History with Foundation Year | University of Derby

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Course summary

Our foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence – with extensive support from our expert staff – before you advance to stage one of your honours degree. It could also be beneficial if you are planning a career change and want to get to grips with aspects of subjects which are new to you.

History at Derby has been ranked 1st for teaching (National Student Survey 2025), 1st for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2026) and 1st for teaching quality (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025).

History has the power to make us question who we are and how we have come to act the way we do. This History BA will turn you into a critical thinker, ready to challenge traditional beliefs or viewpoints.

WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?
We are one of the top history departments in the country for student satisfaction. Our degree teaches you to apply your historical knowledge to the workplace and focuses on modern and contemporary history – from the First World War to the history of medicine and nineteenth-century slums. There are no exams (you are assessed in other ways) and you can choose to study for a semester in America.

IS THIS COURSE FOR YOU?
You will enjoy this course if you have a sense of curiosity and a desire for a deeper understanding of the world around you.

HOW YOU WILL LEARN
Through lectures, seminars, self-directed study, tutorials, film screenings and work-based learning. You will also go on study visits to places such as the Imperial War Museum and the cities of Chester and Manchester.

OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES
You will interpret the past for the wider community, through projects and placements for arts and heritage organisations. You will also organise and promote a public history conference and present your research at it.

CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY
History graduates have great research and presentation skills, as well as a better understanding of the world around them. It can lead on to a variety of careers – in education, libraries, museums, archives, law, the civil service, marketing – or further study in history, museum studies, archive management or international relations.

How to apply

Application codes

Course code:: V101
Institution code:: D39

Open days

University of Derby Experience Day
28 Mar 2026, 09:30
Derby
University of Derby Open Day
19 Jun 2026, 08:30
Derby
University of Derby Open Day
20 Jun 2026, 08:30
Derby

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

55 Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)

85 Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.