History
BA (Hons)

History is a subject for anyone with a sense of curiosity and a desire for a deeper understanding of the world around them.

• Prepare for success on a course which consistently achieves great results in the National Student Survey: in 2021, 96% of students were satisfied with teaching on the course
• Explore the broad sweep of British, European and global history from the Renaissance to the twenty-first century
• Undertake fieldwork at historical locations ranging from country houses to industrial cities
• Share your passion for the past by organising and marketing a high-profile public conference where you present your research
• Benefit from the support of a dedicated and enthusiastic teaching team who are published experts in their field
• Develop an impressive set of critical, theoretical and transferable skills which will give you a real advantage in securing a graduate career.

Real World Learning

You will use your research and creative skills to interpret the past for the benefit of the wider community. We provide exciting opportunities for projects involving international arts and heritage organisations. Among recent initiatives, our students have worked with Derbyshire County Record Office to encourage young people to take a greater interest in archives and with Derby Theatre, National Brewery Centre and Derby Museum.

You will also inspire others by organising and marketing a public conference and presenting your research to a wider audience. Topics explored at this conference have included the experience of British prisoners-of-war during the First World War, the fight against the Apartheid regime in South Africa, and the pleasure gardens of eighteenth-century London.

Explore history outside the classroom

We offer study visits and fieldtrips to bring your learning to life. You will explore the practical and intellectual applications of history in museums, art galleries, country houses, parks and heritage sites.

Recent visits have taken us to the Imperial War Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the city of Chester and the urban heartland of Manchester. And, of course, Derbyshire is the ideal location to study history - with its rich industrial past and thriving heritage industry, including a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Study in America

You can choose to study part of your degree at one of our partner universities in America

• Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
• Eastern Michigan University
• Keene State College, New Hampshire
• Longwood University, Virginia

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Teaching and learning

You will learn through lectures, seminars, self-directed study, tutorials, study visits, workshops, and work-related learning.  We also use digital learning materials to support you in your studies. We encourage discussion and debate through all our modules, and in individual research projects and student-led presentations, you will have the opportunity to shape your own learning.

Assessment

You are assessed on 100% coursework: there are no exams. Assessment incorporates different formats including essays, document analysis, the examination of material culture and the built environment, book reviews, projects, website design, posters and exhibitions, oral presentations and debating skills.

Supporting you all the way

In the National Student Survey, our students have been particularly positive not only about the quality of teaching on offer but also about the academic support they receive. You will have a personal tutor to help and advise you throughout your degree, and our lecturers are there to provide you with academic guidance.

A vibrant community

There is a friendly, sociable and approachable atmosphere on campus, with a real sense of community for History students. We have an active History Society which organises popular extra-curricular events from fieldtrips to ghost walks, pub quizzes to theatre visits.

Special events such as our annual Disability History Month give you fresh insights into your studies: in 2014 the theme was war and disability.

Who you will meet

You will be taught by our team of engaging, passionate and inspiring subject experts. They include:

• Prof Paul Elliott- Paul is an expert in eighteenth and nineteenth-century British history and has published several books on the history of science and medicine, as well as on environmental and landscape history.
• Dr Cath Feely- Cath is an expert in the social, cultural and intellectual history of nineteenth and twentieth-century Britain.
• Dr Oliver Godsmark – Oliver’s expertise is in late colonial and early postcolonial India, and the histories of the British South Asian diaspora
• Dr Ruth Larsen- Ruth is an expert on British social and cultural history, focusing in particular on gender history and the country house. 
• Dr Kathleen McIlvenna – Kathleen teaches British History and heritage studies, and has special interests in nineteenth-century British social and economic history
• Prof Keith McLay – Keith is the PVC/Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities & Education and is a historian with particular interest in early modern military history
• Dr Tom Neuhaus- Tom teaches international history, focusing on relations between Europe and Asia in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
• Prof Ian Whitehead- Ian is an expert on twentieth-century British history, with a particular focus on the First World War

2022 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2022 entry.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

2021/22 Fees (August 2021 - July 2022)

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

Skills for success

At Derby you will gain attributes beyond those traditionally associated with History graduates. You will not only build your academic capabilities but also apply your historical knowledge to the workplace. We encourage you to develop skills in areas such as presentation and teamworking, which will help you stand out in the job market.

You can approach your future career with confidence: latest Unistats figures show that 92% of our students were in work or further study six months after completing their course.

Wide-ranging career opportunities

With a History degree you can follow a wide range of careers in the education profession, libraries, museums, archives, law, the civil service, management, marketing and the uniformed services. Recent graduates have, for instance, taken up professional roles in local authorities; in marketing for major national businesses; and in project consultancy advising global companies.

A growing number of our graduates also use their degree as a platform for rewarding postgraduate study in subjects such as History, Museum Studies, Archive Management and International Relations.

Ensuring you’re ‘work-ready’

Our Careers and Employment Service will provide you with support from day one of your course to ensure you leave Derby as a ‘work-ready’ graduate - industry aware, motivated and enterprising. Throughout your studies, you will also benefit from our Personal Development Planning (PDP) scheme which enables you to reflect on your learning and develop your career ambitions. The support continues once you have completed your course too: you are entitled to further help and guidance from the Careers and Employment Service for up to three years after leaving the University.

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Additional costs and optional extras

We’re committed to providing you with an outstanding learning experience. Our expert teaching, excellent facilities and great employability prepare you for your future career. As part of our commitment to you we aim to keep any additional study costs to a minimum. However, there are occasions where students may incur some additional costs.

Please also note that due to the current Covid-19 situation, if your course offers fieldtrips, the location of these may change or be cancelled. If this happens, you will be communicated to in advance and we will do our very best to seek out other practical opportunities to ensure your experience is not affected.

The information below is correct for entry in the academic year September 2021 - August 2022 only. Entry for future academic years may be subject to change.

Included in your fees

• All compulsory reading materials available in digital format. Additional reading based on library and/or digital resources
• Compulsory study trips (approx. 10 across 3 years of programme depending on options selected)- previous visits have included Imperial War Museum, York, Chester, Various Country Houses

Mandatory costs not included in your fees

• Printing and binding of one copy of dissertation, cost approx. £6

Optional costs not included in your fees

• Purchase of reading materials - approx. £30 per text but cost varies depending on source
• There may be costs associated with non-compulsory field trips

Please note: Our courses are refreshed and updated on a regular basis. If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.

Other courses you might like

• History with Foundation Year BA (Hons)
• History Integrated Masters (MHist)