History

Summary

History is about more than the past. It is about understanding how societies change and how those changes shape the world today.

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.

As you progress, you will 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.

Use digital humanities facilities to explore the past through technologies such as virtual reality, 3D scanning and printing.

Work with primary sources in our University 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 will be taught by experts who take the time to know you as an individual. Through small group seminars and support from your personal tutor, you will build confidence in your ideas and your voice.

You will also have access to wellbeing services, peer mentoring and dedicated careers support, all within a welcoming and supportive community.

Further information

BA History is a three year full time course based at Avenue Campus. You can choose to extend your degree with a year abroad or a placement year.

Find out more on our course page.

Course Modules

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.