BA History

Study for a degree in History and gain a valuable understanding of the defining events of the past, recognize their impact upon the present, and develop an insight into the future. Explore contested narratives and develop your own interpretations by utilizing a wide range of primary evidence while cultivating a highly transferable skill set.

Our diverse range of modules includes the ancient history of Augustus’ Rome, the medieval Crusades, the early modern Tudors, the modern Space Race and the contemporary events of the War on Terror, enabling you to tailor your degree to your interests.

Programme Structure

• In your first year, you will take core modules on historical and analytical skills and key conceptual tools for historians. You will also select modules from options covering the ancient to near contemporary world, exploring the development of a historical topic over time, and analyzing sources for its study.
• In your second year, you will choose modules from a wide range of ancient, medieval or modern topics, and undertake a group project involving first-hand research
• In your final year, you will study in-depth a key historical theme, and complete a dissertation on a research topic of your choice
• Add breadth to your degree and pursue varied interests by taking the option to complete 25 percent of your programme in another subject

Key Facts

• We possess many collections of original historical documents, including the
• Wellington, Palmerston and Mountbatten papers and the Parkes Archives
• All students have the chance to study at universities abroad, including France, Holland, Poland and Canada
• We teach courses in many fields rarely taught in most other UK universities, such as East and Central European history, South East Asian history and Jewish history

Typical entry requirements

A Levels: GCE A-level

• AAB to ABB including History or a related subject*.
• Applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) will also be made an alternative offer one grade below the standard offer, conditional on an A grade in the EPQ.
• We accept all A-levels except General Studies.

IB: International Baccalaureate 34 points, 17 at higher level, including 6 in higher level History or a related subject*

*Related subject includes subjects such as English, Philosophy, Religious Studies or Classical Civilisation or other humanities-based essay writing subjects. Students applying without History will need to make a case in their personal statement.

Over 6,500 international students from more than 135 countries choose to study at the University of Southampton each year. In addition, we have links with universities and partners around the world, making us a truly international institution.

Here at Humanities , we are fascinated by people and their activities and achievements over the centuries, from prehistory to the modern day. We are well-known for ground-breaking and internationally-significant research and education across our wide-ranging disciplines, most of which are ranked in the top ten across British universities .

Knowing what makes human beings tick is more important than ever in these turbulent times. Studying for a degree in one of our disciplines offers people new insights into humanity and prompts the kind of intellectual vitality and creative energy that springs from a deep passion for learning and teaching.

Our world-class academic staff provide our undergraduates and postgraduates with the highest level of tuition and support, their expertise always based directly on their personal research.

As well as working within their own fields, our academics work together across the disciplines to further knowledge. This means thought-provoking subjects such as slavery can be examined from several perspectives to give students a comprehensive picture of the complex issues.

Our innovative research centres bring together researchers to focus on broad topics such as the 18th century and Medieval and Renaissance worlds. We also host the unique Parkes Institute for Jewish/non-Jewish Relations and the Parkes Library, one of the largest collections of Jewish archives in Europe.

Our cutting-edge research informs our teaching, which is regularly recognised as second-to-none in the annual National Student Survey. Throughout Humanities, our academic members of staff are friendly and approachable; always willing to help and support their students to succeed.

Postgraduate opportunities for you

Ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2018), with 200 taught courses and more than 90 research courses on offer, Southampton has the world-renowned academics and facilities to help you become the best in your field.

Choosing to study at Southampton means becoming part of a vibrant, postgraduate community.

Take your place at the cutting-edge, among some of the most talented students and academics in the world.

Southampton is the largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England.

We are situated 75 miles from London; 19 miles from Portsmouth and 12 miles from Winchester. We are only a few minutes from the New Forest National Park which is 219 square miles of beautiful parkland and forest. Much of South-west Hampshire is beautiful countryside which extends into south-east Wiltshire and towards the east of Dorset. We are also very close to Stonehenge, one of the wonders of the world and the best known prehistoric monument in Europe.

Southampton has a population of approximately 220,000 and is one of the UK's most green and pleasant metropolitan areas. Southampton has its own airport and fast rail links to London and the rest of the UK. Being located on the south coast we are the home of Carnival UK and have the largest cruise ships in the world visit us on a regular basis.

Southampton is also the home of Southampton Football Club which competes in the Premier League and The Ageas Bowl, the home of Hampshire County Cricket Club.