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Why Lancaster?
Study the only degree in the UK to combine international and military history at Master’s level
Gain a truly global perspective with modules that cover Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East
Join our supportive research community and work alongside scholars who are experts in their field
Engage with world-leading specialists, as well as politicians, diplomats and military leaders through Lancaster University’s Centre for War and Diplomacy
Boost your expertise and prepare to take your career in a new direction.
From the rise and fall of great powers to peace-making and weaponry, join us to explore the major themes of international and military history from the Middle Ages to the modern day. By the end of the course, you’ll be ready for exciting opportunities in research, the Civil Service and more.
Discuss, debate and discover
Study a course that uniquely combines two fascinating areas. The field of international history is transforming as it moves away from a western-centric perspective, while military history covers the different dimensions of war. You’ll go beyond the strategy and battles, looking at political, economic and social factors.
Our international outlook means this course suits students from anywhere in the world. You’ll explore the making of war and peace on the global stage – one day you could be discussing the increasing militarisation of the Asia-Pacific, the next you could be debating the military resurgence of Russia.
Unpicking the past
This course draws upon our History Department's expertise, as well as research from our Centre for War and Diplomacy, which confronts today’s challenges by examining the past.
Analysing data and developing arguments will be a key part of your postgraduate studies. So, as well as learning from our research, you’ll carry out your own with support from our experts. Past students have looked at everything from the history of battleships to civil wars in Africa.
Master's in International and Military History, War and Diplomacy at Lancaster University
Discover the key features of a master's degree in International and Military History, War and Diplomacy at Lancaster University. Engage with world-leading specialists, as well as politicians, diplomats and military leaders through Lancaster University’s Centre for War and Diplomacy.
Careers
Whether you want to develop your expertise and research skills, change career paths or return to education after being in the military, you’ll gain the knowledge you need to engage with key debates. You’ll also be able to advance new arguments, informed by a global perspective.
Your historical understanding of current challenges is something employers will value. Being able to deal with large amounts of data and think analytically will help you stand out too.
Our students have the expertise needed for rewarding careers in the Civil Service and international organisations. Recent alumni have gone on to work in the museums and heritage sector, including at the Army Flying Museum.
You might also find roles within journalism, risk consultancy or intelligence analysis. Some of our students also continue their journey in academia with a PhD.
Advance your career with a Master's at Lancaster University - Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Hear from alumni in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Lancaster University. What did they study and how did their course propel their career?
Entry requirements
Academic Requirements
2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in History, a related combined major or a degree in other related humanities disciplines.
We may also consider non-standard applicants, please contact us for information.
If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.
English Language Requirements
We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.
We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 5.5 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.
Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master’s pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master’s degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.
Course structure
You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.
Core
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In this module you will have the opportunity to research and write on a topic of your own choosing in the fields of International and/or Military History broadly defined. This supervision will be provided through one-to-one meetings between you and your supervisor, offering you the guidance to carry out independent research and writing, building on the knowledge and skills learned through the degree's taught modules, to develop a specific area of expertise in International and/or Military History, to engage with specific historical approaches and methods, and to work with substantial corpora of primary and secondary sources.
Your dissertation, 15,000 words, will allow you to demonstrate your knowledge, understanding, research skills, and presentation techniques.
In this module you will gain a foundation in the history of international relations from the Peace of Westphalia (1648) to the present day, in order to understand the making and evolution of the international system. This systemic approach will be complemented by a focus on political, economic, military, social, and cultural shifts and challenges, as well as on major international political actors. Each session will deal with a specific historical period and a theme or issue of major relevance. The module will typically cover the following topics and themes:
the modern international system from its birth in the mid-17th century until its first implosion during the Napoleonic Wars;
the alliance system that emerged following the fall of Napoleon;
the world-spanning British Empire; the complex and multi-layered alliance system of German chancellor Otto von Bismarck;
the declines of China and Russia and the rise of Japan from the mid-19th to the early 20th century;
the diplomatic escalation leading up to the First World War;
the experiment of the League of Nations during the interwar period, and the renewed attempt to create an organisation for world peace after the Second World War with the United Nations;
the far-sweeping post-war decolonisation process in Asia and Africa;
the Cold War;
the post-Cold War order.
By the end of the course you should be equipped to assess whether the modern international system has been marked by order or, rather, disorder.
