History BA (Hons)

UCAS code: V101

Want to study modern history without leaving behind the insight that medieval and early modern history provides? You’ve come to the right place. Our history degree offers the perfect balance of diverse and enticing modules while enhancing your employability skills.

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Overview

Course length:	3 years full-time 6 years part-time
Start dates:	September 2025 September 2026
Location:	Edge Hill University
Example offers:	BBC-BBB (A Level) or DMM (BTEC) View full entry criteria
Subject(s):	History
Faculty:	Arts and Sciences
Department:	History, Geography and Social Sciences

History students making notes in a lecture theatre.

Our BA (Hons) History degree focuses on world history from the Medieval era, through to the late 18th Century and early 21st Century, mainly in Britain, Europe, the USA and Asia. Throughout the course you’ll explore early modern England, as well as topics such as the rise of the USA, the history of crime and punishment, the Viking world, and the evolution of the Zionist/Palestine conflict.

With lots of modules to choose from in years two and three, you’ll develop a deep subject knowledge and importantly, be able to connect it with the world we live in today. You’ll get the opportunity to take part in a community project, undertake field trips, and write and produce a video documentary.

Your tutors’ research has been judged to be ‘internationally important’ in successive Government evaluations of research quality in universities, and this feeds straight into their teaching. You’ll learn to conduct research, analyse complex information, and craft a complex argument, making you an independent, confident and employable graduate.

Course features

International students can apply
Learn a language option available
Sandwich year option available
Studying abroad option available
Work placement opportunity

Many of the topics in each module go beyond large-scale events to include social and cultural history, or what was happening amongst the ordinary people at the time.

Libby Riley

BA (Hons) History

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The lecturers are fantastic, genuinely lovely. They’re really open and helpful and always happy to talk to you or answer questions after lectures.

Ben White

BA (Hons) History

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What you'll study

In Year 1 you’ll learn the foundations of history. You’ll study the impact of political and social movements such as Communism and Nazism. You’ll be introduced to medieval and early modern history, enhancing your understanding of what ‘modern’ history really means. You’ll look at key developments that transformed Europe between 1789 and 1919 and will be supported to acquire the necessary tools, skills and methods to become an independent researcher.

Compulsory modules:

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Global Politics: 1918 to the Present Day examines world history in the 20th century, particularly the main events, political and social movements, economic developments and ideologies which dominated the twentieth century around the world. You will explore the rise and fall of the great ideologies of Communism, Nazism and Fascism, in Russia, Italy, Germany and elsewhere. The turbulent international relations of the period will also be considered, as will the global economic system after the fall of the Soviet Empire in 1989-1991. Economic and social change will also feature, with detailed examination of popular protest and youth culture. Another major theme will be the fall of the great European empires at the hands of nationalist movements, with particular emphasis upon anti-colonial movements. By the end of the module, you will have developed a sound grasp of some of the major developments around the world in the 20th century.

Module code: HIS1021

Credits: 20

Assessment

70% Coursework

30% Exam

The Medieval World focuses on the period between the end of the Roman Empire and the thirteenth century. You will learn about the emergence of Europe as a distinct entity, comprised of a variety of peoples with diverse cultures and languages. ‘Christendom’ is often used to describe medieval Europe and we will look at how the Church did indeed give a type of cohesion to the continent. The Church assumed leadership of societies after the fall of Rome and held a deep and powerful influence on the medieval outlook. We will consider how this influence manifested itself through a study of the state, power and authority as well as popular beliefs and the medieval world-view. We will also consider the tensions which arose between the bishop of Rome and the development of more secular authority and culture. The module will predominantly focus on England but will place the country’s medieval past into a broader European context.

Module code: HIS1022

Credits: 20

Assessment

70% Coursework

30% Practical

One of:

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Language 1 is ideal if you want to learn a new language, or further develop your current language skills, as an integrated part of this degree. You can study French, German, Arabic, Italian, Mandarin, Japanese or Spanish (subject to minimum numbers for your preferred language). Delivered at the Edge Hill Language Centre, the module will be taught in an interactive, communicative manner, using authentic materials in the target language. Emphasis will be placed on all four areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening. You will play an active role in the weekly two-hour classes, engaging in role-plays, short conversations, videos, authentic texts and listening materials. You will also be encouraged to reflect on your own learning needs. On enrolment to the module, you will complete a language induction form and be placed into a language level group appropriate for your prior knowledge of your chosen language. Please note, while we will endeavour to accommodate varying language levels per module, this is not always possible. While you can join the module with some prior experience of your target language, you will not be able to study a language you are already fluent or proficient in.

