History

About this course
Build on your desire to explore the past, encounter diverse societies and learn how to understand them with a History degree at Southampton. Our degree encourages you to pursue your own historical interests while developing critical thinking and communication skills for post-university life. As experts in our fields we work to generate new knowledge about human societies, from the era of Greek antiquity to the recent 'war on terror.' You can study a vast range of history with us, across many time periods (from Cleopatra, to the Nazis, to drones in the 21st Century), places (Britain, Europe, America, Russia, Africa, Asia, and even the moon) and perspectives.

You'll build a range of skills in research and communication, valued by employers. You’ll learn to absorb, analyse and assess a wide variety of viewpoints, and express arguments in oral and written form, thinking and working independently and in cooperation with others. These are highly valued by our graduates and reflected in our Graduate Outcomes where 98% of our graduates were in employment or further study 15 months after graduation” (Graduate Outcomes, 2022/2023, published in 2025)

Key features of the course

• Join a department ranked 10th for History research quality in the Complete University Guide, 2026.

• Access to digital humanities facilities will allow you to study and research through cutting-edge technologies including virtual reality, 3D scanners and printers, and a 360 degree fully immersive audio-visual centre.

• Explore the rich archival collections housed in the University's Special Collections, including the Wellington, Palmerston and Mountbatten papers, and the Parkes archive, one of the largest Jewish documentation centres in Europe.

Student Support
You’ll be taught by supportive experts who know you as an individual. Small-group seminars and personal tutors will help you build confidence. You’ll also have access to wellbeing resources, peer mentoring, and careers advice, all in a friendly, welcoming community.

Further information
The BA History is a three-year, full-time course at our Avenue Campus. You can also apply to add a year abroad or placement year, extending your degree to four years. For details, visit our course page.

Over the three years of this History course, You'll look at the different ways historians have approached the past, and study different periods in ancient and modern history.

Year 1: Learn periodisation, which is the process of categorising the past into discrete blocks of time. You'll also study world ideologies, understanding the ideas that have been fundamental to human societies and cultures.
Year 2: Broaden your studies by choosing options as diverse as Roman emperors and imperial lives, Witchcraft in England, Retail therapy: The cultural history of shopping, Blitzed Brits: Politics, society and culture in the Second World War.
Year 3: Shape your ideas for your dissertation. You'll work closely with a group who are interested in a similar historical period to critically engage with key literature and historiographical approaches.

You will also have opportunities to tailor your learning through student-selected units and an elective placement.

For a full list of modules available please visit the course page - https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/history-degree-ba#modules.

On this course you will learn through a range of activities that may include lectures, classes and tutorials, coursework, individual and group projects, and independent learning (studying on your own).

You will be able to demonstrate what you have learnt through a variety of assessment methods, such as dissertations, essays, individual and group projects, oral presentations, laboratory reports, written and teamwork.

You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor who will offer support and advice throughout your studies. You will also receive feedback throughout your course, enabling you to identify areas for improvement before your work is formally assessed.