Alongside having a passion for the past, researching and writing a quality piece of history requires close engagement with the historian’s craft. What does good history look like? How can we be sure we are at the cutting edge of our discipline? What does it meant to write well?
In this core module, you will be guided through the process of conducting advanced historical research, reflecting upon the skills that you have and how they can be applied to extended pieces of research. Spanning both Michaelmas and Lent term, this module will take you from an introduction to postgraduate study through to laying the foundations for your dissertation, developing your understanding of the discipline of history, and your identity as an historian. The module culminates with a conference, where you will present your work to peers and members of academic staff, receiving feedback to develop your own and the opportunity to help your peers develop their projects.
This module will be assessed by a portfolio of work developed throughout the course, including a feasibility study.
In this module you will gain a foundation in the history of warfare from the medieval world to the present day, allowing you to understand and gain specific insights into the evolution of and ‘revolutions’ in military affairs. Within this longue durée approach, you will be equipped to question how warfare has been affected by political, economic, social, technological, and cultural factors, as well as influential military figures, thinkers, and powers. Each session will deal with a specific historical period and a theme or issue of major relevance, and the module will typically cover the following topics and themes:
early medieval forms of warfare such as that of the Vikings;
knights and soldiers in the High Middle Ages;
the series of conflicts that constituted the Hundred Years’ War in the Late Middle Ages;
the rise of the fiscal military state in the early modern period;
the concept of a nation in arms through the Napoleonic Wars and such 19th century conflicts as the Franco-Prussian War;
the idea of total war through the lenses of the First and Second World Wars;
the Cold War and nuclear strategy;
the ‘hot’ decolonisation wars of the Cold War, and more recent counterinsurgency campaigns like that in Afghanistan.
Optional
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Two of the most important developments of twentieth century international history were the decline of Britain's global influence and the simultaneous rise of the United States as a world power. Somewhat remarkably, these processes occurred without a major conflict arising between the US and Britain. Instead, relations between the two countries in the decades following the Second World War became increasingly intertwined, resulting in what is commonly referred to as the Anglo-American 'special relationship'. This module explores relations between Britain and the United States from World War II through to the War on Terror, and the role the US-UK relationship has played in international politics during this era. Has there in fact been a 'special relationship' between the US and Britain during this period? If so, what are the motivating factors for the two states in pursuing this relationship and the broader forces binding them together? You will address these questions and others exploring how US-UK relations have developed in the realms of diplomacy, defence, economics and intelligence.
This module offers you the opportunity to think about the objects and spaces through which history is presented to the public. You will have the chance to engage with scholarly perspectives about heritage practises and to gain insight into the workings of public institutions.
Its aim is to give you the opportunity to engage with scholarly criticisms of heritage practices and to gain insight into the workings of public institutions. Questions we will explore include: What are the processes through which history becomes heritage? By what means are objects gathered together and arranged in order to present, and preserve, ‘the past’? How are the meanings of these objects controlled and communicated to the public? In thinking through these, and other similar, questions, you will have the chance to consider the means through which ‘the historical temper’ is cultivated in both institutions and public spaces and, in particular, how and why the presentation of the past has changed over time. The module combines seminars with site visits, tours and sessions with heritage professionals.
This module explores the intricate relationship between war and the environment in East Asia, spanning from the ancient period to the modern era. Throughout history, conflicts in East Asia have led to widespread environmental degradation, ranging from deforestation and habitat destruction to pollution and climate change. From the strategic military campaigns of ancient empires to the devastating wars of the 20th century, each conflict has left its mark on the natural world, altering ecosystems and landscapes in profound ways.
From the ancient battles of dynastic China to the modern conflicts of Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, this course will trace the evolution of war and its environmental impact across East Asia. More specifically, some of the major themes include climate, forests, landscape, animals, diseases and atomic bombs, while the wars include Mongol invasions, Ming-Qing transition, the East Asian War of 1592–1598, Japanese colonization, the Korean War, and the Cold War.
By exploring the historical context, environmental consequences, and contemporary implications of warfare in the region, you will develop critical insights into the intersection of military history, environmental studies, and East Asian geopolitics.
Ultimately, this module seeks to illuminate the often-overlooked environmental dimensions of East Asian warfare and foster a nuanced understanding of its enduring legacy. More importantly, the methodology you will learn in this module can be applied to other war studies you may be interested in.
