BA History

Undergraduate

BA History

Discover the excitement of the past ... and how it continues to shape the present.

Key information

Study mode

Full-time

Course length

3 years

Typical offer

120 points

A Level grades: BBB

UCAS code

V100

Choose an option

Start date

Course overview

Studying history at Hull spans 3,000 years, touches five continents, and engages with the vast maritime spaces in between.

You are at the heart of our degree programme and will have the opportunity to forge your own study journey. We use the social, political and environmental challenges of the contemporary world as our starting point for exploring history. This creates a fascinating way of navigating the past from classical civilisations to modern communities.

Our assessments aim to reflect the real world, so you won’t have exams but may have some time-limited tasks. You’ll be encouraged to express your ideas in a variety of ways, to criticise sources of historical information from newspapers to computer games, and develop your own ideas through channels such as podcasts or online exhibitions.

Throughout your studies with us, you’ll develop key techniques for historians, gaining transferable skills of digital literacy, and teamwork and communication. This will equip you for the workplace and enable you to create a brighter future for yourself and the world we live in, fuelled by your passion for history.

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2020 prospectus

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Six reasons to study History at Hull

  1. Gain the analytical skills employers value
  2. Use the latest technology to explore the past
  3. Archives stretching back to 1086 at the Hull History Centre
  4. A 97% graduate employability rating in 2018§
  5. Work placements through the Hull History Network
  6. Internationally renowned art gallery and museum collections

What you'll study

The course consists of 120 credits per year. Most modules are 20 credits, meaning you’ll study six modules each year. Some longer modules, such as a dissertation, are worth more (e.g. 40 credits). In these cases, you’ll study fewer modules - but the number of credits will always add up to 120.

First year modules

  • Compulsory

    Classical Civilisation

    From Minoan Knossos and Troy to Athens, Sparta, Rome, Pompeii and Istanbul, examine what we actually know about living, believing and fighting in the ancient world.

    Heritage and Modern War

    This innovative module explores the different methods used by public historians and heritage bodies to present the history of warfare during the 19th and 20th centuries.

    The Medieval World: Life, Power and Belief

    Between the 11th and 13th centuries, Europe transformed so profoundly that historians now refer to it as 'the making of Europe'. This module introduces you to the revolutionary period.

    Crowns, Crosses and Crossings: Early Modern People and Their Worlds

    Discover how historians have explained historical change in Europe, from the late Middle Ages to the dawn of the modern era. It's a distinctive period of history which shaped the world today.

    From Peasants to Consumers, from Subjects to Citizens: Themes in the Modern World

    Examine the themes that shaped the modern world in the 19th and 20th centuries: war, revolution, nationalism and identity. Historians often approach these from a European perspective – but to understand them fully, this module takes a truly global approach.

    The Past: Reality and Reconstruction

    This module uses representations of the past from popular culture – such as films, computer games and re-enactments – to ask questions about the purposes and nature of historical study.

Second year modules

  • Compulsory

    Thinking About the Past

    This module focuses on historiography - the history of history. It deals with how the subject of history and historical writing have evolved from ancient times to the present day.

    Communicating the Past: The Virtual Historian

    This module trains you as an apprentice ‘virtual’ historian, giving you the skills to undertake your own original research - and to explore the availability of sources online. 

  • Optional

    “Ninety Per Cent of Everything”: Shipping and Society since 1650

    This module covers significant interactions between humanity and the oceans. It explores themes such as material and human cargoes, people and places, and control over sea space.

    The British Empire

    Was British imperialism down to aggressive self-confidence or of defensive uncertainty? Was it a benefit or a cost to Britain and its dependencies? Here's where you find out.

    Enlightenment, Reform and Revolution

    The 18th century is often thought of as the beginning of the modern world. On this module, you'll explore key political, social and intellectual developments during the period.

    Romans and Barbarians

    Is the traditional idea of primitive barbarians correct? Delve into the relationship between the Romans and their neighbours – one which extended and transformed the Roman world.

    The Shot Heard Around the World: 1776 in its Global Contexts

    Did the Boston Tea Party only affect British colonies? The crates belonged to the East India Company, after all. Re-examine events often confined to histories of America or the British empire.

    America's Wars in Asia

    The USA fought four major wars in Eastern Asia during the 20th century. Explore the USA's troubled relationship with Asia and the key concepts that have influenced US foreign policy. 

    A Millennium of Persecution: Antisemitism in Europe from the Crusades to the Holocaust

    Study the persecution of European Jewry from the medieval era. You'll explore an array of local sources, including archives of first-hand Holocaust testimonies held here in Hull.

