Close
group of students in a lecture

MSc Economic History (Research)

A programme to develop the enhanced research skills valuable for those wishing to proceed to a research degree

The MSc Economic History (Research) provides the essential training and skills needed to pursue research in any aspect of economic history.

You will be able to choose from a wide range of elective courses in economic history, allowing you to compile a programme according to your interests and career goals. You will also choose one or more research training courses and a compulsory economic history course, as well as taking a core course focused on major theories and approaches in the field. An important component of the programme consists in the completion of a major research dissertation on an approved topic of your choice.

Economic history combines the skills of the economist and statistician with those of the historian, political scientist and sociologist. The programme provides a broad training in social science research methods and their application to historical study, including the role of theory, evaluation, analysis and explanation, quantitative techniques and computing, the use of sources and presentational skills.

This research track can be taken as a stand-alone qualification or as the first year of a research degree, followed by 3–4 years of MPhil/PhD, which would then make it eligible for ESRC funding. You should indicate in your personal statement if you wish to be considered for the 1+3 programme. 

Student Profile

The programme is addressed to those who have studied history, economics or any related discipline or social science at the first degree level and now wish to specialize in research in Economic History. 

You will therefore leave the programme with a portfolio of highly transferable skills that can be applied across a wide variety of employment sectors. This rigorous academic training responds to labour market requirements for enhanced research skills and is designed to be valuable to those proceeding to research degrees and university teaching, as well as to those who intend to pursue careers in the public service, finance, industry, commerce, education, the media or law. The programme also aims to meet the needs of mid-career professionals who would like to refresh their research skills and understanding of the subject.

Teaching and Learing

The degree is a twelve month programme, consisting of two compulsory half units, a compulsory dissertation (which counts as two units), and optional courses to the value of two units selected from the prescribed list, which must include at least one of our advanced survey courses on modern or pre-modern economic history.  The training responds to the need for enhanced research skills and is designed to prepare those wishing to proceed to research degrees.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for the MSc Economic History programme is an Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent in a social science.

Competition for places at the School is high. This means that even if you meet our minimum entry requirement, this does not guarantee you an offer of admission.

If you have studied or are studying outside of the UK, please consult the Information for International Students.

A 1000-word research proposal must also be approved as part of the entry requirements. 

Programme Structure

Full-year, five unit programme. Students must take two compulsory half-unit courses, optional courses to the value of two units and a dissertation (which counts as two units) as shown.

Part Time students should take 2.5 units in both years of their programme. Minor adjustments to this course load may be permitted where possible. EH401 must be taken in Y1 of the programme.

(0.5 = Half unit)
(N/A = not available)

Paper 1

EH401 Historical Analysis of Economic Change (0.5)

And one of the following:

EH402 Quantitative Analysis in Economic History I (0.5)

EH426L Quantitative Analysis in Economic History II (0.5)

EH426M Quantitative Analysis in Economic History II (0.5)

EH427 Topics in Quantitative Analysis in Economic History (0.5)

Paper 2

Courses to the value of 1 unit from the following:

EC465 Economic Growth, Development, and Capitalism in Historical Perspective‡

EH430 Monetary and Financial History

EH446 Economic Development of East and Southeast Asia

EH454 Human Health in History (N/A 23-24)

EH476 The Economic History of War (N/A 23-24)

EH482 The Origins of the World Economy: Europe and Asia, 1000-1800

EH483 The Development and Integration of the World Economy in the 19th and 20th Centuries

Paper 3

Either another course from Paper 2 above or two half-units to the value of 1 unit from the following:

EH404 India and the World Economy (0.5) (N/A 23-24)

EH409 Chinese Economic History: Culture, Institutions and Economic Growth (0.5)

EH413 African Economic Development in Historical Perspective (0.5)

EH421 Economic History of Colonialism (0.5) (N/A 23-24)

EH426L Quantitative Analysis in Economic History II (0.5) (N/A 23-24)*

EH426M Quantitative Analysis in Economic History II (0.5)*

EH427 Topics in Quantitative Analysis in Economc History (0.5)*

EH428 History of Economics: Making Political Economy into a Social Science (0.5) (N/A 23-24)

EH429 History of Economics: Ideas, Policy and Performativity (0.5)

EH431 Women in Economic History (0.5)

EH432 Economic History and Geography: Advanced Topics and Methods (0.5)*

EH436 Economic History of the Early Modern New World (The Americas) (0.5)

EH441 Macroeconomic History (0.5) (New for 23-24!)

EH442 Labour Markets in Historical Perspective (0.5) (New for 23-24!)

EH443 The History of Premodern Money (0.5) (New for 23-24!)

EH444 Population Dynamics and Economic Growth: A Historical Perspective (0.5) (New for 23-24!)

EH448 Craft, Human Capital and Innovation in Europe, 1400-1800 (0.5) (New for 23-24!)

EH452 Latin American Development and Economic History (0.5)

EH457 Living Standards since the Industrial Revolution: The British Experience c. 1750-2000 (0.5) (N/A 23-24)

EH463 The Long-Run Analysis of Firms and Industries (0.5)

EH486 Shipping and Sea Power in Asian Waters c. 1600-1860 (0.5) (N/A 23-24)

LL4CB Modern Legal History: Private Law and the Economy 1750-1950 (0.5) (N/A 23-24)

Paper 4 & 5

Dissertation which is assessed as:

EH496 Research Dissertation A: Contextualisation, Theory and Research Design 

And

EH497 Research Dissertation B: Implementation: Evidence, Analysis and Contribution

*Indicates that the course may have pre-requisites, please consult the course guide for more information.

‡Students who wish to take EC465 must take and succesfully complete the pre-sessional course EC400. Applications for EC400 must be submitted by the end of June 2023. Full details on this course and how to apply can be found here

Course Videos

Course videos can be found here.

Programme and School Regulations

Please see the LSE Calendar for full information on programme and school regulations.

MSc Economic History (Research) Handbook

You can access the Economic History (Research) handbook for 2023/24 here.

 

Further Information

How to Apply

How to apply to a Graduate programme at LSE.

Full details on the MSc Economic History (Research) programme, including fees information, can be found here.

Financial Support

Please contact the Financial Support Office for more information.

Key Contacts

MSc Programmes Director: Professor Olivier Accominotti

MSc Economic History (Research) Programme Director: Dr Mohamed Saleh

MSc Programmes Officer: Oli Harrison

You can find more information about the profiles of faculty, teaching fellows and graduate teaching assistants in the People section of our webpages.

Quick Links

LSE For You (Login and password required)

Moodle (Login and password required)

 

 

 

 

Print or share

 

 

 

Contact us

Telephone

Professor Olivier Accominotti (MSc Programmes Director) +44 (0)20 7955 6773

Mr Oli Harrison (MSc Programmes Officer) +44 (0)20 7955 7046

Email

Professor Olivier Accominotti o.accominotti@lse.ac.uk

Mr Oli Harrison o.harrison1@lse.ac.uk

Address

Economic History Department, London School of Economics and Political Science