Program Overview

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War Studies & History BA

Key Information

Course type: Joint honours Delivery mode: In person Study mode: Full time Required A-level: AAA Full entry requirements, including contextual requirements Duration: Three years Application status: Open Start date: September 2025 Application deadline: 29 January 2025 Optional study abroad Apply via UCAS

Course Description

The Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in War Studies & History offers a flexible way to study war, conflict and their histories from an incomparably broad perspective. Led by the Department of War Studies, the BA is enriched by the breadth and knowledge of one of the UK’s most global History departments. Many War Studies and History students find that the combination of war studies and history allows them to develop a deeper, more complex understanding of conflict and international relations, which provides a superb basis for a range of career choices. You will approach the subjects from a variety of unique angles including politics, international relations, history, philosophy, sociology, diplomacy, and strategic studies. Thanks to the range of subjects on offer, you can choose a diverse variety of modules to create an exciting programme of study. The course will enable you to develop the ability to collect and evaluate a broad range of evidence, analyse complex issues and present arguments in a clear, concise and effective manner, both orally and in writing.

Key Benefits

• King’s is amongst the world’s leading universities for the study of war, conflict and their histories, with close relations between the two departments teaching the course. We rank 2nd in the UK for International Relations (The Guardian University Guide per Subject 2023).
• You will be taught by leading international experts who work in close collaboration with governments, armed forces and NGOs across the world.
• Outstanding flexibility, allowing you to focus on your fundamental interests of war and conflicts in addition to covering key historical events from medieval Europe to modern India.
• Frequent guest lectures throughout the year by high-profile international speakers, including former diplomats, military leaders and government ministers.
• We offer a dedicated focus on employability skills, assisting you to pursue careers in defence, foreign affairs, humanitarian aid, risk analysis, journalism and banking.
• Our alumni have gone on to work for the UK government, the United Nations, the EU, NATO, for consultancy firms and Charities such as Oxfam.
• Located in the heart of London, giving unparalleled access to government, the media, museums and major libraries and research institutes.

Course Essentials

Base Campuses

• Strand Campus: Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.
• Waterloo Campus: Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties

Special Features

• Optional study abroad: On this programme, you will have the opportunity to apply to study abroad, supported by the Study Abroad Tutor in your department and King’s Global Mobility Office. Together with partner organisations around the world, you will be supported in navigating your international, educational journey, developing new skills and competences and learning to apply different perspectives to your chosen discipline.

Entry Requirements

Subject Requirements

• Required subjects: None
• Preferred subjects: History A-Level (or equivalent) is generally expected. Applications from those without such a qualification can be considered, where the application clearly demonstrates interest in and engagement with History as an academic subject.

A-Levels

• Required grades: AAA
• Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.

Contextual A-Level Information

• ABB
• Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

• 36 points overall or an aggregate score of 18 from three Higher Levels.
• Notes: The total point score of 36 includes TOK/EE.

Contextual International Baccalaureate Information

• 33 points overall or an aggregate score of 16 from three Higher Levels.
• Note: The total point score of 33 includes TOK/EE.

Alternative Accepted Qualifications

• Access to HE Diploma
• BTEC Nationals/CTECs
• Cambridge Pre-U
• European Baccalaureate
• Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

International Applicants

Equivalent International Qualifications

• Course specific subject requirements are indicated in subject requirements above

English Language Requirements

• English language band: B
• Please note that nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries (as defined by UKVI) who have successfully completed high school in the respective country, are not required to complete an English language test. For information on our English requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.

Selection Process

Contextual Consideration

• We make contextual offers for this programme, which can be found in the entry requirements. As part of the assessment process, we take into account contextual information to gain a more complete picture of each application. More information can be found on the Contextualised admissions website.

Deferrals

• Applications can be submitted for deferred entry by choosing the appropriate year of entry on the UCAS application.
• If your circumstances change and, therefore, you need to request a deferral after an offer has been made, then we can generally permit these for this programme. However, each deferral request will be considered on a case-by-case basis and we reserve the right to decline any post-offer deferral request. Requests should be submitted via a message on King’s Apply with an explanation of the reason for making the request.

Foundation Courses

• Applicants studying Foundation Year programmes in the UK are welcome to apply for this programme. Foundation programmes from other universities and further education providers in the UK are considered on a case-by-case basis. Whether or not we can consider a particular foundation year as suitable for study at King's depends on the content of the syllabus and modules studied. In the past we have accepted foundation programmes from a number of other institutions.

Graduates

• Our general entry requirements are based on A-level or equivalent. However, where an applicant is completing/has completed a degree, we are able to consider the degree study as part of the assessment of the application.

Personal Statement

• Your personal statement is one of the many factors in the overall assessment of your application, and is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the university and inform us of your commitment to the programme and how the programme fits into your career plans, as well as any work experience or extracurricular activities you have done.

Reference

• We are able to accept a military reference for all programmes within the Department of War Studies.

Resits

• We are able to consider applicants who have retaken or are retaking their qualifications.

Transfers

• Transfers into this programme are not permitted.

Teaching Methods

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Group Tutorials
• Independent Study
• Directed self-study

Assessment

• Essays
• Written Examinations
• Individual & Group Presentations
• Written Dissertation
• Coursework

Structure

• Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 360 credits, divided into 120 credits for each year of study.

Required Modules

• You are required to take 30 credits from War Studies and 30 credits from History.
• You are required to take the following War Studies modules:
  • Contemporary Security Issues (15 credits)
  • Studying War: Past and Present Perspectives (15 credits)
• You are required to take the following History module:
  • Historical Skills, Sources & Approaches (30 credits)

Optional Modules

• You are required to take one of the following War Studies optional modules:
  • The Causes and Consequences of War (30 credits)
  • The History of Modern War (30 credits)
  • The Global Experience of War (30 credits)
• You will select 30 credits from the following list of History modules:
  • Medieval Worlds: Connection, Comparison & Transformation (AD) (30 credits)
  • Early Modern World (30 credits)
  • Making the Modern World, (15 credits)
  • Making the Modern World, 1900- (15 credits)

Employability

• Our graduates go on to work in a range of fields including government (most commonly in Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs in the UK and abroad), academia, journalism, banking (often in emerging markets or risk analysis), research and policy think-tanks, humanitarian organisations and other international organisations.

Tuition Fees

Full Time Tuition Fees UK

• The UK tuition fee for the academic year is currently £9,535 per year. This is based on the UK Government's cap.

Full Time Tuition Fees International

• The International tuition fee for the academic year is £27,100 per year.
• Please note that the International tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.

Additional Costs

• In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:
  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
  • Library fees and fines
  • Personal photocopies
  • Printing course handouts
  • Society membership fees
  • Stationery
  • Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
  • Graduation costs
  • Alternative venue examination fees

Funding

• To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.