    Cities of Culture

    Rome, Amsterdam, St Petersburg, London, Paris, Vienna, Berlin and New York. Examine the visual culture of these cities in relation to their social, economic and political life.

    Emperors, Vikings and Scholars: the Transformation of 'Barbarian' Europe, 750–1000

    The fall of Rome changed Europe's cultural and political landscape forever. This module covers the dramatic aftermath, which engulfed the continent for more than 200 years.

    Into the Wild: US Environmental History from the 19th Century to the Present

    An exploration of American environmental history and current approaches to the global climate change crisis. Voted 'Best Module' by students in the 2017 students' union Teaching Awards.

    Game of History

    Millions of people play games, in all of their forms, many of them have a historical setting. Explore how games shape our understanding of the past, and how history shapes games.

    Imperialism, Nationalism, and Decolonization: Britain in SE Asia, c. 1850-1950

    This module examines the development of British intellectual, economic, and political interests in South-East Asia from the mid 19th to the mid 20th century. 

Final year modules

  • Compulsory

    Dissertation (History)

    Create your own piece of historical research, with a topic linked to your special subject workshop theme.

    Special Subject (History)

    This is an opportunity for you to work closely with a tutor across the year on a topic relating to your expertise in research and scholarship. 

  • Optional

    Crisis and Conflict After the Cold War: Interpreting the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s

    The Yugoslav Wars destroyed a country of 20 million. Study controversies about the causes and course of the wars and investigate how we make sense of the break-up of Yugoslavia.

    A Racial History of Modern Britain, 1793-1999

    From the Napoleonic Wars to Brexit, a constant flow of migrants to our shores has shaped Britain. Uncover the documentary legacy of successive patterns of prejudice.

    Commanding the Oceans: Seapower and British Ascendancy, 1688-1815

    Consider seapower in its broadest sense, starting from the assumption that the 'wooden world' of the navy and the wider world interacted closely at almost every point.

    The Third Reich, 1933-1945

    Discover how and why Germany, one of the most cultured nations on Earth – this ‘land of poets and thinkers’ – descended to the depths of barbarity within a few short years.

    The Archaeology of the Castle

    Put the castle in its context – exploring the military and domestic roles, landscapes and the social context of castle construction – even creating your own mini-model.

    From Romanticism and Revolution to Sex and the City: 19-Century French Art

    The 19th century produced the modern artist; the artist as social commentator, as political subversive, as outsider, and as arbiter of revolutionary – often controversial – taste.

    Medicine and Modern War

    You’ll explore the experiences of patients, practitioners and policymakers in the period between the Crimean War (1850s) and the Falklands War (1980s).

    Venice, Genoa and the Crusades: 1080–1351

    Study the Crusades through the revealing lens of the Italian ‘maritime republics’, Venice and Genoa – cities at the heart of much crusading activity.

    The ‘Bloody Code’: Crime and Punishment in 18th-Century London

    The number of offences punishable by death quadrupled between 1688 and 1820. Delve into Old Bailey records to meet pickpockets, police officers, prisoners and perpetrators.

    Gandhi to Mandela: the Rise and Fall of Apartheid in South Africa

    Examine the local, national and international responses to racial segregation in South Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries. You’ll explore issues of race and social exclusion evident in South African society.

    Monks, Heretics and Reformers: The Religious Revolution of the Central Middle Ages

    Study the resurgence of popular heresy from the 11th century to the early 13th century, and the monastic reforms and new monastic orders which transformed religious life in the period. 

All modules are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.

How you'll study

Throughout your degree, you’re expected to study for 1,200 hours per year. That’s based on 200 hours per 20 credit module. And it includes scheduled hours, time spent on placement and independent study. How this time’s divided among each of these varies each year and depends on the course and modules you study.

Overall workload

204 hours

Scheduled study Scheduled hours typically include lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, and supervised laboratory and studio sessions.

996 hours

Independent study Independent study is the time outside your scheduled timetable, where you’ll be expected to study independently.

Indicative assessment proportions

5%
20%
75%
  • Examination

    Written assessment typically includes exams and multiple choice tests.

  • Practical

    Practical is an assessment of your skills and competencies. This could include presentations, school experience, work experience or laboratory work.

  • Coursework

    Coursework typically includes essays, written assignments, dissertations, research projects or producing a portfolio of your work.

Overall workload

168 hours

Scheduled study Scheduled hours typically include lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, and supervised laboratory and studio sessions.

1,032 hours

Independent study Independent study is the time outside your scheduled timetable, where you’ll be expected to study independently.

