Program Overview

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Modern History and Politics BA (Hons)

Year of entry

• 2026 - for 2026 entry see here - for 2025 entry see here

UCAS code

• L2V1

Duration of study

• 3 years or 4 years with international or placement year

Course summary

From historical events to political affairs, uncover the past and examine the key influences shaping today's society on Keele's Modern History and Politics BA. Learn how to apply history to address urgent issues facing politics and discover the complex challenges and contemporary issues in an ever-changing political world. Become equipped for an exciting career in the public or private sector, with advanced skills in problem-solving, analytical thinking and effective communication.

Why study Modern History and Politics at Keele University?

• Become part of a close-knit and supportive academic community that encourages you to discuss and debate with your lecturers and peers, and better appreciate the views of others
• Explore economic, political, social and cultural approaches to History
• Opportunity to gain hands-on experience in UK Parliamentary Studies in Year 3
• Engage in work placement opportunities that provide a rich experience, preparing you for employment after university
• A chance to broaden your horizons and study abroad at a partner university

Modern History and Politics at Keele

• Explore this course
• Course overview
• Course structure
• Entry requirements
• Fees and funding
• Supporting you
• Your future career
• Teaching, learning and assessment
• Foundation year

Course overview

Examine urgent issues facing politics and the influence of history in today's society through our Modern History and Politics degree at Keele. The integration of both subjects enables you to link academic theory to practices of government policy and political behaviour to make sense of people, ideas, and how these have affected societies through time. Learn to apply historical events to understand the power of global democracy, investigating the past and how this continues to shape society. You will be introduced to chronology and theory, debating 'defining moments' in the last 1000 years and how these have shaped the lives we live today.

Our BA programme enables you to make sense of politics through exploring concepts of power and democracy and applying these themes to contemporary issues to better understand the political world. In a global framework, you will explore economic, political, social and cultural approaches to History and grapple with a wide range of challenges including processes of political change, how decisions are made and how political systems operate in practice. In doing so, you will consider how we can build a better future.

You will develop your understanding of key historical themes and issues and how they have affected individuals through time, whilst critically analysing the interplay between government and society. With a foundation across history and politics, you will be able to apply your knowledge to specialist case studies and produce a 'Final Year History Project' or a 'Dissertation in Political and International Relations, or both. Your academic studies will be complemented and enhanced through optional modules that allow you to explore professional development opportunities, gaining experience across both subjects in preparation for employment.

You’ll also have the opportunity to study abroad with a partner university, to learn a modern language, or to gain a recognised TESOL qualification, through our Global Challenges Pathway, which will help you to develop global perspectives and build your awareness and experience of other cultures and practices.

Related courses

• Criminology and History
• Education and History
• English and History
• History
• Modern History and International Relations
• International Relations and Politics
• Philosophy and Politics
• Philosophy, Politics and Economics
• Politics
• Politics and Sociology
• Politics with Economics

Course structure

Year 1

• Compulsory modules
  • Defining Moments in World History
  • Making Sense of Politics
• Optional modules
  • History in Media and Film: The Presentation of the Past in Contemporary Culture
  • Modern History: From the Industrial Revolution to the Global Pandemic
  • Applied History: What’s Past is Present
  • British Politics: Welfare, Economy and Society
  • Exploring Political Inequalities
  • Becoming a Social Scientist

Year 2

• Compulsory modules
  • Themes, Sources and Debates in History
  • Global Democracy under Threat?
• Optional modules
  • History in the Headlines
  • Applied History: Working with the Past
  • Professional Experience with History (Year 2)
  • World Wars and the Age of Extremes
  • Race, The Environment and Struggles for Justice in American History
  • Digital Curation and History
  • The American South: US Summer School (Level 5)
  • Elections, Voters and Public Opinion
  • Public Policy and How To Make It
  • Environmental Politics and Policy
  • Social Science at Work
  • Work Placement for Social Sciences

Year 3

• Optional modules
  • Final Year History Project
  • Applied History: Looking to the Future
  • Professional Experience with History (Year 3)
  • Age of Migration in a Global Perspective
  • The Apocalypse will be Televised: Extinction on Film since 1945
  • The Twisted Road to Hitler
  • The American South: US Summer School (Level 6)
  • Dissertation in Politics and International Relations
  • The Dark Side of Politics
  • Building a Better Future
  • Engaged Social Science
  • Parliamentary Studies
  • Work Placement for Final Year Social Sciences

