About this course
History is being made right now. It is a living, breathing subject that is constantly renewing, evolving and revealing new information that teaches us about the past, anchors us to the present and informs our future. Historians are passionate, focused, curious, intellectual and open to new experiences and information. If this sounds like you, then read on.
History at NTU offers exciting opportunities to discover and understand the past through a range of skills and approaches. Our expert staff have strong links to the modern heritage industry and historical research groups, giving you opportunities to work on real-life projects and take work placements with some of the most prestigious heritage sites in the country. You’ll also have the opportunity to study abroad at one of our international exchange partner universities.
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100% of NTU’s research in History was assessed to be world-leading or excellent in terms of its impact - REF 2021. -
Study in a city steeped in history and home to an array of museums and archives. -
Work on company projects for museums, heritage sites, charities, trusts, local organisations and private businesses. -
Study a course our students love - 97% of BA (Hons) History students would recommend studying at NTU to others.
Find out more about History
We’re running an activity for 16 - 18 year olds to give you a taster of what it is like to study at NTU.
Once you register your interest, we’ll email you information nearer to the day.
Thursday 12 June, 10 am - 3 pm
What you’ll study
This course will help to develop your knowledge and understanding of diverse cultures, nations and ideas from medieval and early modern right through to modern and contemporary history across the globe.
We offer you a wide range of options so you can study what you are passionate about, or discover a new and exciting area you never even considered before.
Year One builds the key historical skills and practices you'll need in your future, alongside introductory modules that focus on international perspectives.
Year Two is all about you. You can choose a pathway which suits your needs and interests with the opportunity to travel, work or specialise your study with optional modules.
Year Three is your chance to really explore what fascinates you, with a further range of options and a project on a specialist research topic of your choice. You'll be guided along with expert supervision from your teaching team.
Core modules
Europe since 1789: Revolution to Referendum
Explore the ideas, ideologies, political , social, and economic changes associated with the development of Western Europe and the European States from the late 18th Century to the late 20th Century. From revolutions to unifications, empire and colonisation, war and state, the rise of communism and fascism, intellectual, economic, cultural and social developments, the module will act as a foundation for future study of history at University.
Rewriting the Conquest of Mexico: Burying the White Gods
Examine the history of the Aztecs, and the legacy of the so-called 'Conquest' of Mexico. How was the history written? And why does the traditional, colonial narrative remain problematic to this day?
Making History
Making History helps you build key skills for studying History, like analyzing sources, managing research projects, and presenting ideas confidently. You’ll explore fascinating topics from different times and places
History Matters
Making History helps you prepare for university-level History by teaching research methods, source analysis, and data presentation. You'll develop key skills and explore diverse historical perspectives with expert academics.
America, 1607-2020: form Colony to Superpower
Examine the themes of race, colonisation, slavery in American history and examine the connections between the past and the present – for example, with the civil rights struggles of the sixties and the Black Lives Matter Movement today.
The Islamic World of the Near East
This module offers you a broad and globalised history of the Islamic World of the Near East between the years c.1000-c.1323. This was a time of tremendous change across the entire region with major developments in: culture, trade, art, architecture, religion, technology and demography.
Core module
The Historian's Craft
This module introduces you to a range of historical source collections and guides you through best practice of critically examining source evidence.
History in Action
You will evaluate your skill set and identify gaps to work on through a minimum of 80 hours of relevant work-like experience, to include placement, volunteering and charity work, community-engaged learning, consultancy or collaborations.
Tudors and Stuarts: Rulers and representations
Understand the relevance of themes in Tudor and Stuart history to contemporary Britain.
In the second half of the year you will choose from:
Pathway 1: Extended work-like experience
Get the experience you need for after you graduate, and really understand how the things you study translate into the world of work with a work placement. Your highly experienced Employability Team will help you find a placement to suit your career goals from our huge network of companies, historical and heritage organisations, charities, institutions, and beyond.
Pathway 2: An international exchange
Travel the world, meet new friends, and have experiences you will remember for the rest of your life.
Our flexible curriculum has been designed to allow some amazing opportunities for you. Your second year of study is divided into two semesters, giving you the opportunity to take part in an international exchange. You could study with one of international exchange partners in Australia, Europe, USA, Canada, Thailand and many, many more.