This bespoke module is shaped by you and your allocated module supervisor. It enables you to develop a particular research interest if this cannot be accommodated within the dissertation or in other taught modules; alternatively, it can be used to undertake a guided reading programme under supervision. You should only consider this option if you have a clear idea of a particular project you wish to propose that is distinct from your dissertation project. You will be asked to consult the appropriate Director of Graduate Studies to discuss your choice, and the form of assessment will vary depending on the project, it will however be of equivalent weighting to 5,000 words of text.
This module offers you the chance to benefit from the Department’s established and expanding network of heritage partners by completing a professional placement. Our previous placement partners have included a number of notable organisations, such as the Duchy of Lancaster, Hoghton Tower, the Museum of Lancashire, the National Trust, the North Craven Trust, and the Senhouse Museum Trust.
The placement is centred on a specific project, which is agreed between the Department and the partner organisation, and completed under the supervision of that organisation. The work undertaken as part of the placement project can take a variety of different forms, ranging from cataloguing objects to assisting in arrangement for exhibitions to undertaking research work on a corpus of visual, audio or textual sources. You will need to take part in an application process with each heritage partner deciding on the best match of student for their placement.
The assessment for the module comprises a portfolio of work relating the placement and a reflective essay.
This module will lead you on a comprehensive exploration of a critical period in American history. It begins with an ending: the Cold War's close and the challenges and opportunities this seminal event posed for the United States.
As you traverse the timeline, you will have the chance to analyse the economic highs and lows (from the 1990s prosperity to the 2008 crisis) and navigate the political landscape punctuated by Clinton's impeachment, the controversial 2000 election, the emergence of Barack Obama, before ending with the election of Donald Trump in 2016.
We will focus closely on foreign policy in post-Cold War years, most notably 9/11, the Iraq War, and the broader War on Terror. The course will also trace the evolving socio-cultural battles on issues such as gay rights, racial conflict and the rise of Black Lives Matter, third-wave feminism, and gun control.
All the while, the module will consider broader forces shaping these events, such as the shifting media environment – including the rise of internet and social media – and the growth of globalisation. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of source material, running the gamut from standard historical texts to social media posts.
Place names, latitude/longitude coordinates, qualitative relations (“next to”), spatial forms (lake, county, road): these are all different examples of spatial information that humanities researchers regularly encounter in sources from the past.
In this module, you will learn to use such information to think spatially with a critical mindset. Doing so will allow you to answer “where?” questions that can shed light on intellectual, cultural, political, social, economic, environmental, literary histories, the history of science and technology, as well as other historical humanities fields (archaeology, historical geography, classics, media studies).
The module provides a grounding in the foundational and current literature in the spatial humanities and opportunities to practice working with digital methods for spatial data creation, exploration, and analysis, including traditional Geographic Information System software (ArcGIS), pythonic geographic data science, network analysis, and browser-based tools for data annotation/visualisation/mapping.
Hands-on tutorials will focus on case studies from eighteenth-century and nineteenth-century French and British history and will highlight how Enlightenment and Victorian ideas and technologies are at the root of many basic spatial concepts and tools still in use today.
You will develop your own spatial analysis of a set of historical sources chosen from your previous research experience.
Here is what our students have said about the module
“The sessions... feel more inclusive and collaborative than I had imagined. It feels like a shared space, with the openness to express ideas or queries.”
"The large amount of theory in the class is really surprising - in a good way. Initially I thought this class would be mostly practical-based and workshop style, but the inclusion of readings has made it far more engaging.”
The diplomatic relationship between Britain and France in the first half of the twentieth century, often termed the Entente Cordiale, has been interpreted in a variety of ways, most of which do not portray a flattering view of either country as international actors or indicates that their relationship was particularly cordial, i.e. friendly.
Indeed, since the Norman Conquest in the eleventh century, the two countries had spent most of the time at war with each other. So what was special about the twentieth century? The British and French governments were forced increasingly to work together to combat the tensions in Europe that led to the outbreak of the First and Second World Wars.
This module explores the love-hate relationship between the two countries by addressing some of the major historiographical debates in twentieth century international history.
Themes explored will include, imperialism, political reform and its impact on foreign policy formation, democratisation, the rise of nationalism, peace-making at the end of the two world wars; the Ruhr Crisis, the Treaty of Locarno, the League of Nations; the Kellogg Briand Pact; the Briand Plan; the Geneva disarmament conferences of the late 1920s/early 1930s; Eastern Europe and Russia; different strategies to deal with the rise of Hitler; the fall of France; the liberation of France; the outbreak of the Cold War.’
