Program Overview

Politics and History BA Honours

The Politics and History BA Honours is a three-year joint honours degree that focuses on developing students' skills and abilities to critically analyse historical and political topics. Students will graduate as confident independent learners with specialist knowledge in areas of interest to them.

Course Overview

This degree programme explores the key political issues facing us today and the historical events behind them. Students will follow their own path, choosing to study modules that are closely related or cast their net wide, studying topics that span six continents.

Quality and Ranking

Newcastle University is a Global Top 140 University (QS World University Rankings 2026) and ranked Top 200 for Politics and International Studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025). The university is also ranked Top 75 for Arts and Humanities (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025) and Top 200 for History (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025).

Modules and Learning

The degree programme is divided into three stages, each lasting one academic year. Students will complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. The information below is intended to provide an example of what students will study.

• Stage 1: Students will build a foundation to become independent learners and critical readers/thinkers through compulsory modules. Optional modules give an overview of the range, whether that be the major pathways in Politics or the chronological and cultural variety of History.
• Stage 2: Students will choose six optional modules in total – three each from Politics and History. Through these modules, students will deepen their subject knowledge and build on their skills from Stage One.
• Stage 3: Students will continue to study a mixture of Politics and History modules. This can be through an even split of modules or a weighting towards History or Politics. Students may include a research dissertation in either subject or a research or community-partnership project on a political theme or issue.

Teaching and Assessment

Most modules will be delivered through lectures, seminars, and workshops. Seminars become more important in Stage 2 and 3, reflecting students' development into confident and skilled independent learners and part of the School's wider learning community. Assessment methods include dissertation or research project, essays, examinations, group work, portfolio submission, presentations, projects, and reflective report/journal.

Opportunities

Students will have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience carrying out community-based politics research. They can also choose to spend up to a year studying at a partner institution overseas or apply for a work placement with a local political party or charity.

Facilities and Environment

Students will be based at the city-centre campus between the School of History, Classics and Archaeology, in the historic Armstrong Building and the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, in the recently refurbished Henry Daysh Building. They will have access to a range of on-campus facilities, including the Philip Robinson University Library and the Great North Museum: Hancock.

Support

Students will have the support of an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout their degree to help with academic and personal issues. Peer mentors will also help students in their first year.

Your Future

On graduation from this degree course, students will have the proven ability to think critically, assess complex material and data, carry out research, construct a well-informed argument, and articulate it on paper and in person. Some of our graduates have used this powerful combination of skills to progress directly into careers in politics, economics, and international relations.

Entry Requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis, and the university accepts a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements and offers below apply to 2026 entry.

• A-Level: AAB including History. General Studies accepted.
• International Baccalaureate: A minimum of 34 points including History at Higher Level grade 6.

Tuition Fees and Scholarships

The 2026 entry home fees have not yet been confirmed. International students will pay £24,500 per year. The university supports EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships.

Open Days and Events

The university regularly holds open days and events, both on-campus and virtual, where students can meet with academic staff and find out more about the subjects they are interested in.

How to Apply

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, students must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Get in Touch

For more information, students can contact the university by phone or live chat, or fill in the enquiry form on the university's website. The university also has a presence on social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, WeChat, and Twitter.