Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - History with Politics (3-year degree) (HPO3)

History is one of the most popular subjects among UK university students, and with good reason. A historical perspective enables individuals to make sense of today’s rapidly changing world. Employers value the subject for the way it develops independent thinking, the ability to work under pressure, and the capacity to construct coherent, evidence-based arguments. Historical research has never been more engaging, with the internet providing access to a vast range of archival resources.

The BA History programme has been carefully designed and refined by Buckingham’s team of experienced and high-calibre historians. Study begins with survey courses that explore major themes in the political, economic, and cultural history of Britain and Europe from the 1500s to the present day. Progression then leads to more specialised areas such as empire, global migration, and heritage studies. The degree culminates in an independent dissertation that draws on skills developed throughout the period of study, ensuring that the programme not only teaches history but also develops the ability to think, research, and write historically.

The History with Politics option reflects the University’s major/minor structure, allowing the study of multiple subjects within a single degree. This popular combination pairs two closely interconnected disciplines. History modules, which make up two-thirds of the overall course, include significant political content, ranging from the transformation of the English monarchy under the Tudor and Stuart periods, through the emergence of democracy during the Atlantic revolutions, to the rise and fall of totalitarianism in the twentieth century.

Politics modules also adopt a strong historical perspective, examining contemporary political systems, such as those of the United States or Cuba, in relation to their historical development. Graduates of History with Politics complete the course with a richer understanding of both the modern world and the past societies that have shaped it.