This module is designed to provide PGT level students interested in any aspect of historical research which appertains to the period c.1450 to c.1750 with the essential 'tool-kit' of skills, particularisms and themes which will underpin their study. Its syllabus will be varied across each student year-cohort, given the availability of teaching staff and their areas of expertise, but perhaps, more importantly, will be tailored to support and foster the research interests of individual students within any year. The notion of periodisation remains controversial within itself, and so part of the module will involve identifying what it is that distinguishes 1450-1750 from the eras earlier and later in time, to question the terminology of 'early-modern' and 'pre-modern' (and thus 'modern' and 'modernism'), and the Renaissance. We will also discuss the themes and issues which characterise early-modern history and through these, explore the types of evidence produced and how historians can access, use, interpret and analyse them.
Indicative topics may include:
Mobility and settlement;Adventurism, exploration and global links;Demographic change;The crisis of faith;The Scientific Revolution;The climatic crisis and its implications;Gender and power;Material Culture;Personal testimony, archives and manuscript;The dissemination of print.
This module examines, reflects on, and critiques the historical contexts of a range of colonial legacies and institutionalized inequalities in contemporary British society. These will be examined through a critical engagement with the ‘Atlantic’ in its myriad forms: as geographic space and living organism, as periodization, as diasporic identity, as the birth of modernity, as the site of millions of deaths of captive Africans, and as Anthropocene.
It then introduces the ‘Global South’ in geographic, economic, epistemological, and theoretical terms and engages you to consider what Global South paradigms and perspectives can expose when applied to critical examination of contemporary colonial legacies and how they can subvert the power of the (North) Atlantic.
The module invites you to ‘apply’ the theories, concepts, and perspectives you have engaged with in the course to contemporary social issues with a vision to create a fairer and equal society for the future.
What are the legacies of colonialism and empire that continue to pervade British society? In what ways does ‘the Atlantic’ perpetuate dominant readings of the past and simultaneously obscure others? How are Eurocentric and Global North epistemologies and framings of ‘the past’ shaping the narratives of our present? How can we incorporate Global South paradigms and perspectives to create change?
You will address these questions and others exploring how ‘the Atlantic’ has powerfully shaped contemporary colonial legacies, and also how it can be the site for disruption, subversion, and social change when considered from Global South perspectives.
Indicative topics will typically include:
Colonial Legacies I: Beyond Race, Class, and Gender
Colonial Legacies II: The Role of the Atlantic and the Birth of the Global South
The Atlantic as Space and Place
The Atlantic as Time and Method
Diasporic Atlantics I: The Black Atlantic
Diasporic Atlantics II: The Brown Atlantic
Geographic Atlantics I: South/North Atlantic
Geographic Atlantics II: Waste, Modernity, and the Anthropocene
Reconfiguring a Global South Atlantic
This module will examine the Eastern Front during the Second World War. The brutality of the fighting in the Soviet Union was unparalleled, and more men and women fought and died there than on all other fronts of the war combined.
The module does not merely offer military history; rather it is a social history of the Eastern Front. Some key campaigns are discussed, such as Operation Barbarossa, the Siege of Leningrad, the Battle of Stalingrad, and Operation Bagration, but this module is primarily concerned with the sociological aspects of the conflict, such as the of effects of brutalising law, coercion and collaboration, genocide, and forced migration.
The war on the Eastern Front is approached from different angles, such as gender, ethnicity, and identity, and sustained attention is paid to different aspects of genocide.
In this module you will explore a crucial period in the history of warfare, from the twelfth to the fifteenth century, when episodic conflicts gave way to near continual war. In Europe, ‘chivalric’ ideals were first established, in order to limit noble bloodshed and protect non-combatants, and then overturned, as the killing of nobles on the battlefield and the systematic terrorizing of civilian populations became standard strategy. Western crusaders conquered swathes of the Holy Land and led expeditions to North Africa, before the revanche of the Abode of Islam under the Ayyubids and then the Mamluks, while the Mongol Empire emerged to confront the powers of Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Military technology was transformed, with the invention of the trebuchet and then the gun, and new and potent battle tactics were developed, most famously the arrowstorm of the Hundred Years War. In this module, you will encounter a range of topics, perspectives and approaches to warfare across the medieval world, and be able to develop skills in identifying and assessing both new interpretations and primary sources, such as participant accounts, government records, and battlefield archaeology.
