This course is available through the following application route(s)
The MA European History (UNICA) is a stimulating two-year interdisciplinary, comparative Master’s programme which offers the choice between partner universities in six European capitals – Dublin, Berlin, Oslo, Paris, and Rome. Over two years, students study in two of the collaborating universities, beginning and completing their programme in their host university. This programme provides excellent preparation for students wishing to pursue a PhD in European history and equips students with a wide range of skills in the international jobs market.
This MA programme offers an innovative and structured introduction to graduate study of European history. The programme has been designed for graduate students with a particular interest in European history, who intend to continue to more advanced graduate research. What constitutes European history has been endlessly debated and it is not the purpose of this programme to establish particular claims for the chronological and geographical boundaries of European history. The programme instead encourages students to think about European history within a comparative framework, be that comparing regions, nations, or other categories of analysis.
Over the course of the two year programme, students have the opportunity to study at two leading European universities, developing an understanding of different historiographical and methodological approaches, appreciating the value of comparative approaches to European history, and developing linguistic and other skills necessary for more advanced graduate study. The mobility of the programme enables students to develop their own transnational networks with researchers and fellow students throughout Europe.
The MEH is a two year Master’s programme divided into four phases (two winter and two summer terms). The programme starts in the winter term and it has a modular structure. It is made up of 120 Credits Points (CP) - 30 CP each term. All students will study in at least two different universities. A minimum of 30 ECTS credits must be obtained abroad. The Master’s thesis is to be written in English and will be supervised by academic staff of two of the different partner universities.
Modules cover topics such as the First World War, political violence, comparative revolutions, Communism, European imperialism, gender in modern history, and the history of science and technology.
Programme Outcomes include:
Our graduates progress to a wide range of interesting careers.
Many of our alumni work in international business, foreign affairs and Dublin's vibrant tech sector, where a background in the global humanities is particularly valued. Other graduates work in senior positions across a diverse range of industries including education, the media, NGOs and the Arts, whilst some continue on to PhD research.
Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.
Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.
| Trimester | Credits | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 1 of: Trimester - partner university: Students must spent one trimester at a partner university and can choose to spend a second trimester studying at a second partner institution. |
HIS42370 | European History (UNICA) (Berlin) | Autumn and Spring (separate) | 30 |
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 1 of: Trimester - partner university: Students must spent one trimester at a partner university and can choose to spend a second trimester studying at a second partner institution. |
HIS42410 | Euro History (UNICA) (Vienna) | Autumn and Spring (separate) | 30 |
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 1 of: Trimester - partner university: Students must spent one trimester at a partner university and can choose to spend a second trimester studying at a second partner institution. |
HIS42550 | Euro History (UNICA) (Rome) | Autumn and Spring (separate) | 30 |
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 1 of: Trimester - partner university: Students must spent one trimester at a partner university and can choose to spend a second trimester studying at a second partner institution. |
HIS42570 | Euro History (UNICA) (Paris) | Autumn and Spring (separate) | 30 |
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 1 of: Trimester - partner university: Students must spent one trimester at a partner university and can choose to spend a second trimester studying at a second partner institution. |
HIS42890 | Euro Hist (UNICA) Oslo | Autumn and Spring (separate) | 30 |
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 3 of: Year 1 and Year 2 Options: Students must take 30 credits in their first trimester and a further 30 credits in the autumn trimester of year 2 if they do not spend the trimester at a second partner institution. If they study abroad at the partner institution in Year 2, they will need to take 30 credits at UCD in spring of Year 1. |
HIS32730 | The Digital Humanities | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 3 of: Year 1 and Year 2 Options: Students must take 30 credits in their first trimester and a further 30 credits in the autumn trimester of year 2 if they do not spend the trimester at a second partner institution. If they study abroad at the partner institution in Year 2, they will need to take 30 credits at UCD in spring of Year 1. |
