A postgraduate degree in the history of the Highlands and Islands, with themes including the clearances, the lordship of the isles, and the Scots abroad, is due to start next year at UHI, the prospective University of the Highlands and Islands.

The MLitt is the latest new degree to come from the UHI Centre for History based at North Highland College UHI in Dornoch. The programme will also provide opportunities for short courses and some modules will be available to study at postgraduate certificate and diploma level.

Dr Karen Cullen, director of the UHI Centre for History, said: “We’ll be exploring the history of the Highlands and Islands and its people from the medieval period through to the 20th century. It will be available to study online by students within the region, the rest of the UK and overseas. Students will interact with their lecturers through media such as discussion boards, presentations and podcasts and will have access to hundreds of primary sources.”

Other key themes are famine, gender and the family, the impact of war in the 20th century, myth and memory, and the practice and theory of oral history. All will focus strongly on Highlands and Islands history, but take due account of wider historical developments.

“Students will be provided with the skills needed to write the history of the Highlands and Islands at postgraduate level and have the opportunity to undertake their own research,” Dr Cullen added.

The degree is due to start in September 2011, while the postgraduate certificate should be available from January.

For more information see the website – www.history.uhi.ac.uk or email history@uhi.ac.uk

Source: UHI