History with Year Abroad

About this course
Build on your desire to explore the past, encounter diverse societies and learn how to understand them with a History degree at Southampton. Our degree encourages you to pursue your own historical interests while developing critical thinking and communication skills for post-university life. As experts in our fields, we work to generate new knowledge about human societies, from the era of Greek antiquity to the recent 'war on terror.' You can study a vast range of history with us, across many time periods (from Cleopatra, to the Nazis, to drones in the 21st Century), places (Britain, Europe, America, Russia, Africa, Asia, and even the moon) and perspectives.

You'll build a range of skills in research and communication, valued by employers. You’ll learn to absorb, analyse and assess a wide variety of viewpoints, and express arguments in oral and written form, thinking and working independently and in cooperation with others. These are highly valued by our graduates and reflected in our Graduate Outcomes where 98% of our graduates were in employment or further study 15 months after graduation” (Graduate Outcomes, 2022/2023, published in 2025)

Key features of the course

• Join a department ranked 10th for History research quality in the Complete University Guide, 2026.

• Access to digital humanities facilities will allow you to study and research through cutting-edge technologies including virtual reality, 3D scanners and printers, and a 360 degree fully immersive audio-visual centre.

• Explore the rich document collections of the University's Special Collections, including the Wellington, Palmerston and Mountbatten papers, and the Parkes archive, one of the largest Jewish documentation centres in Europe.

• Spend a year abroad at a university in Europe, the United States, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea or Australia in your third year.

Student Support
You’ll be taught by supportive experts who know you as an individual. Small-group seminars and personal tutors will help you build confidence. You’ll also have access to wellbeing resources, peer mentoring, and careers advice, all in a friendly, welcoming community.

Further information
The BA History with Year Abroad is a four-year, full-time course at our Avenue Campus. For details, visit our course page.