Master of Transnational History

The Master's degree in ‘Transnational History’ (part of the ‘Humanities’ major), awarded by Université PSL, is in keeping with the transnational and global turn that has revolutionised historical studies over the last twenty years as it radically challenged the axiomatic national framework. The curriculum is designed to educate students in the theory and practice of this approach to history.

ThePSL Master of Transnational History is jointly supervised by the École nationale des chartes  - PSL and the École normale supérieure - PSL.

Transnational history touches on global, imperial, connected and cross-cultural history and cultural transfer issues. It can be defined as an open approach that seeks to question the usual divisions and compartmentalization of historical science.

Transnational history focuses on mobility and circulation (of people, ideas, objects, texts, works of art), and on the history of globalisation, interactions and connections. The discipline also revisits traditional questions such as the construction of the modern state, the origins of the French Revolution, the nationalisation of European societies or the wars of the 20^th century.

The courses are taught at two locations:

• 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 curriculum is designed so that students might combine the demands of in-depth empirical research with the broader perspective of their subject matter:

• A core curriculum which teaches students historiographical references and methodological tools. Particular emphasis is placed on archival research on a global scale and in the digital humanities.
• At least two seminars are organized to ensure geographical and thematic specialisation.
• The programme's interdisciplinary approach, with seminars in anthropology, art history, sociology, geography, literature and philosophy, is another of its structuring principles.
• The curriculum focuses 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). To this end, students can learn two foreign languages from the extensive choice of language courses offered at ENS.
• Research dissertations, whose subjects will be defined in the first semester in agreement with the teaching staff, may cover all periods of history, European and non-European areas, and a variety of themes (e.g., the history of empires, the history of circulation, the history of knowledge, the history of the visual arts, and the history of borders and territories). Students must submit their dissertation at the end of the M2 course programme. They are required to deliver a progress report at the end of the M1 course programme.

Why choose the ENS - ENC Master of Transnational History?

Intensive education (a formative core curriculum, methodological support), close mentoring (one-to-one tutoring, collective research and writing workshops)

An Interdisciplinary and  internationally - focused curriculum

• 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).

A few members of the academic 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 circulations); 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 professors

This is a research master's programme, and students will be supported in the writing of a thesis (with a view to receiving a doctoral grant). Students wishing to prepare for the agrégation competition exam may apply for auditor status at the ENS.

Furthermore, through the subjects covered, the importance placed on foreign languages and the semester spent abroad, students will be prepared to apply for international jobs (‘Cadre d’Orient’ competitive examination, NGOs, international organisations).

Candidates must apply and enrol at the École Normale Supérieure - PSL.