See the world by understanding its past
Year of entry: 2021/22
VL12
Y50
3 years full-time (plus optional placement year)
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Understanding the past is crucial to responding to the political challenges of the future.
This exciting combined degree in History and Politics will help you attain a global understanding of events, institutions and structures. You'll explore how human society works now, and how it has worked in the past. You'll analyse the meaning of ideas such as freedom and democracy, and investigate the factors that have shaped society and culture around the world over time.
You'll join two highly respected research intensive departments, being taught by academics at the forefront of their field. You'll graduate with the knowledge and the practical skills to play your part in tackling some of the world’s most important problems.
The way history is taught at York... lends itself to an informal, sociable atmosphere. Tutors are always keen to provide a quick response to any question you may have and supervisor meetings one-on-one give you all the support you need.Penny History student
You can choose a wide variety of modules across history and politics
One of the most exciting aspects of the History and Politics degree at York is living and learning in a city with such a long and varied history. You'll be surrounded by evidence of the city’s rich heritage. Stretching from the Romans, through the Vikings to the Georgians, there's a heritage that we actively draw on in our teaching.
There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:
You'll begin examining the broader concepts of how history has shaped the modern world. At the same time, your required Politics modules will focus on contemporary politics with an emphasis on the state. You'll also take one Politics module of your choice.
Choose one from:
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
Your second year in the History and Politics degree will be about preparing for your final dissertation and reports. You'll begin to design your project and learn how to use the tools needed to complete it. Political Text and Process options examine underlying philosophies, and how they're put into practice.
Choose one Group A option, usually from around five options:
Choose either a Group B option usually from roughly four to five options:
or a Group C option usually from roughly four to five options:
In your final year, you'll take a specialised, in-depth module on a particular historical topic, along with two Politics module options. You'll also write a 10,000-word dissertation on a political or history topic of your choice.
Choose either:
Choose a Special Subject module, typically from around 16 options.
Choose two Politics option modules - one in the Autumn Term and one in the Spring Term, typically from around 15 options. Recent options have included:
Please note, modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
The fees and funding figures below are for 2021/22 entry. If you take a year abroad or year in industry you'll pay a reduced rate of fees for that year
| UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £18,350 |
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
You will have to pay for the cost of printing some assignments for submission as assessed work in Years 2 and 3.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2021/22 throughout the year.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
“Students from all backgrounds achieve consistently outstanding outcomes”
The TEF Panel, Office for Students, June 2018
Our Gold Teaching Excellence Framework award demonstrates our commitment to the delivery of consistently outstanding teaching and learning for our students.
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
Impact of coronavirus (COVID-19)
We hope to deliver this course as advertised for 2021/22 entry, but it’s unclear when we’ll be able to return to a normal timetable. For an idea of how this course might be affected, see our changes for 2020/21 entry.
Most of your teaching will take place in lectures and seminars. In addition to these, you may have:
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 5-6 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 6-7 hours per week |
These figures are based on an average student in an average week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.
Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practise completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during term time. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
You will be based in both the Department of History and the Department of Politics on Campus West.
Nearly half of your teaching will take place in the Spring Lane building. The rest of your contact hours will take place in other locations on Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
Your first-year work doesn't contribute toward your final marks. We recognise those students are only beginning to develop over the course of the History and Politics degree.
From Year 2 onward, formal assessments contribute toward your degree. In your third year, your 10,000-word dissertation focuses on a specific topic of your choice.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exams | 36% | 55% | 17% |
| Coursework | 51% | 45% | 83% |
| Practical exams | 13% | 0% | 0% |
The figures above are based on data from 2016/17.
A degree in History and Politics will prepare you for a wide range of careers.
Our graduates have gone on to work in sectors such as:
You'll gain invaluable transferable skills such as:
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAA including an A in either History or Classical Civilisation |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | Obtain Access to HE Diploma with 39 credits at Distinction including at least 9 credits in History-related units and 6 credits at Merit or higher. |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDD with an additional A Levels or equivalent qualification in History or Classical Civilisation at grade A |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, D3, D3 including History |
| European Baccalaureate | 85% overall, including 85% in History |
| International Baccalaureate | 36 points including Grade 6 in History at Higher Level |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.
| Criteria | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Widening participation | If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to three A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Next Step York, Realising Opportunities. More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offers | If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers. |
| EPQ | If you achieve A or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C |
| C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
| Duolingo | 110 overall, with a minimum of 100 in each component |
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Get in touch if you have any questions
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