Welcome to History at the University of Head of History Dr Fabian Hilfrich A Community of Scholars and Students

Edinburgh History department ranked 17th in world by QS World University Ranking (2018) Research Excellence Framework (2014) History was ranked third in the UK for quality and breadth of research Over sixty academic members of staff researching and teaching over a huge geographic, chronological and methodological range. 300 Years of Teaching History at the

28 August 1719: Town Council of Edinburgh establishes chair in Universal History

First Holder: Charles Mackie

Charles Mackie Our Home: The William Robertson Wing William Robertson 1721-1793 William Robertson: , the City, the University and the Wide World An historian of Scotland--History of Scotland 1542–1603 (1759) but also of Spain -- History of the Reign of the Emperor Charles V (1769) and Spanish America -- History of America (1777) and the Indian sub-continent -- An Historical Disquisition concerning the Knowledge which the Ancients had of India (1791) Principal of Edinburgh University (1762) Commissioned Old College Building (begun 1789) Old College Robertson’s Tomb in Greyfriars Kirkyard Robertson’s Legacy

• Part of the great flowering of intellectual endeavour and enquiry now known as the Enlightenment • Rooted in Scotland and the city that became known as the ‘Athens of the North’ • Looking out to the world with curiosity and openness • Current William Robertson Chair is Professor Diana Paton [ Caribbean and Latin American history] Structure of the History MA degree*

Level/Year 1 Level/Year 2 Level/Year 3 Level/Year 4 •3 core History •1 core course •2 core courses on •Two Year-long courses (required): (required): historical skills and Special Subject Historian’s Toolkit, Introduction to methods (required) courses Early Modern History, Historiography Medieval Worlds •4 option courses, e.g. •Dissertation: 12,000- •2 – 3 further History Britain and the word piece of inde- •1 optional course, courses, e.g. Second World War; pendent research, e.g. Making of the American History, The Crusades and supported by a Modern World Global Connections Medieval Society; named supervisor since 1450, modern Japan: Politics, •2 - 3 outside European History, Culture and Social courses, e.g. course modern British His- Change 1868 - 1952 on the history of tory, Scottish History, Edinburgh, Economic History •Study abroad economics, lan- possible guages, social •2 – 3 outside sciences courses, as in year 1

•Introduction to •Further broadening • Opportunity for study •Independent research studying at university of chronological and abroad and writing-up of a •Study of broad his- geographical • Focus on particular substantial project torical periods and coverage themes, regions, or questions periods

*Please note that the non-compulsory courses on offer may vary slightly from year to year. History Teaching and learning at Edinburgh Honours (years 3 and 4):

•Most courses taught in weekly 2-hour seminars, or combination of lecture and seminar

•Core courses in historical skills and methods currently taught in a combination of lectures, seminars, and regular meetings with a named project supervisor

•Individual meetings with named supervisor to discuss research dissertation in fourth year www.ed.ac.uk applyedinburgh History at Edinburgh Study Abroad

• ERASMUS exchange programme with 17 European universities in 10 countries, currently* including, for example, the Università di Bologna; Humboldt Universität Berlin, Trinity College Dublin; Universidad de Salamanca; and the University of Warsaw

• International exchange programme with more than 40 universities in other parts of the world (China, Singapore, South Korea; Australia and New Zealand; Central and South America; Canada and the US)

• Examples currently* include: Georgetown University, University of Pennsylvania; University of California; University of Chicago; University of Sydney; National University of Singapore; McGill University; Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile

*Please note that destinations available for study abroad may be subject to change in future years. Our Teaching and Our Students The purpose of ‘research-led’ teaching: Sharing our enthusiasm. Our Teaching and Our Students • A huge variety of pre-Hons and Honours courses • Be bold and experimental in your additional course choices • Enjoy and explore one of the great capital cities of twenty-first century Europe. • Be part of our joint endeavour to investigate and understand the past. • Consider the History Department your home away from home. • Be challenged and work hard. • Take pride in your achievements, the Department, and to go on to influence the world. The History Handbook

• https://www.ed.ac.uk/history- classics- archaeology/information- current-undergraduates/your- studies/your-degree- programme/history-programme- and-course-handbooks The Community you create: UG Common Room The Community you create: Student Research Room The Community you create: The History Society You’re not alone! So don’t…..