History

Prince Leopold's photo album, 1880s - Venice

Department of History

From the fall of empires to contemporary issues, dive into the events that shaped our world. Develop transferable skills through dynamic, research-led study.

There has never been a more important time to study the past. An understanding of how we got here is vital to navigating the future.��Engaging with culture, politics, economics and the environment, a degree in history develops a uniquely broad range of skills that can open doors to an exciting variety of career paths.��

Our research specialisms underpin courses and modules that offer history from the fall of the Roman Empire to the contemporary world. They have a global reach that includes Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, the Far East, Western and Eastern Europe, and North America.��

BA History

Daniel Hucker (Associate Professor) talks about history at the ��ԭ��.

Joint honours subjects

Did you know, you can study history as part of a joint��honours degree? You can choose from:

Foundation Year students can progress to a wide range of our joint honours degrees, while you can also build your own degree and study a range of subjects in our��Liberal Arts��ǳܰ��.

Why choose us?

Become��a historian - we take you through the three stages of the Nottingham Approach;��curiosity, critique and curation
Deliver��history lessons - participate in the Schools Volunteering Project��and work with children in Nottingham’s primary and secondary schools
Access��specialist facilities - delve into our��Manuscripts and Special Collections��and update your digital technology skills in our Digital Transformations Hub
Learn��a language alongside your main subject with the Language Centre optional modules
Explore real-world challenges��- study across interdisciplinary themes with our ��‘Engaged Arts’ optional modules
Work with our dedicated Faculty of Arts Placements Team to assist with your employability skills development via a range of placements, internships and volunteering opportunities

You may also progress to our courses from our��Arts and Humanities Foundation Year, subject to eligibility.

Some key statistics

Top 20 for History in the UK��(Complete��University Guide 2025)
99% of our research��is considered 'internationally important' (REF 2021)
Student satisfaction��- 95% of students said the teaching staff are excellent at explaining concepts (National Student Survey 2024)
7th best ��ԭ�� for work experience��(Rate My Placement Best Universities for Work Experience 2025)
Top 3 most targeted UK university by leading employers��(The Graduate Market High Fliers Research 2024)

What our students say...

During my last year, I got to explore topics that were of interest to me that were quite unique. I was doing things related to football and to Cyprus, which is where I’m from. I did my undergraduate dissertation on Greek Cypriot refugees. My dad is Greek Cypriot, so the chance to explore something very personal to me was really exciting.��

��

Christos Mouis

Ancient History and History BA graduate

I don't really have a set career in mind, there's so many different roles I'd love to take on. But what I always come back to is how I know that history and politics has given me skills that I can use in a multitude of areas.

��

Emily Oxbury

History and Politics BA

Our courses

See all

About our courses

Teaching methods on our courses include:

Lectures
Seminars
Workshops
Tutorials
Field trips

Student-centred seminars

You will also learn through student-centred seminars. This is where the agenda and approach of the seminar are set by students themselves. You’ll have full support from staff to develop the seminar content and facilities such as the��Digital Transformations Hub and��Manuscripts and Special Collections��to help prepare material.

As well as challenging you academically, these sessions help you to develop vital skills employers really value.

Assessment

The assessment methods for individual history modules vary. As well as traditional essay writing and exams, you may also be assessed by:

individual or team presentations
interpretation of document sources or images
poster presentations
reviews and reflections on the process of study

The skills that historians learn are highly regarded by a wide range of employers. Our graduates go on to work in:

management (particularly marketing and human resources)
accountancy
the armed forces
business
commerce
journalism
law and public relations.
archives
arts administration
heritage management
museums and galleries
teaching

Find out how you can use your degree.

Varun's experience

"It’s insane how relatable it is to getting a massive book in the library and taking three or four key points out of it, to what I’m doing now, where I’m getting a huge amount of information and summarising the key points for colleagues."

- Varun Lobo, American Studies and History BA graduate, now working as��Workday Consultant at Deloitte

We offer opportunities to study in many countries including Australia, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea and the United States of America.

See our study abroad webpage for more information.

Please note:��In order to study abroad you will need to achieve the relevant academic requirements as set by the university and meet the selection criteria of both the university and the partner institution. The partner institution is under no obligation to accept you even if you do meet the relevant criteria.

Offers are usually made without interview.��Please note that students with non-standard entry qualifications, including mature students, may be invited for an interview.

We follow the university's flexible admissions policy and take educational and personal circumstances into consideration.��

Further details are available on our��applying pages.

Watch the video below:

Join us and be guided by our Admissions Manager, Maryam. With her expert guidance, you'll discover some common myths we hear from potential students. From your reference worries to your predicted grades, and everything in between, Maryam clears up some key points you need to know to start your university experience.

Faculty of Arts

A day in the life of a history Student

First-year student Dan shares a typical day...

Faculty of Arts

I know what career I'd like...

That's great! We've got detailed knowledge of lots of sectors and can give you the inside track on opportunities and how your degree can get you started.