Duration and Mode of Study

Three years full- time, or 4 years with a year abroad.

Course Aims

This degree explores global developments through the complementary disciplines of History and Politics. The balanced combination of history and politics enables you to develop an informed awareness of the contemporary world and a clear perception of the historical roots of its social, economic and political structures, ideas and problems. While many students choose to focus on the modern era, options on the politics and history of earlier ages are available.

Course Structure

First Year

Your first year provides you with the grounding for your degree by developing your core knowledge and skills. You will take equal numbers of modules in history and politics, including modules in global and modern European history, American history, politics and international relations.

Second Year

In your second year, you will again balance your studies equally between history and politics. In History, students take the core module Perceiving the Past along with two other courses available from a range of modules, one of which must include Historical Research Methods if you intend to write a history dissertation. If you wish to write a politics dissertation you will study Political Analysis in place of Historical Research Methods. You will also take two or three Politics courses from a range of modules on political systems and ideas and international relations.

Third Year

In your third year you may concentrate your studies in one field or take an equal number of modules in each. You will choose four modules from a broad range offered by both departments and write a supervised dissertation on a topic of your choice. You must take though at least one additional module in the department in which you are writing your dissertation.

Information about core and optional modules taught in the School

For further information about the politics options, visit the Department of Politics and International Relations