Module code: TLC1010

Credits: 20

Assessment

85% Coursework

15% Practical

In your second year, you have a wide range of modules to choose from. You might study an introduction to contemporary French history, representations of childhood in historical popular culture or postcolonial world order. You will use the skills and knowledge you have developed in a placement or public-facing project of your choosing. This might involve working in a museum, gallery or school. Or it may involve working on an independent project such as a social media account, lesson plans for a specific group, or writing a magazine article. You’ll also get the chance to become a Digital Detective, where you develop advanced digital research and archive skills.

Compulsory modules:

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History in the Making is a placement-based module which is designed to enhance your employability. You will apply your historical skills and knowledge to a public-facing project of your choosing. This project can be organised around an external placement (such as at a museum, archive, or school), or an independent project supervised by academics (such as a video documentary or social media account). The precise nature of each project will be determined through discussions between yourself, your tutors and external partners but each project should involve making meaningful use of the historical skills and knowledge you have developed during your degree.

Module code: HIS2040

Credits: 20

Assessment

90% Coursework

10% Practical

Five of:

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1968 And All That: Protest in Western Europe covers the rise and fall of a cycle of protest movements often referred to by the label ‘1968’, but which it can be argued went from the late 1950s to the early 1980s. You will study a range of movements that affected European politics and arguably transformed European society, including industrial unrest by workers, the women’s liberation movement, anti-war movements, anti-racism, the so-called ‘New Left’, environmentalism, and a quest for greater freedom and authenticity in people’s personal lives.

Module code: HIS2011

Credits: 20

Assessment

50% Coursework

50% Exam

Global Revolution: The Postcolonial World Order, 1896-1957 reflects on how, for thousands of years, perhaps starting with the Akkadian empire of ancient Mesopotamia in the 3rd millennium BCE, empire and colonialism were the norms of political order around the globe. In the 20th century, however, that ceased to be the case with not only the nation-state becoming the most common political structure, but the very idea of colonialism was discredited and disavowed by global political institutions. The module examines why this change happened, with a particular focus on the British empire. Starting in 1896, you will begin with examining the Second International’s decision to commit itself to the right to national self-determination. The module progresses through the first half of the twentieth century and slightly beyond, culminating in an exploration of the post-colonial independence of Malaya and Ghana, two years after the Bandung conference of Asia-Africa nations in 1955, which asserted the principle of national self-determination as the basis of a post-colonial world.

Module code: HIS2038

Credits: 20

Assessment

100% Coursework

Representations of Childhood and Popular Culture explores and analyses the ways in which childhood and youth are represented in popular culture in historical and contemporary genres. These representations will be examined in the context of popular culture about, and specifically for, children and young people. A critical approach will be adopted by drawing on theoretical perspectives including cultural theory and constructions of childhood and youth. In taking this approach, consideration will be given to representations of social divisions such as age, gender, sexuality, family origins and disability. Areas of study will include children as adventurers and heroes, children and young people in war and conflict, representations of children and young people’s experiences of education, and the globalisation of childhood.

Module code: SPY2157

Credits: 20

Assessment

60% Coursework

40% Practical

Rise to Globalism: U.S. Foreign Policy Since 1939 examines the rise of the United States as a global superpower from American entry into the Second World War in 1941 through to the present day. It examines the extent to which the ideology underpinning U.S. foreign policy, under successive administrations, has been shaped by American historical experience and values, such as the concepts of American exceptionalism, mission and manifest destiny. You will also study the challenges facing U.S. foreign policy planners from Franklin Roosevelt to Barack Obama and the effectiveness of the various strategies that have been advanced to overcome them. The module examines both the opportunities and limitations on the exercise of American power in the modern world.

Module code: HIS2024

Credits: 20

Assessment

60% Coursework

40% Exam

Language 2 is ideal if you want to learn a new language, or further develop your current language skills, as an integrated part of this degree. You can study French, German, Arabic, Italian, Mandarin, Japanese or Spanish (subject to minimum numbers for your preferred language). Delivered at the Edge Hill Language Centre, the module will be taught in an interactive, communicative manner, using authentic materials in the target language. Emphasis will be placed on all four areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening. You will play an active role in the weekly two-hour classes, engaging in role-plays, short conversations, videos, authentic texts and listening materials. You will also be encouraged to reflect on your own learning needs. On enrolment to the module, you will complete a language induction form and be placed into a language level group appropriate for your prior knowledge of your chosen language. Please note, while we will endeavour to accommodate varying language levels per module, this is not always possible. While you can join the module with some prior experience of your target language, you will not be able to study a language you are already fluent or proficient in.