Our dedicated team will support you in finding and arranging a suitable exchange. And don't worry about the cost, they will help you apply for any grants or loans you may need, as no one should miss out on the chance to broaden their horizons.
Pathway 3: Taught pathway choosing three optional modules from:
Fascism, Past and Present
Examine and contextualise fascism and fascist regimes both in the past as well as the present - specifically recent neo-fascist movements and illiberal right-wing governments.
People and Planet: pasts, presents, and futures
Develop an understanding of the human impact on the environment from the 15th Century to the present and how such slow-moving change can interact with social justice.
Money Matters: Finance Past and Present
Use the skills and knowledge developed by Humanities students to examine how human behaviour and historical trends have impacted economic systems across national, international and global arenas.
Intercultural Communication at Work
Gain the knowledge, skills and strategies to build your intercultural communication competence. Analyse and reflect on the impact of culture(s) on your values, assumptions, perceptions, expectations, and behaviours. Build successful verbal and non-verbal communication strategies in different intercultural settings.
History Online: Researching and Presenting the Past
Create a 'magazine' project to contribute to the History blog.
Year-long University Language Programme language module.
You may choose to take an optional year-long placement in Year Three, either in the UK or overseas.
You will be supported by our experienced Employability Team to source a suitable placement.
Core module
History Research Project
Produce your final year research project which will include a product pitch , literature review and finally a showcase where you present in an exhibition-style environment.
Representing History
Apply your historical knowledge and skills to deliver a real world project working for an external client brief.
Optional modules
Choose three modules from:
Women and Gender in the Pre-Modern World
Explore the changes in lived experience and gender roles from biblical to renaissance periods.
The Apocalypse in History and Culture
Explore the concept of the apocalypse in history, examining its social, cultural and religious dimensions across medieval and early modern landscapes. You will encounter the apocalyptic traditions and prophetic voices that defined their age and engage critically with diverse primary sources such as art and imagery, letters, literature and philosophies. The module will show how End Times visions from history still resonate today and can be identified within contemporary fears of apocalyptic and dystopian futures.
Legacies and Memory of Conflict
The module examines the issue of conflict, its legacies and memorialisation. It will focus on a series of historical struggles from around the world and use them to interrogate what happened and why before analysing their traces and consequences in their respective post-conflict eras.
The Global Struggle for Civil and Human Rights
Examine the long struggle for civil and human rights within different national and transnational contexts
History Online: the Value and Values of History
Explore a diverse range of historical subjects based on the latest research and your personal interests.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
Video Gallery
How you're taught
Our students love their course, and you will too
94% of BA (Hons) History students are positive about the academic support on their course (National Student Survey 2023)
How will I learn?
As well as traditional lectures and seminars, your learning is designed to help you hone your skills of research, critical analysis and intellectual discussion. You will be involved in group work, live projects, tutorials, presentations, visits and workshops that will help you to develop your teamwork and communication skills, as well as your ability to present complex arguments.
You will also carry out independent project work where you’ll have the support of NOW, our virtual learning environment, as well as face-to-face support from your teaching team.
Learn a new language
Alongside your study you also have the opportunity to learn a new language. The University Language Programme (ULP) is available to all students and gives you the option of learning a totally new language or improving the skills you already have. Learning a new language can enhance your communication skills, enrich your experience when travelling abroad and boost your career prospects. Find out more about the ULP.
How you're assessed
We use a varied and diverse range of coursework assessments to develop your skills and support your progress. These include digital projects, reviews, case-studies, essays, presentations and reports.
Our innovative approach to assessment means that in Year One you will develop and enhance a complementary set of key skills for success in second and third year, and throughout the degree the varied assessment pattern will enable you to engage with the past and prepare for your future through an exciting array of projects
Contact hours
If you’re struggling with a topic or require additional support or guidance, you can arrange to see your tutors in small groups or one-to-one, to discuss essay plans or to seek some specific academic guidance.
It is the nature of the subjects offered in the School of Social Sciences, however, that much of your time will be spent engaged in independent study. We recognise that this marks a change of culture from school or college, and we have in place a system of study support to help you adapt to this.
Careers and employability
Your career development
Knowledge and understanding of the past is of incalculable value both to the individual and to society, and as one of our History students you will gain a wide range of academic and transferable skills to achieve this.