HIS41780 | Origins of Modern Diplomacy | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 3 of: Year 1 and Year 2 Options: Students must take 30 credits in their first trimester and a further 30 credits in the autumn trimester of year 2 if they do not spend the trimester at a second partner institution. If they study abroad at the partner institution in Year 2, they will need to take 30 credits at UCD in spring of Year 1. |
HIS41840 | Approaches to the Middle Ages | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 3 of: Year 1 and Year 2 Options: Students must take 30 credits in their first trimester and a further 30 credits in the autumn trimester of year 2 if they do not spend the trimester at a second partner institution. If they study abroad at the partner institution in Year 2, they will need to take 30 credits at UCD in spring of Year 1. |
HIS42390 | Global Revolutions | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 3 of: Year 1 and Year 2 Options: Students must take 30 credits in their first trimester and a further 30 credits in the autumn trimester of year 2 if they do not spend the trimester at a second partner institution. If they study abroad at the partner institution in Year 2, they will need to take 30 credits at UCD in spring of Year 1. |
HIS42690 | Delving into the Archives | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 3 of: Year 1 and Year 2 Options: Students must take 30 credits in their first trimester and a further 30 credits in the autumn trimester of year 2 if they do not spend the trimester at a second partner institution. If they study abroad at the partner institution in Year 2, they will need to take 30 credits at UCD in spring of Year 1. |
HIS42860 | The Body in Modern Warfare | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 3 of: Year 1 and Year 2 Options: Students must take 30 credits in their first trimester and a further 30 credits in the autumn trimester of year 2 if they do not spend the trimester at a second partner institution. If they study abroad at the partner institution in Year 2, they will need to take 30 credits at UCD in spring of Year 1. |
HIS42980 | Middle East State & Society | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 3 of: Year 1 and Year 2 Options: Students must take 30 credits in their first trimester and a further 30 credits in the autumn trimester of year 2 if they do not spend the trimester at a second partner institution. If they study abroad at the partner institution in Year 2, they will need to take 30 credits at UCD in spring of Year 1. |
HIS43000 | The Global Cold War 1945-1991 | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 3 of: Year 1 and Year 2 Options: Students must take 30 credits in their first trimester and a further 30 credits in the autumn trimester of year 2 if they do not spend the trimester at a second partner institution. If they study abroad at the partner institution in Year 2, they will need to take 30 credits at UCD in spring of Year 1. |
HIS41850 | Approaches to the MiddleAges II | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 3 of: Year 1 and Year 2 Options: Students must take 30 credits in their first trimester and a further 30 credits in the autumn trimester of year 2 if they do not spend the trimester at a second partner institution. If they study abroad at the partner institution in Year 2, they will need to take 30 credits at UCD in spring of Year 1. |
HIS42480 | War, Peace, and Globalisation | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 3 of: Year 1 and Year 2 Options: Students must take 30 credits in their first trimester and a further 30 credits in the autumn trimester of year 2 if they do not spend the trimester at a second partner institution. If they study abroad at the partner institution in Year 2, they will need to take 30 credits at UCD in spring of Year 1. |
HIS42490 | Landscape and Environment in Ireland, 1500-1800 | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 3 of: Year 1 and Year 2 Options: Students must take 30 credits in their first trimester and a further 30 credits in the autumn trimester of year 2 if they do not spend the trimester at a second partner institution. If they study abroad at the partner institution in Year 2, they will need to take 30 credits at UCD in spring of Year 1. |
HIS42590 | De Valera's Ireland | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 3 of: Year 1 and Year 2 Options: Students must take 30 credits in their first trimester and a further 30 credits in the autumn trimester of year 2 if they do not spend the trimester at a second partner institution. If they study abroad at the partner institution in Year 2, they will need to take 30 credits at UCD in spring of Year 1. |
HIS42810 | French Colonial Identities in North Africa | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 3 of: Year 1 and Year 2 Options: Students must take 30 credits in their first trimester and a further 30 credits in the autumn trimester of year 2 if they do not spend the trimester at a second partner institution. If they study abroad at the partner institution in Year 2, they will need to take 30 credits at UCD in spring of Year 1. |
