History and International Relations

Studying BA (Hons) History and International Relations offers specialist training in both subjects, while giving you the tools to approach them from an interdisciplinary perspective. Our history component covers a vast range of time periods and regions, from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome to the medieval world, the Tudors, the Americas, China, India, and modern global conflicts and revolutions.

Alongside this, the international relations element will deepen your understanding of how states, international organisations, and non-state actors interact on the global stage. This blend of subjects will give you insight into these issues from both a modern and historical perspective, encouraging you to question what you know, rethink what matters, and consider how we can create a better world.

You’ll be supported by passionate staff who bring a wealth of expertise and diverse research approaches to both international relations and history. As well as developing your academic skills, you’ll have opportunities to work with tutors and the wider community to produce original research with real-world impact. Our flexible programme allows you to specialise in areas that interest you. You’ll be introduced to a variety of approaches in both History and International Relations, and learn not just about events and people, but how to apply different theories and methods to study them. We also place a strong emphasis on employability, offering valuable practical skills training, including advanced analytical techniques that many employers seek.

This course has a foundation year available.

Features and Benefits

• We are one of the largest centres for historical study in the UK.

• Take advantage of the opportunity to undertake collaborative projects with museums, art galleries or other external partners, equipping you with practical 'real world' experience and helping you to gain a competitive edge in the graduate jobs market.

• The Department of History, Politics and Philosophy has a wealth of expertise, with leading researchers whose published work covers a wide range of times and places, and this research underpins all of our teaching. The department is also home to the Manchester Centre for Public History and Heritage.

• International relations staff are also research-active and have expertise in areas including critical international relations, digital politics and US foreign policy, and the course content is directly informed by these research specialisms of the teaching team.

• Our fantastic team of highly skilled researchers and academic staff are ready to support your learning and provide you with the essential tools for your studies – both in person and online.

• The Joint Honours degree offers an opportunity to study two subjects at degree level, enabling you to benefit from high quality teaching across more than one subject.

• The teaching team is friendly, supportive and committed to research-informed teaching, providing an intellectually challenging environment for our students. As a student at Manchester Metropolitan University you will benefit from pastoral care and a study support network designed specifically for Joint Honours students.

• Employability is embedded into all areas of the programme, including the modules, teaching methods and assessments. The course is geared, in part, around the practical skills needed to enhance your career prospects, and we provide regular networking opportunities with alumni and employers. We also offer a range of volunteering, internship and placement opportunities, and a variety of work-based tasks.

• Our course provides flexible opportunities for internationalisation, including an opportunity to study a foreign language as part of the course, and the option to study abroad in your second year.