…at university
As well as through study, the combination of skills gained from work experience and extracurricular activities can help boost your job prospects and develop a well-rounded CV. Undertaking volunteering or work experience with organisations and businesses that you are interested in working for will help you develop some skills that are relevant to your career interests. For example, experience working with museum collections if you want to pursue a career in curatorship.
… on graduation
History graduates find employers respect and desire the skills they acquire. Popular career routes you may follow include research or teaching, politics, law, business, social care, arts and museum curatorship, journalism, librarianship and archiving.
Or you may wish to follow in the footsteps of other graduates and choose to progress to further study, either by continuing your research within History, or gaining more direct vocational qualifications such as museum and heritage management, teaching, or tourism.
Our History course also has established links with its former students, through which we receive employment opportunities for graduating students. Our graduates have gone on to forge successful careers both within large, well-known organisations and the small to medium-sized companies that constitute much of the UK economy.
Employability
Our friendly and experienced careers consultants will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal and practical support. Find out more about our Careers Service.
What our students are doing now
My alumni story: Charis Hawkley
BA (Hons) History alum Charis tells us about her work as a dyspraxia champion, efforts to educate people about this hidden disability, and how it’s resulted in an exciting award nomination.
Molly Slifkin
Edward Hammond
Campus and facilities
You’ll mainly be studying in the Djanogly building with access to facilities including a student kitchen and collaboration space.
NTU’s City Campus has everything you’ll need to stay busy between lectures. As well as the Boots Library and its beautiful roof garden, there’s our stylish Students’ Union building and two-storey, 100-station gym; a whole host of cafés, bars, restaurants and food outlets for every taste; our much-loved Global Lounge; performance and rehearsal spaces for musicians; and much, much more!
Take a few steps off campus and you’ll find yourself in the heart of Nottingham — England’s original ‘rebel city’. It’s one of the UK’s top 10 student destinations, and one of Europe’s top 25. Enjoy a booming indie arts scene, pop-up galleries, the nationally renowned Nottingham Contemporary, two A-list theatres, the iconic Broadway (voted one of the world’s top 100 independent cinemas by Total Film), and a constant rotation of events and exhibitions.
Take our virtual tour to get a real feel for the campus.
Here are some of the free services, student discount and benefits you'll get studying at NTU
We've carefully considered what benefits and services you need for your studies, so when you join NTU you'll get free printing and materials credits, access to our free WiFi, a copy of Microsoft Office, and can even borrow a laptop if yours is out of commission.
For life outside your lectures, you'll enjoy access to over 60 sports clubs and 130 student societies, discounted travel and bike hire, free language learning, award-winning student support and an entertainment programme which is second to none.
See all the benefits and free services you will enjoy as an NTU student.
Societies
Current students run societies in a range of Humanities and Arts subjects including History, Medieval, Film, Filmmaking, Philosophy, Politics and International Relations, and the Book society.
There are also a number of media channels which our students get involved in such as the NTU radio station FlyLive, our student magazine Platform, and TV station TrentTV.
Find out more about student societies at the Student Union website.
Entry requirements
UK students
Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications
Contextual offer: 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications.
To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.
Additional requirements for UK students
There are no additional requirements for this course.
Contextual offers
If you don’t quite meet our entry requirements, we might be able to make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and your individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer, and we get data from UCAS to help make these decisions. We do this because we believe everyone with the potential to succeed at NTU should have the opportunity to do so, no matter what barriers you may face.
Meeting our entry requirements
Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS Tariff points attached to specific grades, including A-levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our Tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.
Other qualifications and experience
NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds, either for year one entry or for advanced standing beyond the start of a course into year 2 or beyond.
We consider study and/or credit achieved from a similar course at another institution (otherwise known as credit transfer), vocational and professional qualifications, and broader work or life experience.
Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route. If you wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning, please contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International students
Academic entry requirements: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four A levels. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.
English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.
Additional requirements for international students
If you need help achieving the academic entry requirements, we offer a Foundation preparation course for this degree. The course is offered through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC) based on our City campus.
English language requirements
View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.
If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.
Other qualifications and experience
If you have the right level of qualifications, you may be able to start your Bachelors degree at NTU in year 2 or year 3. This is called ‘advanced standing’ entry and is decided on a case-by case basis after our assessment of your qualifications and experience.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
Sign up for emails
Sign up to receive regular emails from the International Office. You'll hear about our news, scholarships and any upcoming events in your country with our expert regional teams.
Getting in touch
If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
