University History Pathways
Dive into our breakdown of the UK’s top-ranked History programs, complete with quick summaries and direct links to help you find your perfect course.
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
LSE’s Department of International History is world-renowned for its focus on modern international history from the 15th century onwards. The BA History programme uniquely blends political, economic, and social perspectives to analyse global historical events.
Durham University
Durham University offers a diverse and rigorous History programme within a vibrant, historic collegiate setting. Students can explore a vast chronological range spanning from the fall of the Roman Empire to post-Cold War contemporary history.
University of Oxford
Oxford’s History degree combines intensive tutorial teaching with access to world-class libraries and archives. The course is highly flexible, allowing undergraduates to study almost any historical period and region from the ancient world to the present day.
University of Cambridge
The Cambridge History course encompasses political, economic, social, and cultural history across thousands of years of human development. It encourages students to interrogate historical sources critically and develop their own interpretations through traditional small-group supervision.
University of St Andrews
As Scotland’s oldest university, St Andrews provides a highly flexible History degree structure allowing specialization in Scottish, Mediaeval, Modern, or Middle Eastern history. Students benefit from a research-led teaching environment nestled in an incredibly historic coastal town.
UCL (University College London)
UCL’s History department is situated in the heart of London, offering students unparalleled access to the British Museum and the British Library. The BA History programme is notably broad, covering ancient to contemporary history across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
University of Warwick
Warwick is highly regarded for its innovative approach to teaching History, heavily emphasizing global and comparative perspectives. The curriculum allows students to delve into Renaissance, modern, and contemporary history while fostering strong analytical and research skills.
University of York
The University of York boasts a highly flexible History programme that encourages thematic and comparative study rather than strictly chronological approaches. Its proximity to numerous historic sites and archives in York enhances the learning experience for medieval and modern historians alike.
University of Bristol
Bristol’s History degree challenges students to explore the past through varied lenses, including environmental, digital, and global history. The dynamic course structure allows students to conduct independent, primary source research projects from their very first year.
University of Exeter
Exeter provides a comprehensive History programme known for its supportive academic community and consistently high student satisfaction. The course spans multiple continents and eras, offering specialized modules that range from maritime history to modern European politics.
University of Manchester
Manchester offers a diverse BA History course that allows students to explore political, economic, social, and cultural history from the ancient world to the modern day. Students also benefit from exceptional resources, including the world-renowned John Rylands Library.
The University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh provides a flexible four-year MA (Hons) degree steeped in the rich academic environment of a historic Scottish capital. The curriculum is incredibly broad, allowing students to specialize in Scottish, European, American, or global history.
King’s College London (KCL)
Located in the heart of the capital, KCL’s history degree emphasizes both European and global perspectives across a wide chronological span. Students benefit from the university’s central location, offering exceptional access to national museums, libraries, and archives.
University of Sheffield
Sheffield focuses on understanding the complex modern world through the lens of the past, encouraging active historical debate. The flexible course structure allows students to tailor their studies with modules ranging from the early medieval period to the 21st century.
Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway offers a robust history degree with strengths ranging from Ancient Rome and medieval Europe to the modern Middle East. Situated on a beautiful campus just outside London, the course emphasizes independent research and critical historical methodologies.
Lancaster University
Lancaster offers a highly customizable BA History degree with a strong emphasis on independent research and critical analysis. Students can explore diverse topics spanning different continents and periods, guided by experts in regional and global history.
Loughborough University
Loughborough’s history program often integrates traditional historical study with an understanding of international relations, politics, and culture. The curriculum is designed to equip students with strong analytical and communication skills tailored for success in the modern workplace.
University of Birmingham
Birmingham provides a comprehensive history degree covering medieval to contemporary history across a global canvas. Students are uniquely encouraged to engage with public history, heritage, and digital humanities throughout their studies.
University of Leeds
Leeds features a research-led curriculum where students learn directly from leading experts in various, highly specialized historical fields. The BA History programme covers a wide geographical and chronological span, promoting international perspectives and archival research.
University of Southampton
Southampton’s history degree allows students to explore everything from ancient empires and medieval culture to the Cold War and modern geopolitics. The course heavily emphasizes the development of critical thinking and independent research skills through primary source analysis.
University of Glasgow
Glasgow offers a highly flexible MA in History, backed by a rich, centuries-old tradition of historical scholarship. Students can study Scottish, British, European, and American history in depth, with options to take interdisciplinary subjects in their early years.
University of Hull
The University of Hull gives students the chance to study history from the medieval era through to the present day with a strong focus on social and maritime history. Students are encouraged to get hands-on with history through access to the Hull History Centre.
University of Nottingham
Nottingham offers a diverse and far-reaching curriculum that covers the history of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The department is highly regarded for its supportive teaching environment and focus on developing career-ready skills.
University of Leicester
Leicester is renowned for its dynamic approach to history, integrating local history, urban history, and Holocaust studies into its broad curriculum. The university places a strong emphasis on employability, offering unique opportunities to work with heritage organisations.
University of Strathclyde
Based in Glasgow, Strathclyde offers a History degree that specializes in modern and contemporary history, particularly focusing on the 19th and 20th centuries. The course heavily explores the intersections of history with politics, technology, and society.
