    When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.

  5. 5
    Results day & confirmation

    On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.

💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask University of Glasgow whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.

Fees & funding

What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.

Tuition per year

Internationalset by the university

Set under Scotland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.

Check fees at University of Glasgow →

If you normally live in Scotland

For eligible Scottish-domiciled students at an eligible Scottish provider, SAAS can pay tuition directly. Living-cost support can combine bursary and loan and depends on household income and student circumstances. Students from elsewhere use their home funding body.

Check the current amounts with SAAS →

Paying for it

  • SAAS tuition payment: paid directly to the university for eligible Scottish-domiciled students, applied for through SAAS.
  • Living-cost support: a mix of bursary and loan from SAAS, depending on household income.
  • Repayment: only above the Scottish repayment threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
  • Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.

Scotland runs its own system through SAAS; check saas.gov.uk for current rates.

Funding matched to this course

Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for

All University of Glasgow funding →

Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.

Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.

StudyKit · free

Still deciding what to study?

StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.

Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check

Careers & earnings

What History graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.

Graduate earnings: this course

WhenMedianTypical rangeGraduates
15 months after£23,000£18,000 – £28,00015
3 years after£23,000£18,500 – £30,00075
5 years after£29,000£23,000 – £40,00075

Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.

Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course

75%
in work or further study 15 months on
30%
in highly skilled work or study
89%
continue past their first year
50%
find their work meaningful
55%
say work fits their future plans
  1. 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in history · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
  4. 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs

How pay grows: this course vs History nationally

Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£23,000
£23,500 – £31,000
After 3 years LEO
£23,000
£20,400 – £28,800
After 5 years LEO
£29,000
£25,500 – £36,000
national rangethis course’s medianaxis £19,000 – £37,500

National figures for History graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.

Work out your pay

Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.

What happened to 100 students?

Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.

75 of 100

were in work or further study

15 months after graduation

66% working17% working and studying5% in further study30% in highly skilled work or study

Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.

Value compared with similar courses

How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with History courses at the same study level.

This course £29,000Peer median £30,000Middle 50% £27,000–£34,500
42nd percentile

Compared with 1,423 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.

UK occupations graduates enter

Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.

  • Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
  • Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
  • Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
  • Welfare and housing associate professionalsSOC 2020 322 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,937
  • Secretarial and related occupationsDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
  • Leisure, travel and related personal service occupationsSOC 2020 62 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £22,297

Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 115; response rate: 50%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.

Job market & outlook

How History graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.

85%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across History courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes
55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled
90%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuation

How AI is changing the work

AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.

What AI takes off your plate

  • Routine information gathering
  • First-draft writing and summaries
  • Standard analysis and admin
  • Repetitive processing tasks

More human than ever

  • Judgement and original thinking
  • Working with and leading people
  • Owning and sense-checking AI output
  • Ethics and accountability

The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.

Roles & employers

Where History graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.

Where they work

  • Museums & archives
  • Heritage bodies
  • Schools
  • Civil service & media

Is this course right for you?

The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.

💷

Student finance

Fees for this course are set under Scotland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is paid by SAAS directly to the university, applied for through SAAS and not Student Finance England. Living-cost support is a mix of bursary and loan, and you repay only above the Scottish threshold.

📈

Where graduates go

75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £23,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.

🎯

Your entry chances

Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.

Official-data snapshot

Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.1 out of 10: NSS 78.4% · in work or study 75% · continued 89%.

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

The University of Glasgow

All students38,710
International35.9%
Aged 25+26.3%

Historical, philosophical and religious studies across the UK

Students76,495
Aged 25+26.6%

HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.

Is History right for you?

Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.

International students

What applying to University of Glasgow from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.

Tuition fees

International tuition is set per course by University of Glasgow; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.

English language

Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.

Student visa

You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.

Scholarships & funding

Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Glasgow’s funding pages.

Living costs

Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.

Working while you study

A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.

Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Glasgow and gov.uk before you apply.

Common questions

Entry is competitive. Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was More than 240 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
Set by the University of Glasgow. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
For Sociology graduates from this provider, 75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 30% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £23,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
Fees for this course are set under Scotland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is paid by SAAS directly to the university, applied for through SAAS and not Student Finance England. Living-cost support is a mix of bursary and loan, and you repay only above the Scottish threshold. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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