HIS42840 | Modern Asia | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 3 of: Year 1 and Year 2 Options: Students must take 30 credits in their first trimester and a further 30 credits in the autumn trimester of year 2 if they do not spend the trimester at a second partner institution. If they study abroad at the partner institution in Year 2, they will need to take 30 credits at UCD in spring of Year 1. |
HIS42850 | NATO’s Wars: From Bosnia to Afghanistan | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 3 of: Year 1 and Year 2 Options: Students must take 30 credits in their first trimester and a further 30 credits in the autumn trimester of year 2 if they do not spend the trimester at a second partner institution. If they study abroad at the partner institution in Year 2, they will need to take 30 credits at UCD in spring of Year 1. |
HIS42940 | Body, Disease and Society | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 3 of: Year 1 and Year 2 Options: Students must take 30 credits in their first trimester and a further 30 credits in the autumn trimester of year 2 if they do not spend the trimester at a second partner institution. If they study abroad at the partner institution in Year 2, they will need to take 30 credits at UCD in spring of Year 1. |
HIS42950 | How the West came to rule | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - E)1 of: Take this module in Year 2 of the programme |
HIS42120 | UNICA Dissertation | Autumn&Spring&Summer(separate) | 30 |
Stage 1 Options - F) Min 0 of: If your home university in the programme is not UCD, you must register to both these modules. Students, whose home university is UCD, should not register to these modules. |
HIS42900 | UNICA Euro Hist Exchange 1 | Autumn&Spring&Summer(separate) | 30 |
Stage 1 Options - F) Min 0 of: If your home university in the programme is not UCD, you must register to both these modules. Students, whose home university is UCD, should not register to these modules. |
HIS42910 | UNICA Euro Hist Exchange 2 | Autumn&Spring&Summer(separate) | 30 |
Lia Brazil
MA 2016
As part of the UNICA MA in European History I spent one semester each at UCD, the Humboldt-Universität, Berlin and King's College London, before returning to UCD to complete my dissertation. The major advantage of the two-year programme was the variety of modules and teaching methods offered by each institution. In Berlin I also had the opportunity to attend language classes and practice German. UCD History was an excellent base with a vibrant and active research community. My experience doing the UNICA MA gave me the tools and ideas to put together my current PhD project, which I am now undertaking at the European University Institute in Florence.
Tuition fees are charged for the first year of the programme only.
Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.
Applicants need an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university, in a relevant subject area of humanities or social sciences (history, international relations, politics, European studies, economics and sociology, or modern languages). Prerequisites for applying for this Master’s Programme are proficiency in English (level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, CEFR) and a good knowledge of a second modern foreign language (level B2 of the CEFR). A command of German (level A2) is also required for applicants at Humboldt-Universität.
Application and admission processes are regulated and administered by all participating universities, according to the local practice. Study places are awarded by each partner university. Applicants have to send their application directly to one of the partner universities. For the period of mobility: All students must apply and register for the programme through their home university.
In UCD you will be asked to complete a supporting statement outlining your reasons and motivation for wishing to undertake the course. In addition you will be required to provide an academic writing sample, e.g. an essay written during your degree or dissertation. (there is no word limit). In addition, a CV will be required
Two academic references from referees who are in a position to assess your intellectual ability, maturity and motivation.Ideally both academic but they can also be one academic and one professional. You can upload your references to your application itself or if your referees prefer, they can email their letters of reference to gradhistory@ucd.ie.
In addition, formal registration and course enrolment is required at those participating university/ies where students attend for at least one semester.
Students meeting the programme’s academic entry requirements but not the English language requirements, may enter the programme upon successful completion of UCD’s International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information: https://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/int%20pmp/
Full Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: Yes
General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to European History:
| ROWCLASS | Apply to |
|---|---|
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | Z222 European History Master of Arts Full-Time Commencing September 2026 Graduate Taught Closed |
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | Z222 European History Master of Arts Full-Time Commencing September 2027 Graduate Taught |