University of Kent
Kent provides a broad-ranging History BA that allows students to study the past from the Roman Empire to the modern day across multiple continents. Known as the UK’s European university, Kent offers unique opportunities for studying the history of medicine, science, and warfare.
University of Liverpool
Liverpool’s history program allows students to study a wide range of periods and places, capitalizing on the city’s rich cultural and maritime heritage. Students can tailor their degree to their interests, ranging from medieval Europe to modern global conflicts.
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary offers a vibrant History degree in London’s East End, featuring modules on British, European, Islamic, and American history. The university is known for its strong focus on the history of political ideas, cultural history, and post-colonial studies.
University of East Anglia (UEA)
UEA provides an interdisciplinary approach to history, allowing students to explore the subject alongside literature, politics, and landscape studies. The department is highly praised for its friendly academic community and expertise in early modern and modern history.
Cardiff University
As part of the prestigious Russell Group, Cardiff offers a rigorous BA History degree that spans from the fall of Rome to the late 20th century. Students benefit from the university’s location in a capital city, with excellent access to the National Museum and archives of Wales.
Aberystwyth University
As the oldest university in Wales, Aberystwyth provides a historic and deeply supportive setting for studying everything from medieval Britain to the modern world. The department is highly regarded for its research-led teaching and strong emphasis on historiography.
Queen’s University Belfast
QUB offers a dynamic History degree deeply enriched by its location in Belfast, providing unique perspectives on Irish, British, and global history. The course strongly focuses on public history and the practical application of historical research in modern society.
/filters:format(webp)/prod01/home/media/Media,774663,en.JPG)
Bangor University
Bangor’s History department offers a close-knit learning environment with strengths in Welsh, British, and European history. Students can explore diverse periods from the medieval era to modern contemporary history set against the backdrop of North Wales.
University of Sussex
Sussex is celebrated for its progressive and interdisciplinary approach to history, strongly emphasizing global and social histories. The curriculum allows students to critically engage with topics ranging from the Renaissance to 20th-century political movements.
University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen offers a highly flexible Scottish MA in History, backed by over 500 years of academic tradition. Students can specialize in a wide array of fields, benefiting from the university’s world-class Special Collections and archives.
University of Stirling
Stirling’s History program is deeply integrated with its stunning campus and the surrounding historical landscape of central Scotland. The curriculum explores diverse themes across Scottish, British, European, and global history, with a strong focus on heritage and conservation.
Newcastle University
Newcastle’s History BA provides a vibrant exploration of human history across five continents, stretching from antiquity to the present day. Students benefit from the city’s rich heritage, including nearby Roman sites and exceptional local archives.
University of Lincoln
Lincoln emphasizes a hands-on approach to history, integrating the city’s profound mediaeval heritage directly into the learning experience. The course spans the Roman Empire to the late 20th century, focusing on developing robust analytical and research skills.
SOAS University of London
SOAS offers a uniquely specialized History degree focused entirely on the histories of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It is the premier institution for students looking to move beyond Eurocentric perspectives and study global history from non-Western viewpoints.
Bournemouth University
Bournemouth’s History program combines traditional academic rigor with a modern, applied focus on public history and heritage. Students explore how the past is presented to the public today, utilizing the rich historical landscape of the nearby Jurassic Coast.
University of Reading
Reading offers an engaging History degree with particular strengths in medieval, early modern, and modern political history. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the university’s unique resources, including the on-campus Museum of English Rural Life.
Northumbria University, Newcastle
Northumbria provides a contemporary and globally focused History degree that explores themes like conflict, society, and culture. The program strongly emphasizes employability, offering excellent opportunities for placements and public history projects.
University of Derby
Derby’s History course offers an immersive experience, uniquely blending regional heritage with broad national and international historical themes. The university emphasizes real-world application, often partnering with local museums and heritage sites for student projects.
University of Plymouth
Plymouth utilizes its rich maritime and military heritage to offer a compelling History degree with a global outlook. Students delve into subjects ranging from early modern Europe to the Cold War, supported by a close-knit academic community.
De Montfort University
De Montfort offers a diverse and inclusive History curriculum covering British, European, and global history with strong themes of sports, gender, and photography. The course is designed to build critical thinking and highly transferable skills for the modern workplace.
University of Huddersfield
Huddersfield provides a practically focused History degree that encourages active research and public engagement. Students can explore varied historical periods while developing professional skills through integrated work placements and archival projects.
Teesside University
Teesside offers a modern and culturally focused History program that explores the social, political, and cultural developments of the modern world. The course heavily emphasizes regional history alongside international events, building strong analytical skills.
Bath Spa University
Bath Spa integrates its History degree with the stunning World Heritage environment of Bath, focusing heavily on heritage, landscape, and material culture. The program covers a broad chronological sweep and encourages hands-on learning through fieldwork and placements.
University of Dundee
Dunde offers a flexible and deeply engaging Scottish MA in History, characterized by its focus on Scottish, British, and imperial history. The department is highly praised for its supportive staff and student-centered approach to historical debate.
Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent provides an innovative History degree with a strong emphasis on public history, heritage, and the practical uses of the past. The curriculum spans early modern to contemporary history, explicitly designing modules to boost graduate employability.