Program Overview

BA (Hons) Joint Honours History and Politics

Overview

Studying History and Politics gives you the long-term perspective and allows you to see how the past relates to the political present. This Joint Honours degree provides you with the opportunity to study two subjects at degree level. The programme is carefully developed to balance modules from each subject area, while allowing students to undertake an independent project in Year 3.

Course Information

• Entry year: September 2026
• Typical offer: 104-112 UCAS tariff points
• Course length: 3 years full-time, 4 years with placement/overseas study
• UCAS code(s): VLC3

Course Overview

Studying BA (Hons) History and Politics offers specialist training in both subjects, while giving you the tools to approach them from an interdisciplinary perspective. Our history component covers a vast range of time periods and regions, from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome to the medieval world, the Tudors, the Americas, China, India, and modern global conflicts and revolutions.

The politics element of this course will help you understand current events, how change happens, and how you can be part of it. You’ll explore a wide range of social and public policy areas, tackling key issues that affect communities in the UK and beyond.

Year 1

In Year 1, you’ll explore a range of key topics to enable you to begin to develop a thorough understanding of History and Politics.

• Global History: This module offers you an introduction to global history and the key themes that have shaped our world, including relocation, encounters, empire, and migration.
• Exploring History: Thematic Study: This module introduces you to either medieval and early modern history (c. 600 CE – 1450 CE) or North American history.
• Political Debates and Ideologies: This module introduces key debates in political theory relating to contested concepts such as freedom, equality, power, the state, and democracy.
• The Making of Modern Britain: Political Culture and Society: The module explores key developments in British politics since 1945, focusing on political parties, social and economic forces influencing political change, controversies surrounding issues and events, the impact of legislative programmes, political culture and protest and participation in politics beyond party politics and Westminster.

Year 2

In Year 2, you’ll continue to build on your knowledge and skills developed in Year 1. A range of optional modules will be available to you.

• Fit for the Future: This module lets you apply your knowledge and skills to real-world issues, preparing you for placements or graduate jobs.
• Encountering the Past: Interpreting Primary Sources: This module focuses on working with various types of primary sources and the issues surrounding their use.
• Modern Political Thought: This module covers the history of modern political thought from the Renaissance to the twentieth century.

Year 3

This course may offer a placement year option which can be taken up in Year 3. During the placement year, although you will be supervised directly by the company you are employed by, you will also be allocated an Academic/Placement Tutor.

• Research Methods and Practice: This module will provide key skills for your dissertation, and time to critically develop your ideas for research.
• History and Politics Independent Project: In this final module, you’ll bring together everything you've learned so far in both of your core disciplines.

Study and Assessment

• Study:
  • Year 1: 30% lectures, seminars or similar; 70% independent study
  • Year 2: 30% lectures, seminars or similar; 70% independent study
  • Year 3: 100% placement (optional)
  • Year 4: 15% lectures, seminars or similar; 85% independent study
• Assessment:
  • Year 1: 80% coursework; 20% examination
  • Year 2: 85% coursework; 15% examination
  • Year 3: 100% placement (optional)
  • Year 4: 100% coursework

Entry Requirements

• Typical offer: 104-112 UCAS tariff points
• IELTS score: 6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of course start date
• UK students:
  • Level 3 qualifications: 104-112 UCAS tariff points
  • Level 2 qualifications: GCSE grade C/4 in English Language or equivalent
• International students:
  • IB Diploma: Pass overall with a minimum overall score of 26 or minimum 104 UCAS Tariff points from three Higher Level subjects
  • IELTS: 6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of course start date

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year are still being finalised for all courses.

Careers Support and Prospects

• Employed or in further study: 88.7% of our UK-domiciled, full-time, first degree graduates are employed or in further study 15 months after graduation.
• Explore your options and build sought-after skills: Through our Careers Service, you will be supported and encouraged to get ready for further study or working life, including starting your own business.

Related Courses

• BA (Hons) History
• BA (Hons) Politics
• BA (Hons) International Relations

Disclaimers

• Programme review: Our programmes undergo an annual review and major review (normally at 6 year intervals) to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the latest online learning technology.
• Important notice: This online prospectus provides an overview of our programmes of study and the University. We regularly update our online prospectus so that our published course information is accurate.