Master Histoire — Mondes contemporains

The Mondes contemporains track of the Master Histoire, offered by Sorbonne Université in Paris, France, focuses on contemporary history, generally covering the period from the late eighteenth or nineteenth century through the present. As part of the discipline of history, this specialization trains students to interpret a wide range of primary sources, including archival documents, press, and audiovisual material, and to engage with historiographical debate on how recent history should be understood and periodized. Students typically study subjects such as the history of revolutions and political change, industrialization and social transformation, the world wars and their aftermath, decolonization, and more recent political and social history, often working with government archives, personal papers, and media sources. Methodologically, the field builds on the same core skills as other history specializations, namely source criticism and evidence-based argumentation, while dealing with a denser and more varied documentary record typical of recent periods. Graduates of contemporary history programs commonly pursue careers in education, archives, museums, publishing, journalism, and public administration, with the recent-history focus often supporting roles in policy research, media, or institutions dealing with twentieth and twenty-first century heritage. Some continue into doctoral research. This is a two-year master's degree delivered in French, reflecting the program's base at a university in Paris. It begins in September, and tuition is set at 250 EUR per year, consistent with standard public master's tuition in France. Applicants should have a solid grounding in historical method along with particular interest in the political and social history of the modern and contemporary world.