Entry requirements

• A Level: BBC
• BTEC: DMM
• T Level: Merit
• International Baccalaureate Diploma: 554 in three Higher Levels or 29 points
• Access to HE Diploma: 112 UCAS points in any Access to HE Diploma including Distinction in at least 15 Level 3 credits
• Welsh Baccalaureate / Bagloriaeth Cymru: The Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate is equivalent to one full A Level at the same grade and can be included alongside 2 other A Levels in a standard A Level offer for this course
• Scotland - Highers and Advanced Highers: BCCCC in five Highers, or CD in two Advanced Highers and CC in two Highers, or CCD in three Advanced Highers
• Ireland - Leaving Certificate: H3, H4, H4, H4, H4, H4 in the Irish Leaving Certificate
• China - Gaokao: 70%
• India - Standard XII: Average of 65% from four subjects in the ICSE, CBSE or Western Bengal Standard XII, or average of 70% from four subjects in any other Standard XII
• Germany - Abitur: 2.4 overall average in the Abitur
• France - Baccalaureate: 12 in the French Baccalaureate/International Option Baccalaureate/Baccalauréate Français International
• Hong Kong - Diploma: 443 from two electives and one core subject in the HKDSE
• Spain - Bachillerato: Overall average of 7 in the Título de Bachillerato
• Italy - Diploma di Esame di Stato: 75% in the Esame di Stato
• Cyprus - Apolytirion: 17.5 / 83% in the Apolytirion
• Portugal: Overall average of 15 in a Secondary Certificate
• Canada - Diploma: 60% / BCCCC in five courses in the Grade 12 Diploma
• Kenya - KCSE / Diploma: We do not accept the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education for direct entry. However, you can apply to study an International Foundation Year at Keele University International College. On successful completion, you can progress to an undergraduate degree at Keele
• Nigeria - Senior School Certificate / OND: We do not accept the Senior School Certificate (WAEC or NECO) for direct entry. However, you can apply to study an International Foundation Year at Keele University International College. On successful completion, you can progress to an undergraduate degree at Keele
• USA - Advanced Placement: 443 from three Advanced Placement subjects
• Ghana: We do not accept the West African Senior School Certificate Examination for direct entry. However, you can apply to study an International Foundation Year at Keele University International College. On successful completion, you can progress to an undergraduate degree at Keele
• Sri Lanka - Advanced Level: BBC in three Advanced Levels
• Malaysia - STPM: BBC in three Principal Level subjects in the STPM
• Pakistan - Secondary School Certificate: We do not accept the Secondary School Certificate for direct entry. However, you can apply to study an International Foundation Year at Keele University International College. On successful completion, you can progress to an undergraduate degree at Keele
• Singapore - A Levels (H2): BBC in three H2 Levels
• European Baccalaureate: 70% overall
• NCUK: Pass NCUK Foundation Year with BBC and a C in EAP English Language module
• Uganda - Advanced Certificate of Education: BBC in three Principal Level subjects in the Advanced Certificate of Education
• Zimbabwe - Advanced Level GCE: BBC in three Advanced Level subjects

English language requirements

• All our courses require an English language qualification or test. Most students meet this through a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please visit our English Language pages for details, including test information for international students. For students who require a test, this course requires a result from Group A.

Alternative and contextual offers

• We're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. We offer alternative offer schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying in the Keele region, and recognition of a range of additional qualifications.

General information

• The entry grades outlined indicate the typical offer, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary conditions based upon a candidate's application.

Tuition fees

• UK: £9,535 for the 2025/6 academic year (subject to Parliamentary approval)
• International: Band 1, £17,700 for the 2025/26 academic year

Supporting you

• To help you meet your academic and personal needs, we offer a multi-layered support structure. You will have an academic mentor and access to a member of staff from the Student Experience and Support team if you need any additional support, or someone to talk to, whether about your degree programme or life outside of your studies.

Societies

• We have a wealth of student-led societies here at Keele which cover a diverse range of interests. Joining a society is a great opportunity to continue to develop your skills away from your studies and can be beneficial when it comes to applying for graduate roles. It’s also a great way to make friends and share interests with fellow students.

