History and International Relations

Ready to grow your understanding of the world we live in and learn about our past to build a better future?

Course outline

The BSc (Hons) History and International Relations programme is an excellent choice for those looking to broaden their horizons and make the most of their potential. It perfectly balances contemporary history with international relations to introduce you to topics such as nationalism, state-building and inter-state relations.

You will delve into topics such as the history of war and peace along with religious and ethnic conflict. The programme offers plenty of opportunity to gain practical experience through field trips and the integrated placement year. You will dig through local archives to practice first-hand research to provide you with a flying start to your career.

Key benefits

• Power up your future – Develop the skills employers around the globe look for. Gain an edge in a fast-changing world and thrive in your career with Aston Power Skills.

• Excellent experience - Ranked 1st in the UK for ‘student experience’ (History; Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025)

• Quality teaching - Ranked 2nd in the UK for ‘teaching quality’ (History; Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025)

• Highly ranked - History at Aston University was ranked 8th overall in the UK (Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025)

• Safe in our hands - Ranked 4th in the UK for ‘student-to-staff ratio’ (International Relations; Guardian, 2025)

• Top teachers. 98% of students felt positive about the teaching on their course (History programmes; National Student Survey, 2024).

• Opportunity to grow. 97% of students felt positive about the learning opportunities available to them (History programmes; National Student Survey, 2024).

• Earn more – Our graduates are among the highest paid in the country, earning on average £35,400 five years after graduating (Longitudinal Education Outcomes, 2024)

• Gold standard teaching – Aston University was awarded Gold – the highest possible rating for the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF, 2023)

Where can this degree take me?

The transferable skills that our history and international relations programmes provide mean that our graduates are successful in finding employment in a wide range of roles such as:

• Academic librarian

• Archivist

• Broadcast journalist

• Conservation officer

• Editorial assistant

• Civil service administrator

• Human resources manager

• Museum education officer

• Policy officer

• Solicitor

• Teacher

Our graduates have gone on to work at companies and public sector organisations such as IBM, Interserve, Capgemini, Virgin Active and the BBC.