How interdisciplinary is the MA Modern Humanities and Society?

Genuinely interdisciplinary — literature, history, philosophy and cultural and political thought taught in dialogue with cross-method research training. Your dissertation is expected to draw on at least two disciplinary strands.

Do I need a humanities BA to enrol in the MA Modern Humanities and Society?

Preferred but not required. Applicants with a 2:2 in any subject plus two years of relevant professional experience (editorial, policy, research, civil service, cultural) are welcome via the alternative entry route, with a written sample.

Can I do the MA Modern Humanities and Society part-time?

Yes. The MA can be taken over 24 months part-time. Online and distance routes are available, including for the dissertation. The course is designed to fit alongside working roles in editorial, policy or research.

What kind of dissertation do students write on the MA Modern Humanities and Society?

Original interdisciplinary research, 12,000–15,000 words, on a contemporary question. Recent dissertations have covered climate change in twentieth-century philosophy, migration narratives in British public discourse, and the philosophy and politics of platform-economy work.

Is the MA Modern Humanities and Society recognised by UK universities?

Yes. It is a UK-recognised master's degree taught in London and meets entry requirements for PhD programmes across humanities disciplines at UK and international universities.

MA Modern Humanities and Society | LSJHML London | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA Modern Humanities and Society at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree for graduates and professionals applying humanities methods to contemporary public, cultural and policy questions. You will work across literature, history, philosophy and cultural and political thought, train in advanced research methods, and produce a 12,000-to-15,000 word research dissertation that demonstrates serious humanities reasoning on a contemporary problem.

This MA is for the person who wants the depth of single-subject humanities study but also the range to read across the present's most interesting questions. By the end of the MA Modern Humanities and Society you can write a research dissertation that holds up against peer review, contribute to public-humanities conversation in editorial and policy spaces, and progress to doctoral work or senior research roles.

Key Features

Interdisciplinary research core — methods across literature, history, philosophy and cultural and political thought.
Applied humanities modules — humanities for public policy, environment and humanities, migration and identity, technology and humanities.
Primary-source research training using London archives, the British Library and digital collections.
Industry-led masterclasses from working editors, curators, policy researchers and academic humanists.
12,000–15,000 word dissertation supervised by an active humanities researcher.
September and January intakes with full-time and part-time routes.

What You Will Learn

The MA Modern Humanities and Society is structured around the analytical and writing skills serious public-humanities work requires. You graduate able to design and execute interdisciplinary research, write argument that respects evidence and audience, and contribute credibly to scholarly and editorial conversation.

Interdisciplinary research methods — archival, textual, interview, oral-history, digital.
Modern intellectual history — the long shape of contemporary public debates.
Cultural and political thought — major frameworks and their applications.
Applied philosophy — research ethics, policy reasoning, applied analysis.
Sociology and social theory for humanists.
Public humanities — translating scholarly argument for general and editorial audiences.
Research ethics — consent, voice, representation, do-no-harm in humanities research.
Dissertation methodology — design, scholarly apparatus, write-up at MA standard.

Who This MA Is For

Humanities graduates moving into senior research, editorial or policy roles.
Working journalists, editors and policy researchers wanting research-track humanities credentialing.
Career-changers from finance, technology or the public sector returning to the humanities.
Future academics preparing for PhD work across humanities disciplines.

Career Pathways

Graduates of the MA Modern Humanities and Society move into research, editorial, policy and cultural roles. Typical post-MA destinations include:

Humanities Researcher (think tank, university research office, parliamentary research)
Cultural Programme Coordinator (lead — major cultural institution)
Policy Analyst (senior — civil service, public-interest charity)
Lecturer (FE college humanities programme)
Editorial Researcher (lead — longform magazine, broadcast factual, academic press)
Communications Officer (lead — academic society, cultural body, public-interest charity)

The MA also serves as a launchpad for doctoral research across humanities disciplines and for senior research and editorial roles in public-humanities settings.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in a related subject, OR a 2:2 in any subject with two years of relevant professional experience.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement (max 1 page) outlining your motivation, relevant experience and intended specialism.
Two academic or professional references.
Applicants without a related undergraduate degree may be considered with significant industry experience and a written sample.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.