Introduction:
World History at the University of Cambridge combines the study of global and imperial history with the study of Asian, African and Latin American histories. It draws upon the expertise of faculty members in each of these areas, as well as in Middle Eastern, Oceanic and American history. The MPhil in World History enables students to develop strong expertise in this rich and expanding field of historical scholarship.

The MPhil in World History combines courses and a dissertation over a 9-month program. The core course focuses on historiographical debates in world history, leading to two options, usually in the history of a world region. From the first term, students also begin directed research for a 15–20,000 word dissertation, working closely with their Supervisor from the Faculty’s World History Subject Group. Students will also take language classes, a component that is required but not examined. This may be in any language offered from within the Cambridge University’s Language Centre, and may be elementary, continuing or advanced. In this way, the MPhil in World History offers students thorough preparation for an advanced research degree that will be highly valued in institutions across the world.

The MPhil in World History aims to:
- explore why world history is one of the fastest growing fields of research in current historiography, and how post-colonialism, trans-nationalism and their revisions have driven this burgeoning literature;
- train students in the use of the printed, manuscript, visual and oral sources for the study of world history, and introduce the use of sources, within and beyond the colonial and national archives;
- offer an intensive introduction to research methodologies and skills useful for the study of world history, including language skills;
- introduce new regions, perspectives, connectivities and ruptures in historical processes in their widest extent, and in local, continental or oceanic settings;
- provide an opportunity for students to undertake, at postgraduate level, a piece of original historical research in world history under close supervision: to write a substantial piece of history in the form of a dissertation with full scholarly apparatus.

Course Outline and Schedule:
There are five components to the MPhil in World History:
(1) core course,
(2) first option,
(3) second option,
(4) dissertation, and
(5) language.

For most students, the schedule below will be followed:
Michaelmas Term
Core Course: Debates in World History (weekly seminar x 8 weeks)
Option 1: (weekly seminar x 8 weeks)
Dissertation research and supervision
Language: 1 session per week (or semi-intensive in Easter Term)

Lent Term
Option 2: (weekly seminar x 8 weeks)
Dissertation research and supervision
Language: 1 session per week (or semi-intensive in Easter Term)

Easter Term
Dissertation: submission in early June
(Language: semi-intensive sessions if not taken in Michaelmas or Lent Terms)