Module code: TLC2000

Credits: 20

Assessment

85% Coursework

15% Practical

Enjoy the freedom to shape your studies in Year 3. You’ll have the opportunity to design and develop an independent research project on a topic of your choice. This could be in the form of a written piece of work, a video documentary, or a public history project portfolio. The history project portfolio will enable you to collaborate with a history-related organisation outside of the university. With a wide choice of modules, you could study the special relationship between Britain and the US, black life and black protest in the US, crime and society in Britain, the Vikings, or the origins and development of British rule in Palestine.

Compulsory:

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Independent Study Project enables you to undertake an extended piece of research, on a topic of your own selection. This module provides you with an opportunity to independently deploy the skills and knowledge you have acquired. You will frame your own research question(s) and choose one of three pathways to conduct and present your research. This could be through a conventional written history dissertation, producing a video or audio documentary, or a public history project. You'll have access to libraries, archives, digital depositories and other appropriate resources to research your chosen topic.

Module code: HIS3041

Credits: 40

Assessment

90% Coursework

10% Practical

Four of:

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Black Life and Black Protest in the United States Since 1945 analyses the reasons for the emergence of the post-war civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. The contribution of leading individuals within the movement, like Martin Luther King, is also examined together with the life and career of Malcolm X and the Black Power movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The module concludes by assessing the legacy of the civil rights era for present day family origin relations and the extent to which the election of Barack Obama in 2008 means that the United States can now be described as a post-racial society.

Module code: HIS3021

Credits: 20

Assessment

60% Coursework

40% Exam

Migration in Europe will equip you as a citizen to be part of better informed public debate. You will review current issues, both within a longer-term historical perspective, and within contemporary debates in critical migration studies. You will be able to critically examine claims made about, for example, the exceptionalism of current waves of migration, and situate them within a broader history of people on the move within, beyond and into Europe. By placing current debates within such a context, you will understand political and social issues ranging from refugees to migrant workers, from cosmopolitanism to immigration controls, and from anti-racist activism to anti-migrant backlashes within a longer term context.

Module code: HIS3015

Credits: 20

Assessment

70% Coursework

30% Practical

Language 3 enables you to build on and develop your previous language knowledge in French, German, Arabic, Italian, Mandarin or Spanish. You must have either studied the prior language module in the previous year or be able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge of your target language (though you will not be able to study a language you are already fluent or proficient in). The language levels available will be determined by the continuation of corresponding groups from the previous language module. You will gain the language skills necessary to become a more proficient user of the language. Classes will be taught in an interactive and communicative manner using authentic materials to promote meaningful communication. They will be conducted in the target language as much as possible. Emphasis will be on speaking and listening, with appropriate attention also being paid to other communication skills. Other work will include a variety of tasks which may be completed in the Language Centre.

Module code: TLC3000

Credits: 20

Assessment

85% Coursework

15% Practical

How you'll study

The programme has been carefully designed to ensure that you develop your confidence, knowledge and skills in a gradual way and in a highly supportive environment. Your taught sessions will be complimented by regular contact time with your Personal Tutor, during which you can discuss, and seek advice about, your overall progress and plans for the future. We also have an open door policy, so that you can have easy access to academic staff outside the classroom. We see our relationship with you as one in which we work together to help you succeed.

You will have access to the latest History resources that will support your learning. You will be able to read newspapers and journals online from the eighteenth to the twenty-first centuries, consult the latest journals, and use websites that are created to support each topic. You will also be taught to use sophisticated digital research techniques.

How you'll be assessed

The focus in all assignments is on analysis and argumentation. These skills will be assessed using a variety of different exercises including essays, book reviews, primary source analysis, presentations and contributions to online discussions.

A minority of modules also have exams, however in the first year these never account for more than 30% of a module mark, with this rising to a maximum of 50% in the second and third year.

In the final year of your degree a great deal of emphasis is placed on individual research-based content, giving you a greater freedom and flexibility to shape your studies.

