History, Philosophy and Politics

Change how you think. As a student of History, Philosophy and Politics at Lancaster, you’ll build the skills to explore and understand the important challenges that confront our world.

With hands-on training in historical research, you will hunt down and analyse evidence from a range of sources and periods considering questions of truth, ethics and ambiguity. You will gain a thorough knowledge of the political conditions of the past and present – as well as insight into the factors that will shape the future.

Why study History, Philosophy and Politics at Lancaster?

• Address the challenges of our world past, present and future, from environmental change to war and conflict, human rights and scientific revolutions

• Engage with texts and artefacts crossing continents and centuries

• Apply philosophy in real-world scenarios, examining philosophy’s role in addressing global, social and political challenges

• Access our specialist research centres that provide opportunities for academics, practitioners and students across disciplines to gather for public talks, conferences and training

• With core modules in all three subjects, you can also tailor your degree by selecting optional modules that reflect your own interests as you progress through your programme.

• Train in high-level analysis, critical thinking and persuasive argument and prepare for an ambitious career

• Take advantage of internship opportunities with Lancaster’s Richardson Institute for Peace Studies, where you can work on live research projects with NGOs, think tanks and charities

How will I become a historian?

As a historian, you’ll have honed a special skill: how to seek out evidence, and how to analyse and interpret it. You’ll find evidence from a variety of sources: from laws, letters and diaries to paintings, photographs and maps, and physical remnants such as buildings and burial places. You’ll use these to explore a range of periods and areas, such as the relationship between humans and the environment; experiences of death in past cultures; human rights, and the histories of languages and translation.

Not all historians agree on interpretations of the past. You’ll develop skills in reading historical arguments, uncovering how historians select and present evidence and engage critically with fellow scholars. In the process, you’ll learn how to build your own argument to engage, inform and persuade – forging essential skills for history, and the workplace.

How will I become a philosopher?

Philosophy is an activity, not just a body of knowledge. At Lancaster, we do philosophy together to help you become one of the skilled and self-directed investigators, thinkers, communicators, workers and agents of change our current world needs.

Through regular contact and practice in lectures, seminars and workshops from the very start of your studies; scaffolded project work across your second and third year; and one-to-one guidance in independent study and portfolio work, we will share, test and develop ideas together, and you will develop your own thoughts, interests and creativity.

As a student with us, you will gain both breadth and depth of philosophical knowledge. You will work with philosophers who are actively shaping the discipline in ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, feminist philosophy, philosophy of science, history of philosophy, global philosophy and political philosophy. And you will study a wide range of thinkers, texts, traditions, methods and problems from the past and present of worldwide philosophy: from the good life and justice to mind and consciousness, to the methods and limits of the arts and sciences.