International Slavery Studies MA

12 Months On Campus Masters Program

University of Liverpool

Program Overview

The MA International Slavery Studies at Liverpool offers one of the world’s few postgraduate programmes dedicated to understanding historical and modern forms of slavery, forced labour and human trafficking — from transatlantic slavery to contemporary unfree labour. It suits students who want to explore slavery’s legacies, human rights, global justice and social policy, combining academic research with real-world relevance.

Curriculum structure

This is a 1-year full-time (or 2-year part-time) MA, structured around core modules, optional electives and a dissertation.

In the initial phase, you’ll study foundational modules such as “Studying Slavery: Themes and Concepts” and “Political Science Research Methods”, where you examine theoretical frameworks and methodological tools needed to study slavery and unfree labour across history and contemporary contexts.
Then you’ll take pathway-specific compulsory modules depending on whether you choose the Modern Slavery route (e.g. “Modern Slavery, Forced Labour and Human Rights”, “Anticolonial Legacies in International Politics”) or the Historical Slavery route (e.g. “Transatlantic Slavery: Histories and Afterlives”, “How We Study the Past”). This allows deep study of either modern human-rights–oriented issues or historical slavery, as per your interest.
Towards the end of the programme you complete a substantial dissertation (60-credit) under supervision — giving you opportunity to carry out original research on a topic of your choice, and to engage directly with archives, historical sources or modern slavery issues.

Focus areas

“History of slavery & abolition; modern slavery, forced labour and human rights; slavery & unfree labour across global contexts; political, social and legal aspects of slavery; memory, heritage & commemoration; research methods in social & historical studies.”

Learning outcomes

“You will gain an advanced, interdisciplinary understanding of slavery and unfree labour; develop strong research-method skills in both qualitative and historical/social research; be able to critically analyse the legacies of slavery and contemporary forced labour; and produce independent, publishable-quality research.”

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Because you’ll be part of a highly research-oriented, heritage-linked programme, this MA is especially strong on hands-on experience, archival exposure, public-history engagement, and real-world relevance. Students don’t just read about slavery and human trafficking — they study it with the tools, archives, and institutional partnerships that make the learning deeply concrete. Here are some of the major ways you benefit:

Access to the Centre for the Study of International Slavery (CSIS): As a student you become part of CSIS — the University’s dedicated research centre on slavery, unfree labour, memory and heritage. Through CSIS, you get exposure to ongoing research on historical and contemporary slavery across the globe, including collaboration with scholars working on transatlantic slavery, forced labour, migration, modern slavery legislation, and more.
Institutional partnership with the International Slavery Museum (National Museums Liverpool): The programme has a unique link with the Museum — meaning you can study commemoration and memorialization of slavery, and enjoy opportunities for a project-based placement at the Museum, or with archives or heritage organizations. This offers first-hand heritage-sector, archival, museum-education, or public-history experience.
Practical research and methodological training: Core modules such as Political Science Research Methods and Studying Slavery: Themes and Concepts equip you with strong tools for both historical and social-scientific research. Whether analysing archival sources, modern human trafficking data, legislation, or oral histories — you learn methods to handle complex material.
Small-group seminars and workshops, tailored supervision, and interactive learning: Teaching is delivered via seminars, workshops and tutorials rather than large lectures, encouraging active discussion, critical reflection, and close mentorship — crucial when dealing with sensitive and complex issues like slavery, memory, human rights and legacy.
Opportunities for interdisciplinary exposure and real-world engagement: Because the MA covers both historical and modern slavery, study isn’t limited to history — you also engage with politics, human rights, law, heritage, sociology, and global justice. That gives flexibility to work with archives, NGOs, heritage & museum work, policy research, human rights organisations, or public-history initiatives.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from this MA often find themselves working in heritage/museum roles, human-rights advocacy, research, or international organisations — common first jobs include Heritage Officer / Museum Curator, NGO / Human Rights Officer, Policy Analyst on Forced Labour & Migration, or Research Fellow / Academic-Track Researcher. With the unique focus of the degree and the strong institutional backing, you’ll be prepared for careers combining history, social justice, public policy or global human rights work.

Here’s what the University of Liverpool offers — and the kinds of outcomes you can expect:

Career-support services for graduates: The University’s Careers & Employability team remains available after you graduate, offering CV/interview guidance, job search support, graduate-job listings (via Handshake), and networking opportunities including access to alumni networks.
Institutional partnerships offering real-world pathways: The MA is housed within the Centre for the Study of International Slavery (CSIS), which partners with the International Slavery Museum — this opens doors to placements, heritage-sector contacts, museum education/outreach roles, and opportunities in remembrance and public-history projects.
Strong graduate employability record: Historically, the University of Liverpool has had one of the highest graduate-employability rates among its peer group (Russell Group).
Transferable skills valued across sectors: The programme builds critical research, communication, historical analysis, and human-rights awareness — skills relevant for roles in NGOs, international organisations, advocacy, heritage, education, policy research, and more.
Long-term academic & public-impact value: Because International Slavery Studies is rare and globally relevant, the MA carries long-term credibility — helping you if you aim for advanced research (PhD), public-policy work, or roles in global heritage, human rights, and social justice.