Your future career

• Graduating with a degree in Modern History and Politics will equip you with a vast range of skills applicable to various careers in government and policy, journalism, media and business.
• You'll attain advanced skills to communicate effectively, think critically and present ideas appropriately to a wide range of audiences.
• You may wish to pursue a career in:
  • Parliament
  • Civil Service
  • Charities and NGOs
  • International Relations
  • Education
  • Heritage
  • Marketing
  • Law

Teaching, learning and assessment

• Benefit from a diverse mix of teaching methods, enabling you to build experience across a range of activities, developing skills in communication, critical thinking and problem solving. You will learn to work with peers to collaborate efficiently and present ideas effectively, as well as growing confidence in your own abilities and subject knowledge.
• Teaching is delivered via:
  • Lectures - A framework for reading and independent study, delivered by academic staff
  • Seminars - An opportunity to lead and discuss topics and issues in-depth with peers and academics in groups
  • Workshops - Exploring a research problem, working with peers to discuss and present ideas
  • Experiential learning activities - Apply your learning to situations and scenarios outside the classroom through field trips to partner organisations, simulations and placements
  • Digital learning - Access to the Keele Learning Environment (KLE) and Microsoft Teams to make use of a wide range of resources and research tools

Assessment

• With a wide variety of assessment methods, you will be able to demonstrate your expertise and skills gained throughout the programme.
• Assessments include:
  • Examinations - To test your knowledge of history and the interpretation of sources in the form of essays, short answers and/or document commentary questions
  • Essays - To test the quality and application of subject knowledge, demonstrating research abilities and written communication
  • Class tests - To showcase your ability to apply subject knowledge in a structured and focused way via MS Teams or in-person
  • Research design projects and short research papers - To test your knowledge of different research methodologies, the limits of historical knowledge and your ability to assess and analyse sources
  • Oral presentations and reports - To assess your understanding and ability to work as a team, communicating your knowledge verbally and visually
  • Portfolios - Including reflective exercises on the development of your subject-specific and employability skills
  • Authentic assessments - May involve the creation of blogs, podcasts/videocasts, posters, journalistic writing, outreach sessions and contributing to websites

Foundation year

• Studying a Foundation Year, for whatever reason, offers an alternative route to Keele, and provides a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree. That extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge and, perhaps most importantly, build your confidence.
• Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, offering preparation for your chosen degree with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete.
• This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, build your confidence, and provide a better understanding of higher education.
• On our Foundation Year, you'll join our undergraduate community from the outset, with access to all the facilities and support you'd get as an undergraduate student at Keele.

Course content

• Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.
• The Keele Foundation Year is a two semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BA (Hons) Modern History and Politics degree. For example, the Foundations of Humanities 1 module introduces you to the broad range of source material across the Humanities disciplines – from music to media – which enable us to analyse political, social or economic perspectives and attitudes to individuals, marginal groups and ‘mainstream’ society. In addition, Foundations of Social Sciences 1 module introduces you to the ‘backbone’ of social sciences, the concept of social inclusion, the factors that lead to exclusion and the impact this may have on individuals, families and communities. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do.

Course structure

• Semester one modules
  • FYO-00247 | Foundations: Breaking the code - Understanding Academic Writing | 15 credits
  • FYO-00257 | Foundations of Humanities - 1 | 15 credits
  • FYO-00263 | Foundations of Social Sciences - 1 | 15 credits
• Semester two modules
  • FYO-00261 | Advancing Humanities | 30 credits
  • FYO-00269 | Advancing Social Sciences | 30 credits

Entry requirements

• Between 40-48 UCAS points from at least 1 A level/level 3 qualification or equivalent, or
• Relevant work experience
• AND
• GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C), or Level 2 Functional Skills, or
• IELTS 5.5 (with 5.5 in all subtests)

How to apply

• Students will need to apply for BA (Hons) History with Foundation Year (UCAS code: VV10) through UCAS at www.ucas.com. You will then be contacted to confirm your second subject by a member of our team.

Direct entry students

• If you already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.

January entry overview

• We also offer a January start for some of our Foundation Year courses. Adopting a blended learning approach, the January start is particularly useful for students wishing to return to education following time out of studying, or who are seeking a flexible approach to their Foundation Year studies. Our January start is available across most of our Science, Humanities, Social Science, Health and Business courses.

Information for international students

• Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through Keele University International College (KUIC). Find out more about the International Foundation Year options on the KUIC website.