Master of Transnational History

The Transnational History master's degree (part of the Humanities major), awarded by Université PSL, aligns with the transnational and global turn that has revolutionised historical studies over the last twenty years or so, radically calling into question the a priori evidence of the national framework. It is designed to train students in the theory and practice of this approach to history. 

ThePSL Master of Transnational History is run by the École Nationale des Chartes - PSL andthe École normale supérieure - PSL.

Transnational history, whose issues overlap with those of global, imperial, connected, cross-cultural history, and cultural transfer, can be defined as an open approach that seeks to question usual divisions and compartmentalisation.

Transnational history focuses on mobility and circulation (of people, ideas, objects, texts, works of art), the history of globalisation, interactions and connections. It also provides an opportunity to revisit classic issues such as the construction of the modern state, the origins of the French Revolution, the nationalisation of European societies or the wars of the 20th century.

The courses are taught at two sites:

• École Nationale des Chartes - PSL: 65, rue de Richelieu, Paris 2^nd arrondissement
• ENS: 45, rue d'Ulm, Paris 5^nd

This master's degree is affiliated to the Translitteræ graduate programme. 

An Innovative Curriculum

The course is designed to enable students to combine the demands of in-depth empirical research with the need to place their subject matter in a broader perspective:

• The core curriculum is designed to help students acquire historiographical references and methodological tools. Particular emphasis is placed on training in archival research on a global scale and in the digital humanities.
• Specialisation, both geographical and thematic, is ensured by at least two specific seminars.
• Another structuring principle of the programme is interdisciplinarity, which is reflected in seminars in anthropology, art history, sociology, geography, literature, and philosophy.
• The focus is on the international dimension. Students are strongly encouraged to carry out research visits in their field and to spend a semester at a partner university abroad offering a transnational studies course (Berlin, Leipzig, Geneva, London). As part of this, students can choose to learn two foreign languages from a wide range of language courses at the ENS.
• Research dissertations, the subjects of which will be defined in the first semester in consultation with the teaching staff, may cover any period of history, the history of European and non-European spaces, and a variety of themes (the history of empires, the history of circulation, the history of knowledge, the history of the visual arts, borders and territories). The dissertation will be submitted at the end of the M2 course programme. A progress report will be required at the end of the M1 course programme.

Why choose the ENS - ENC Master of Transnational History?

Intensive training(a structuring core curriculum, methodological support), close supervision(individual tutoring, group research, and writing workshops)

Interdisciplinary training with an international outlook:

• Ten mobility fieldwork grants or to study at partner universities (Switzerland, Germany, Italy, the UK, etc.)
• An exceptional choice of language courses

Two internationally renowned institutions within PSL, in Paris, a world metropolis that offers considerable resources for transnational history research (libraries and archives, teaching institutions, cultural life).

Some of the members of the teaching team

Patrick Arabeyre* (history of law); Jean-Pierre Bat* (history of Africa); Hélène Blais (imperial history); Olivier Canteaut* (medieval history); Christophe Gauthier* (history of the media); Charlotte Guichard (history of art); Jean-Louis Halpérin (history of law); Rahul Markovits (history of circulation); Christophe Gauthier* (history of the media); Charlotte Guichard (history of art); Jean-Louis Halpérin (history of law); Rahul Markovits (history of circulation); Olivier Poncet* (modern history); Pascale Rabault-Feuerhahn; Pierre Salmon (contemporary history); Nathan Schlanger* (history of heritage); Valérie Theis; Stéphane Van Damme; Édouard Vasseur* (modern history); Blaise Wilfert-Portal (transnational cultural history); Claire Zalc (history of migrations)

* ENC teachers

This is a research master's programme, and students will be helped to write athesis(with a view to being awarded doctoral grants). Those wishing to prepare for the agrégation can apply for a place as auditors at the ENS.

Furthermore, the subjects covered, the importance attached to foreign languages, and the semester spent abroad offer the possibility of applying for jobs in the international arena(concours de cadre d'Orient, NGOs, international organisations). 

Applications and registrations should be made through the École Normale Supérieure - PSL.