Course summary
Are you ready to critically explore the past and understand the crucial role of politics in shaping the world's future?
Course outline
The BSc (Hons) History and Politics programme offers a well-rounded combination of historical and political exploration with practical experiences like field trips to historical sites and hands-on research in local archives.
The programme delves into topics such as nationalism, state-building, war and peace, religious conflicts, and globalisation's historical context. Within the politics segment, you will explore topics such as security, political economy, democratisation, ethics, sports, gender, protests and religion.
With the help of the integrated placement year, studying history and politics together fosters critical thinking, independence, and advanced analytical skills, preparing you for a successful career in a range of industries.
Key benefits
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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.
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Excellent experience - Ranked 1st in the UK for ‘student experience’ (History; Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025)
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Quality teaching - Ranked 2nd in the UK for ‘teaching quality’ (History; Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025)
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Excellent prospects - Politics at Aston University was ranked 7th in the UK for ‘career prospects’ (Guardian, 2025), 10th in the UK for ‘graduate prospects – on track’ (Complete University Guide, 2025), and 12th in the UK for ‘graduate prospects’ (Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025).
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Safe in our hands - Ranked 7th in the UK for ‘student-to-staff ratio’ (Politics; Guardian, 2025)
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More for less – Ranked 8th in the UK for ‘value added’ (Politics; Guardian, 2025)
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Highly ranked - History at Aston University was ranked 8th overall in the UK (Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025)
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Top teachers. 98% of students felt positive about the teaching on their course (History programmes; National Student Survey, 2024).
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Opportunity to grow. 97% of students felt positive about the learning opportunities available to them (History programmes; National Student Survey, 2024).
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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)
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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 politics programmes provide mean that our graduates are successful in finding employment in a wide range of roles such as:
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Area manager
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Tax specialist
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Journal editor
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Research officer
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Senior economic analyst
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Account manager
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Sales manager
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Finance executive
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Data insight consultant
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Strategy analyst
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Marketing executive
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Business operations executive
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Project manager
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Teacher
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Financial analyst
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Policy officer
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Data protection officer
Our graduates have gone on to work at companies and public sector organisations such as Lidl, HMRC, West Midlands Police, PwC, HS2, Samsung and Birmingham City Council.
Modules
For a full list of modules and course objectives, visit the course page on Aston University's website: https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/history-and-politics-bsc
Assessment method
For more information on how this course is assessed, visit the course page on Aston University's website: https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/history-and-politics-bsc
Apply by
14 January
This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.
Application codes
- Course code:
- LV21
- Institution code:
- A80
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus Code:
- -
- Points of Entry:
- Year 1
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Aston University, Birmingham has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?
How to apply
Apply by
14 January
Application codes
- Course code:
- LV21
- Institution code:
- A80
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus Code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level - BBC - BCC
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDM
Access to HE Diploma - D: 15 credits M: 30 credits
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 29 points
GCSE/National 4/National 5
T Level - D
All applications are considered on an individual basis and the whole application is reviewed carefully, including previous and predicted qualifications, experience, reference and your motivation to study the course. Whilst the grades listed here are our entry requirements, we understand that predicted grades are only an estimate. We will therefore consider applicants with predicted grades that fall below these entry requirements if the application is of a high standard. However, any offer made will not be lower than stated above. Entry onto our Foundation Year maybe offered as an alternative to the degree course if lower entry grades are achieved.
Aston University welcomes applications from students with a wide range of qualifications from the UK and overseas, including combinations of qualifications. If your qualifications are not listed here and you wish to check whether they meet the entry requirements for this course, please contact the university.
Contextual admissions
Aston Ready is our contextual offer scheme that could reduce your undergraduate offer by one or two grades. Assessed at the point of application, there are no additional forms to fill in. Details of eligibility criteria can be found on our website.
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
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
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.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9790 | Year 1 |
| International | £22575 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
*On 20 October 2025, the Government announced that tuition fees in England for Home students will be increased annually in line with inflation, starting in 2026. The Government have since confirmed that it intends to determine the inflation-linked increase using the Retail Price Index, although this is subject to parliamentary approval. According to the Department for Education’s Policy Paper published on 26 November, the annual tuition fee for the Programme commencing in the academic year 2026/7 is expected to be £9,790, subject to parliamentary approval. If you are holding an offer at Aston, when the annual tuition fee for your Programme for the 2026/27 academic year has been confirmed, we will write to update you. We will also provide as much information as we can about the inflation-linked increase in tuition fees for future academic years. The duration of your programme is set out at the top of this webpage and you will be responsible for the payment of an annual tuition fee in each of these years. The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees annually in accordance with its Terms and Conditions (https://www.aston.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2025-11/aston_university_undergraduate_terms_of_enrolment_20262027.pdf) and subject at all times to the maximum tuition fee caps set by Government from time to time. This means that your total tuition fee may be higher than stated above. An increase in fees will allow the University to cover the increased costs of delivering the course and ensure it is able to maintain high standards of education and facilities.
**For international fee payers, the University reserves the right to increase tuition fees annually in accordance with its Terms and Conditions (https://www.aston.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2025-11/aston_university_undergraduate_terms_of_enrolment_20262027.pdf) and subject at all times to the maximum tuition fee caps set by Government from time to time. Please visit our website for more detailed information.