History

About the course

BA (Hons) History explores how past societies, cultures and ideas have shaped the modern world. The course is designed for students who want to understand historical change across different periods and regions, while developing strong analytical, research and communication skills.

You will study history from a global and comparative perspective, engaging with political, social, cultural and intellectual histories. The course supports students interested in careers that value critical thinking, evidence-based argument and clear written communication.

What you’ll study

You’ll build a solid foundation in historical study, while gaining professional skills valued across education, public sector, heritage and media sectors, including critical analysis, independent research, academic writing, source evaluation and presentation skills.

Modules offered can vary each year but may include:

• Making History

• Global Histories

• Britain and the World

• History Dissertation

How you’ll learn

You will learn through:

• Lectures and interactive seminars led by subject specialists

• Small-group discussions focused on primary and secondary sources

• Coursework including essays, document analysis and presentations

• Independent research supported by academic supervision and feedback

You will also use digital learning resources, online archives and the University’s virtual learning environment to support your studies.

Future opportunities

A degree in history develops transferable skills that are highly valued by employers, including research, analysis, problem solving and effective communication. Graduates pursue careers across a wide range of sectors or continue into further study.

• Education and teaching

• Heritage, museums and archives

• Journalism, media and publishing

• Public sector, policy and administration

The skills developed also support progression to postgraduate study and professional training.

Facilities

You will benefit from learning environments that support historical research and academic study.

• Library collections including books, journals and digital archives

• Dedicated study spaces for individual and group work

• Access to online databases and primary source collections

• Academic support services and research guidance

These facilities support your academic development and help you apply history knowledge with confidence.

Course Modules

At Roehampton you will develop your own identity as a historian. You will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of exciting periods, places and themes. You will also get to develop a research project under the supervision of our excellent staff.

In your second year, you will develop your understanding of different social, cultural and technological approaches to history through the theme of war and conflict. You’ll expand your research and critical skills so that you can apply them across diverse concepts to particular places and periods; which might include the bitter divisions in Restoration society (Sex, Lies and Cheap Print: Politics, Culture and Society in England, 1660-1714) or gender, sexuality and race across Europe at the height of imperialism (The Politics of Sex and the Body in Europe, 1880-1914). We also currently offer a study trip to Rome and a work placement module, which could see you undertaking historical research, museum work or documentary-making.

In your third year, you will be able to pick from a variety of modules that have been specifically designed to give you in-depth exposure to the research specialisms of the History team, including gender, sexuality and feminism, The First World War and the history of magic. You will study original documents and prepare a dissertation or a special long essay involving independent research under the close guidance of a supervisor with expertise in the area that interests you.