Qualification : MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE
Award Type and NFQ level : TAUGHT MASTERS (9)
CAO/MU Apply code : MHP54
CAO Points :
Closing Date : 30 June 2025
Local History is the study of a particular place or region in the past, including its people, culture and events. It is the foundation upon which a sense of community and belonging is built. It examines closely how historic incidents and individuals have affected the development of the region in question, providing a deeper understanding of the past and how it has shaped the present.
The MA in Local History at Maynooth University prepares students to research their chosen place, identifying and analysing sources, compiling evidence, structuring a dissertation and producing a final written thesis. An interdisciplinary approach grounded in history draws on complementary fields such as anthropology, archaeology, geography and sociology. This focus on specific places and communities has the potential to uncover previously unknown or overlooked aspects of history, while there is a parallel emphasis on understanding the past in relation to the present.
Students who have an honours degree with a 1:1, a 2.(i) or high 2.(ii) grade in History before the programme begins will be offered a place. Other applications will be considered depending on available spaces. Applicants must have a recognised primary degree which is considered equivalent to Irish university primary degree level.
Minimum English language requirements:
Applicants for whom English is not their first language are required to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study. For information about English language tests accepted and required scores, please see here. The requirements specified are applicable for both EU and International applicants.
Maynooth University's TOEFL code is 8850
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The MA in Local History (full-time) is a one-year programme (90 credits) in which participants complete a combination of compulsory and optional modules as well as a minor thesis on a topic agreed with the programme director and an assigned expert supervisor. A total of 40 credits are awarded for thesis preparation (semester 1, 10 credits) and thesis completion (year long).
Core modules introduce participants to key elements of historical research including literature review, historiography, theoretical concepts, methodological and ethical issues, bibliography, referencing and presentation. Lectures, seminars and in-class discussion illuminate the nature and main classes of evidence for local history, the background and biography of the sources, their potential and limitations, and the skills required to identify, assemble, examine and interpret them professionally and effectively.
Optional modules (10 credits each) cover aspects of Irish history from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century, typically including the following topics: heritage, conservation and cultural tourism, the evolution of the urban landscape, landed estates and designed landscapes, domestic architecture, war and revolution, rural settlement, the archaeology and history of medieval Ireland.
Course Duration: 1 year full-time
Online application only. To make an application please click here.
To apply for your chosen postgraduate study at Maynooth University, please ensure you have the following documents to make an application:
- Evidence of your primary degree
- Academic transcripts
- A copy of your passport
- A personal statement
Applicants for whom English is not their first language are required to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study. For information about English language tests accepted and required scores, please see here. The requirements specified are applicable for both EU and International applicants.