There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.
Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.
College fees
Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small College Membership Fee which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.
For students starting in 2025, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses.
Computer equipment and internet access
To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.
The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.
For most taught postgraduate applications there is a non-refundable application fee of £40. We cannot consider applications until this fee has been paid, as advised on our online secure payment system. There is no application fee for postgraduate research applications.
For some of our courses you will need to pay a deposit to accept your offer and secure your place. We will let you know in your offer letter if a deposit is required and you will be given a deadline date when this is due to be paid.
The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your fee status.
If you are studying on a programme of more than one year’s duration, tuition fees are reviewed annually and are not fixed for the duration of your studies. Read more about fees in subsequent years.
Scholarships and bursaries
You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course. You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.
Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.
Travis D Frain OBE BCA, Lecturer in Policing, Advisor & Former CTYAG National Chair, Counter Terrorism Policing HQ
I completed my undergraduate degree in 2019 and, unsure of where I wanted to go with my career, I enrolled with Lancaster on the MA International and Military History, which I completed in 2020. I knew I wanted to work in counterterrorism but was unaware of how best to apply the knowledge and skills I'd gained from studying History at BA Level. This MA programme allowed me to flesh out my interest for the area and study in far more detail the subjects that interested me, and I was able to combine my fledgling experience on contemporary national security matters, with a historical bank of knowledge that has assisted me in my day-to-day work life ever since! I am very grateful to Lancaster for the range of teaching that I was provided with on this course, and I would absolutely recommend this MA to anyone seeking to explore conflict and warfare throughout the past few thousand years of human history.
Henry Whitington, Archive Assistant, Army Flying Museum
I completed my History BA in 2020 and my International and Military History MA in 2021. I chose to study this programme for a number of reasons. Firstly, I studied History at an undergraduate level at Lancaster and found the department to be fantastic. The staff are all friendly and engaging and the topics taught at undergraduate level were fascinating. I therefore wanted to continue my studies in a department which I knew cared about my education and wanted me to succeed. Secondly, I knew I wanted to start a career in the heritage sector and the International and Military History MA allowed me to take modules which were focused on heritage.
Amy Stanning
I graduated from the MA in International and Military History programme in 2021. My first degree was in History and, after a career working in finance, I was looking for an opportunity to develop my interest in history generally and in military history in particular, in an academically rigorous environment. I was also looking to explore the opportunities for further study beyond the MA.
I visited the History Department at Lancaster and received a very warm welcome from staff, who listened to my concerns about returning to study and explained how the MA programme would help me with study techniques and methods.
The International and Military History MA programme provided opportunities to study my specific interests and a breadth of opportunities to study the subject more widely. I was particularly interested in the two core modules, ‘Warfare in History’ and ‘International Order and Disorder’, which provide longue durée coverage and the opportunity to study a wide range of fascinating topics for the first time.
In addition to the core modules, I took the modules in ‘A Special Relationship? The USA and Great Britain from World War II to the War on Terror’, ‘The Cold War in the Third World’ and ‘From Peter to Putin: Russia as a Great Power’. Each was taught by subject experts and included study of source material, drawn from extensive online archives, which proved invaluable when researching essays.
While reading for and attending a core module seminar I developed an interest in the finances of the eighteenth-century British State and with the help of my tutor identified unanswered questions that provided scope for further study and research. With much encouragement and guidance, I developed my interest in my MA Dissertation and have been successful with a funding application for a PhD at Lancaster.
The International and Military History MA programme offers students the opportunity to develop their practice of history within a flexible programme that can be developed to reflect their particular study interests. Students can tailor their study techniques to reflect their own approach and circumstances in a supportive and friendly environment. Studying within the History Department, students have access to a wide range of modules and meet students with a wide range of historical interests, adding to the richness of the Lancaster experience.
Take a Master's in History at Lancaster University
Enhance your career or academic credentials with a Lancaster University Master's degree in History, Digital Humanities or Military and International History.
The Centre for War and Diplomacy brings together research from multiple disciplines to provide historical context and inform an understanding of today's geopolitical challenges. Many of the staff teaching on the MA International and Military History are active within this research centre.
The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.
The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.
More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.
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