Course Handbook - Faculty of History - University of Cambridge

There are several research seminars in Economic History going on at Cambridge during Full
Term: Early Modern Economic and Social History, Modern Economic and Social History,
Quantitative History, History and Economics, and Medieval Economic History. These
involve scholars -from both within and beyond Cambridge- presenting their research
(almost invariably still unpublished) to an audience of graduate students and senior
members of the Faculty, followed by an open discussion. Additionally, there is a Graduate
Workshop in Economic and Social History organised by graduate students and where
graduate students present their work. They are all wonderful opportunities to witness
research in progress, to understand how different methodologies are applied to specific
research questions, to learn about the latest research trends within the discipline and to
understand how to formulate questions and participate in discussions about other people’s
work, all of these important skills even on fields away from one’s own.
The programs are updated early each term in the History Faculty website.
Students for the MPhil in Economic and Social History are expected to attend these
seminars regularly, in particular the Core Economic and Social History Seminar in
Michaelmas Term (Thursdays, 5pm, Trinity Hall).
2.3 Assessment Procedures
2.3.1 Part I (40%)
Central Concepts and Problems of Economic and Social History and Theory (10%)
This is a term paper of up to 3,000 words based on questions dealing with themes discussed
in the sessions, and handed in at the end of Michaelmas term. There will be approximately
two questions per session. The purpose of these essays is to examine a central problem or
issue discussed in the relevant secondary literature in a critical way. They should
demonstrate sound knowledge of the literature in question, but should be more than a
narrative summary. The essays are generally quite broad ranging and should be based both
on readings listed in the individual bibliographies for each session as well as additional
more specific readings supplied by the session teachers.
Research Methods (10%; composed of Research Methods Training course -6%- and
Dissertation Proposal Essay -4%-)
Students will submit workbooks for the Research Methods Training Modules. These are
marked by the instructors involved in the Joint Schools Social Science Research Methods
Course on a fail, pass or high pass basis. For the purposes of its marking scheme, this MPhil
adopts the following convention: fail = 55%, pass = 67%, and high pass =75%. Non
submission of a workbook will count as a fail on that workbook. Students must receive a
majority of pass marks on their workbooks to pass this part of the course. A majority of
high passes will result in a mark of 75%. There is also an essay required for some of the
Modules. NOTE: FOR THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL HISTORY MPHIL THIS IS
THE SAME AS THE DISSERTATION PROPOSAL ESSAY BELOW, in which
students should endeavour to apply conceptual knowledge learned in the Research Methods
sessions to their own research plans. It should be handed in to the MPhil office in the
History Faculty.
Dissertation Proposal Essay (4%)
This essay, of up to 4,000 words, is intended to help students define the scope of the
dissertation as well as the sources and methods to be adopted. It is primarily an
historiographical investigation of the secondary literature, which contextualises the topic
which is to be investigated, in the dissertation. This is done by drawing on a relevant aspect
of the qualitative and quantitative methods teaching in the joint schools’ courses. The
approach should place the planning of research in a broad context that defends choices of
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