Sweden · Master's
Uppsala University
MA History
Uppsala University
Course Overview
Uppsala University's MA in History is taught entirely in English from Sweden's oldest university (founded 1477) and one of Northern Europe's leading research institutions (QS top 130). The two-year (120 ECTS) Master's lets students specialise in early modern, modern, global, or cultural history, drawing on Uppsala's exceptional archives — the Carolina Rediviva library holds the Silver Bible and one of Europe's richest manuscript collections. Teaching is seminar-based with a strong emphasis on independent research and a substantial Master's thesis (45 ECTS).
Sri Lankan applicants — typically Arts-stream graduates from Colombo, Peradeniya, and Kelaniya, plus heritage-sector and teaching professionals — choose Uppsala for: 100% English-medium delivery, a research-intensive environment that feeds directly into PhD study, and Sweden's open post-study work pathway. The programme suits students aiming for academia, archival and museum work, policy research, or further doctoral study in the humanities.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) in History or a closely-related humanities / social science discipline, with at least 90 ECTS in History or equivalent.
- check_circle Sri Lankan applicants with BA degrees from Colombo, Peradeniya, Kelaniya, and Sri Jayewardenepura (Arts / History / Archaeology) are competitive.
- check_circle A written sample (Bachelor's thesis or research essay) demonstrating historical analysis is strongly valued.
- check_circle Application via universityadmissions.se — applications open mid-October, deadline January 15, application fee SEK 900.
- check_circle Statement of purpose and certified, translated transcripts uploaded to universityadmissions.se.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall (no band below 5.5) — Swedish 'English 6' equivalent.
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 90 Overall.
- check_circle Cambridge English: C1 Advanced.
- check_circle Programme is taught 100% in English — Swedish not required for the degree.
- check_circle Waived if your Bachelor's was taught and assessed entirely in English (most Sri Lankan applicants with English-medium degrees qualify with an MOI letter).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (SEK) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, non-EU) | SEK 100,000 | Rs. 4,000,000 |
| Living Expenses in Uppsala (12 months) | SEK 120,000 | Rs. 4,800,000 |
| Student Visa, Residence Permit & Health Insurance | SEK 14,000 | Rs. 560,000 |
| Books, Materials & Archive Travel | SEK 8,000 | Rs. 320,000 |
| Total Year 1 Investment | SEK 242,000 | Rs. 9,680,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Uppsala MA History graduates qualify for Sweden's 12-month post-study residence permit to job-search, converting to a work permit at a qualifying offer. The degree is a strong feeder into PhD positions across Scandinavia and Europe (often salaried). Graduates work in archives, museums, heritage management, publishing, education, and policy research. Sri Lankan returnees route into university lecturing, the Department of National Archives, museum and heritage roles, curriculum development, and policy research at think tanks such as the Centre for Policy Alternatives.
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ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.