Who will be teaching you

You will be taught by a team of experienced and enthusiastic teachers, who research and write History. They actively participate in debates in the media, as well as act as consultants in a wide range of areas, including contributing to the development of online archives at the British Library.

They are at the cutting edge of the subject and will share with you their ideas and new interpretations in a wide range of topics. In the most recent Government assessment of the research conducted in universities, more that 50% of the work and public-facing activities of the historians at Edge Hill University were judged to be either ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. You will be working with historians who have achieved those standards.

Timetables for your first week are normally available at the end of August prior to enrolment in September. You can expect to receive your timetable for the rest of the academic year during your first week. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week. Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities.

Optional modules provide an element of choice within the course curriculum. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by timetabling requirements. Some restrictions on optional module choice or combinations of optional modules may apply. In addition to the optional module choices listed, it may also be possible to apply to study an alternative 20-credit module in Year 2 and/or Year 3, chosen from outside the course curriculum. Some restrictions on this elective module choice may apply.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements (2025 / 2026)

Typical offer 112-120 UCAS Tariff points. No specific subjects are required.

Example offers

Qualification	Requirement
A Level	BBC-BBB.
BTEC Extended Diploma (or combination of BTEC QCF qualifications)	Distinction, Merit, Merit (DMM).
T Level	Overall grade of Merit.
International Baccalaureate (IB)	We are happy to accept IB qualifications which achieve the required number of UCAS Tariff points. Subject-specific requirements at Higher Level (HL) Grade 5 may apply.
Access to Higher Education Diploma	45 credits at Level 3, for example 15 credits at Distinction and 30 credits at Merit or 24 credits at Distinction and 21 credits at Merit. The required total can be attained from various credit combinations.

Please note, the above examples may differ from actual offers made. A combination of A Level and BTEC awards may also be accepted.

If you have a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent), there is no maximum number of qualifications that we will accept UCAS points from. This includes additional qualifications such as Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), AS Levels that haven't been continued to A Level, and General Studies AS or A Level awards.

English language requirements

International students require IELTS 6.0, with a score no lower than 5.5 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.

If your current level of English is half a band, one band, or one-and-a-half bands lower, either overall or in one or two elements, you may want to consider our Pre-Sessional English course.

For further information on how you can meet the entry requirements

UK EU International

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How to apply

Apply online through UCAS

Read our guide to applying through UCAS to find out more about the application process.

Apply as an international student

Please see our international student pages for further information about how to apply as a prospective international student.

Part-time applications require a direct application to Edge Hill. Please select the year of entry that you wish to apply for.

Apply for September 2025 part-time.

Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.

Facilities

The Department of History, Geography and Social Sciences is based in the Geosciences building. The contemporary facilities combine with a friendly and supportive learning environment to ensure that your studies are a rich and rewarding experience.

The Geosciences building features a large lecture theatre, small group teaching rooms, IT facilities and smaller tutorial spaces. There is also a large social area which encourages a more informal and interactive style of learning.

Where you'll study

Finance

Tuition fees

£9,535

a year

£79 per credit

for 360 credits

£17,000

a year

The University may administer a small inflationary rise in tuition fees, in line with Government policy, in subsequent academic years as you progress through the course.

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.

Financial support

Subject to eligibility, UK students joining this course can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students enrolling on the course may also be eligible to apply for additional funding to help with living costs.

Scholarships

We offer a range of scholarships, which celebrate the determination, commitment and achievement of our students. Many of our scholarships are awarded automatically. There are some however, where you will need to be involved in an application or nomination process. To find out more about our scholarships and check your eligibility, please visit our dedicated scholarships pages.

Money Matters

Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students.

Money Matters

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals can ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). If you are an EU student who does not have settled or pre-settled status, or are an international student from a non-EU country, please see our international student finance pages.

Your future career

One of the great things about our BA (Hons) History degree is that it doesn’t restrict graduates to a single, specific career path. Your knowledge and skills can be applied to a wide choice of different careers. Some of our graduates have gone on to work in:

teaching
academic research
museums
journalism
business management
civil service
politics

Careers support is built into our history course, from allocating you a Personal Tutor, to providing you with the opportunity to complete our placement-based History in the Making module.

Many of our students go on to further study after their degree. You could study a Masters degree or opt for an MRes focused on a specific research project. We support graduates who want to go into teaching with their PGCE applications. Some of our students have continued right through to PhD level.

Course changes

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, however our courses are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.

Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of professional bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

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History

History BA (Hons)

Overview