History and Politics BA

Course overview

This degree is aimed at students who are particularly interested in modern history and contemporary political issues. Through a wide range of history modules, you will develop the skills to write and debate history and to use primary sources. In politics, you will learn to compare and contrast political institutions and behaviour in liberal democracies and gain a thorough understanding of the history of political ideas.

Year one 

The history core is Learning History, a skill- and methodology-based module. The emphasis is on reflecting on the nature of history as a discipline and developing the skills required for the writing and debating of history. You will also take further survey modules in European history. In politics, you will take modules in contemporary political theory, comparative politics and international relations. You will learn to compare and contrast political institutions and behaviour in liberal democracies and gain a thorough understanding of the history of political ideas.

Year two

The core element in Year Two is provided by the compulsory module, the Contemporary World since 1945. The focus of this course is not just on global developments, political and economic, social and cultural, environmental and demographic, but also on exploring key historical debates concerning the immediate origins of the world in which we now live. This module sits alongside other more specific optional modules, covering an extremely wide chronological and geographical range. In politics your options must be chosen from three designated ‘core’ areas, namely political theory, comparative politics, and international relations.

Year three 

In year three you will write a 10,000 word dissertation on a topic of your choice in either history or politics. In history, your dissertation will be linked to your Special Subject, a year-long, in-depth, research-based seminar which you can choose from a wide selection. You will also take further politics options.

More information 

Please visit the Department of History and School of Politics and International Relations websites.

Entry requirements

 A levels: AAA, including A in history at A level

English language requirements 

IELTS 7.0 (no less than 6.0 in any element)

TOEFL iBT 100 (no less that 21 in listening and writing, 22 in reading and 23 in speaking)

Alternative qualifications 

Please see the alternative qualifications page.

Modules

The modules we offer are inspired by the research interests of our staff and as a result, may change from year to year. The following list is therefore subject to change but should give you a flavour of the modules we offer.

Typical year-one modules

• Learning History
• Power and the State
• Understanding Global Politics
• Foundations for Politics
• Political Ideas in Conflict

Typical year-one options:

• From Reformation to Revolution: An Introduction to Early Modern History
• Roads to Modernity: an introduction to Modern History, 1789-1945
• Introduction to European Politics
• Political Ideas in Revolution
• Core year-two modules:
• Exploring Historiography
• Approaches to Political Studies or Designing Political Research

Typical year-two options:

• International History of the Middle East
• British Foreign Policy and the Origins of the World Wars
• Germany in the Age of Mass Politics
• Global Security
• Democracy and its critics
• Politics and Society in Europe

Typical year-three modules:

• Students may select from a wide range of special subjects, involving analysis of original source material, as well as optional modules in politics. They may choose to write their dissertation in History or in Politics.

Typical Special Subject:

• The British Civil Wars, c. 1639-1652
• Samurai Revolution: Reinventing Japan
• The 1960s and the West
• Suez and the End of Empire

Typical year-three options:

• British public policy
• Intellectuals and US foreign policy 1900-2000
• Intervention in Africa
• Transforming Welfare states

For a complete list of all the modules offered by the Department of History and the School of Politics please see the University module catalogue.  

Skills and careers

With an excellent track record of graduate employment, a Nottingham History and Politics degree will prepare you for a wide range of professions. Some of the most popular of these are journalism and publishing, law, business and finance, national and local government, non-governmental organisations (both national and international), administration, the foreign service, teaching and research-based careers.

A Nottingham History and Politics degree can cater for such a diverse field of employment because apart from gaining specialist knowledge about past societies and cultures and present-day politics and international affairs, many of the skills that you will acquire are versatile, wide-ranging and transferable. You will learn to think critically, to analyse large amounts of data, to construct logical arguments, to communicate knowledge intelligibly, to work effectively in teams, to manage time and workloads, and to lead discussions and presentations. These skills will develop your capacity to learn and adapt and will therefore equip you with the tools you need to develop your future career.

For more information on the career prospects of Nottingham History graduates, please visit our Careers page.

Average starting salary 

The average starting salary for 2009/2010 full-time graduates of the Department of History was £19,551.02 and for graduates of the School of Politics and International Relations it was £20,391.89.*

*Average starting salary from known destinations of first-degree leavers who studied full-time, 2009/10.