BAHistory

Study location	United Kingdom, Egham, Surrey
Type	Bachelor courses, full-time
Nominal duration	3 years
Study language	English
Awards	BA
Course code	V100

Entry qualification

High school / secondary education (or higher) Required: At least five GCSEs at grade A*-C or 9 – 4 including English and Mathematics. Preferred subject: History A-level. The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English. Often you can get a suitable transcript from your school. If this is not the case, you will need official translations along with verified copies of the original.

Language requirements	English IELTS: 6.5 overall (with 7.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in each remaining subscore) CAE: 176 overall (with no less than 185 in writing and a minimum of 162 in all other subscores)

Other requirements	At least 1 reference(s) must be provided. A motivation letter must be added to your application.

More information	royalholloway.ac.uk/..history/history.aspx

Overview

Interested? To learn more about this study programme, entry requirements and application process, please contact one of our consultants in a country nearest to you.

Programme structure

Year 1

History and Meanings 1
In this module you will develop an understanding of historical writing and the associated debated around the creation of meaning via study of the past. You will look at changing expectations about historical truth, style and content, considering classical, Christian, Reformation, Renaissance, and Enlightenment approaches. You will examine the global professionalisation of historical research and writing as a discipline from the nineteenth century onwards, with specific case-histories including the impact of Marxism, anthropology, gender studies, Foucault, and Postmodernism. You will also consider History’s response to Postmodernist theory and the state of historical studies post-Postmodernism.

Public History
In this module you will develop an understanding of how historians, politicians and communities make use of the past in the present, and the problems, opportunities and responsibilities this entails. You will look at the use of history in the modern world through a series of case studies and consider your own role as a consumer and producer of history. You will evaluate both historians’ interpretations and the history presented through the media and in public and political spaces. You will hear from a number of historians, drawn from Royal Holloway and beyond, who will speak experty about the intersection of their research with the public sphere.

Doing History 1
In this module you will develop an understanding of the processes by which primary sources are turned into ‘history’. You will consider the range of sources used by historians to reconstruct past societies and cultures, including images, legal and administrative records, oral testimonies, and material artefacts. You will engage with specific examples of written, visual and oral sources and gain the practical skills needed to do history while reflecting upon the potential for historical study and the limitations of different types of evidence.

Doing History 2
In this module you will develop an understanding of the range and variety of modern sources which historians use to write the history of post 1800 society, politics and culture. You will look at methods and procedures used to do oral history, the history of other cultures, and the history of everyday life, and consider the interpretation of primary materials, gaining skills in critical analysis.

Year 2

Independent Essay

Year 3

Historiography

Optional modules

In addition to these mandatory course units there are a number of optional course units available during your degree studies. The following is a selection of optional course units that are likely to be available. Please note that although the College will keep changes to a minimum, new units may be offered or existing units may be withdrawn, for example, in response to a change in staff. Applicants will be informed if any significant changes need to be made.

Career opportunities

A History degree gained at Royal Holloway provides valuable training for many professions as well as a basis for further study. It is highly regarded by employers because of the skills and qualities students develop. It demonstrates that you enjoy being challenged, are able to understand complex issues and have an understanding of other values and cultures, all of which equip you to operate successfully in a fast-changing and increasingly globalised and multi-cultural environment.

On graduation you will be informed and independent – armed with key skills, such as: problem-solving, organisation and planning, as well as research and analysis.