Indicative assessment proportions

18%
25%
57%
  • Examination

    Written assessment typically includes exams and multiple choice tests.

  • Practical

    Practical is an assessment of your skills and competencies. This could include presentations, school experience, work experience or laboratory work.

  • Coursework

    Coursework typically includes essays, written assignments, dissertations, research projects or producing a portfolio of your work.

Overall workload

144 hours

Scheduled study Scheduled hours typically include lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, and supervised laboratory and studio sessions.

1,056 hours

Independent study Independent study is the time outside your scheduled timetable, where you’ll be expected to study independently.

Indicative assessment proportions

6%
94%
  • Practical

    Practical is an assessment of your skills and competencies. This could include presentations, school experience, work experience or laboratory work.

  • Coursework

    Coursework typically includes essays, written assignments, dissertations, research projects or producing a portfolio of your work.

Holly-Cockerham
Holly Cockerham History

Why I chose History at Hull

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Steeped in history

Hull's specialist historical resources include the Hull History Centre, the Blaydes Maritime Centre and the Wilberforce Institute.

History

Foundation year

A foundation year is available to boost your skills and confidence if you do not quite meet our entry requirements for this programme.

Entry requirements

Points can be from any qualification on the UCAS tariff, but must include at least 80 points from 

  • A levels
  • BTEC Subsidiary Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma
  • OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma
  • CACHE Diploma or Extended Diploma
  • Irish Leaving Certificate
  • Scottish Highers
  • Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma
  • or a combination of appropriate Level 3 qualifications

Alternative qualifications 

  • IB Diploma: 30 points
  • Access to HE Diploma: Pass with 45 credits at merit

Worried you don’t quite meet our entry requirements?

We consider experience and qualifications from the UK and worldwide which may not exactly match the combinations above.

But it’s not just about the grades – we’ll look at your whole application. We want to know what makes you tick, and about your previous experience, so make sure that you complete your personal statement.

If you have any questions, our admissions team will be happy to help.

If you require a Tier 4 student visa to study or if your first language is not English you will be required to provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

This course requires academic IELTS 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each skill. See other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by this University.

If your English currently does not reach the University's required standard for this programme, you may be interested in one of our English language courses.

Visit your country page to find out more about our entry requirements.

Our teaching staff

Helen Fenwick

Dr Helen Fenwick

Senior Lecturer

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Take a tour of the facilities

Our students benefit from access to the city's specialist historical resources which include the Hull History Centre.

Explore the virtual tour

Fees and funding

Home / EU

£9,250 per year*

International

£14,500 per year

*The amount you pay may increase each year, in line with inflation - but capped to the Retail Price Index (RPI).

UK and EU students can take out a tuition fee loan to cover the cost of their course, and UK students can take out a maintenance loan of up to £9,203 to cover living costs.

Substantial discounts are available for International students.  

More information on fees can be found in the Money section of the website.

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme (including registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examination).

There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make. The list below has some examples, and any extra costs will vary.

  • Books (you’ll have access to books from your module reading lists in the library, but you may want to buy your own copies
  • Optional field trips
  • Study abroad (including travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
  • Placement costs (including travel costs and accommodation)
  • Student visas (international students)
  • Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PC’s on campus, but you may want to buy your own)
  • Printing and photocopying
  • Professional-body membership
  • Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel and food – to name just a few. 

Scholarships

If you achieve

112 UCAS tariff points or above

from 3 A levels or equivalent, you could receive

£1,200 to £2,000

Find out more

An affordable city for students

From bills, to meals, to pints – you’ll find that your money goes a lot further in Hull.

Your future prospects

  • Researcher
  • Teacher
  • Civil servant
  • Historian
  • Archaeologist
  • Museum or gallery conservator

The way we teach history gives you skills that employers value. By explaining, supporting and defending your ideas, you’ll become a better communicator.

We also develop your digital literacy through diverse teaching and learning methods, helping you build skills that you can draw on throughout your career.

Open Day at University of Hull

Ready to apply?

You can apply for this course through UCAS. As well as providing your academic qualifications, you’ll be able to showcase your skills, qualities and passion for the subject.

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This. Is. Hull.

A place where we stand up to kings, do deals with the world and take a wrecking ball to the slave trade. A place where culture stands out and the phone boxes are a different colour. A place where we're free-thinking, independent and proud of it.

§Percentage of students from this subject area in work or further study within six months of graduating: UK domicile full-time first degree leavers; Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey for the academic year 2016/17, published by HESA 2018

†24/7 access during term-time.