BA (Honours) History

Year of Entry 2025/26
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BA (Honours)

History

Full-time History

Expand your horizons through the study of modern British, European and global history.

Everything you need to know...

  • Pound sign

    What is the fee?

    Home: £9,535 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
    International/EU: £17,155 per year (£1,200 for placement year)

  • Time

    How long will I study?

    3 / 4 Years

  • Location

    Where will I study?

    City Campus

  • Bookmark

    What are the entry requirements?

    112-120 UCAS points

  • Checkmark

    What is the UCAS code?

    V100

  • Date

    When do I start?

    September 2025

  • Avatar

    Placement year available?

    Yes


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Course summary

  • Learn how to navigate the waters of history as a dynamic and ever-changing subject.
  • Develop your critical understanding of a wide range of historical topics.
  • Cultivate a range of real-world skills that enhance your employability when you graduate.
  • Work on projects with organisations such as museums, libraries and archives.
  • Enhance your understanding of the past and its impact on the present. 

On this course you’ll create your own pathway across the globe – studying modules from Britain and Europe to the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia. Through a variety of coursework, project work and individual research you’ll think critically about the way history is presented and understood. You’ll learn how to apply a range of practical skills to the world beyond university – including research, analysis and communication.


Employability

91% of our graduates are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes Survey).

Top 10 in the UK

This course is ranked 10th in its subject area in the Guardian University Guide 2024.

How you learn

You’ll be taught in a variety of different settings – all centred on research. All our staff are active researchers and world-leading historians in their specialist areas of expertise. They’ll introduce you to new and exciting fields of history, using a wide variety of academic texts and primary sources, facilitated by our outstanding digital and library services. You can find out more about student experiences and research projects at SHU History.

You learn through

  • large group lectures
  • small group seminars and workshops
  • group work activities
  • working with external partners on a variety of projects
  • field trips and away days
  • group projects
  • a range of assessments that focus on coursework, including essays, posters, topic reports, document analysis and presentations

There are opportunities to study abroad at one of our partner universities with the possibility of funding through the Turing Scheme.

Course leaders and tutors

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Ben Offiler
Lecturer in History

I am a Lecturer in History with particular interests in the history of American philanthropy, development discourse, and US-Iranian relations during the Cold War.

Applied learning

Work placements

In your second year you’ll have the opportunity to take a work placement or collaborate on a research project with an external partner.

Previous work placements have included primary and secondary schools, local museums such as Kelham Island Industrial Museum, and other heritage organisations and local businesses. Students have also worked on projects with organisations such as the Eccles Centre for American Studies at the British Library, Sheffield General Cemetery, Stobs Military Camp Hawick and the National Maritime Museum.

Live projects

Throughout the course, you’ll have the opportunity to work on a range of exciting historical projects – on individually commissioned briefs with external partners. Previous briefs have come from History of Parliament, Sheffield Archives, Sheffield Libraries and a graphic artist working on radicalism and radical figures.

Field trips

You’ll also learn by going on field trips to a range of locations, such as the Manchester People's History Museum.

Networking opportunities

There are chances to study abroad at one of our partner universities and take elective language modules. We have connections with a wide variety of institutions across the world, including universities in Europe, North America and Australia. You may also be able to work or study abroad with the possibility of funding through the Turing scheme.

Student work

Studying History in the city of Sheffield.


Future careers

There are many things you can do with a history degree. Our students have gone into just about every industry you can think of. Your skills will be valued across a range of exciting and rewarding careers, including

  • teaching
  • local government
  • the civil service
  • journalism
  • librarianship
  • the heritage industry
  • human resources
  • advertising/marketing
  • law
  • financial services
  • non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for

  • Sheffield City Archive
  • Sheffield Museums
  • Barnsley Museum
  • local and national newspapers
  • primary and secondary education
  • the civil service
  • local government

Where will I study?

You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

City Campus

City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.

City Campus map | City Campus tour 


City Campus map
Location

Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB

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Adsetts library

Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.

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Equipment and facilities

On this course you work with

  • the Humanities Lounge – an open space at the heart of the city, equipped with flexible desks, large screens, laptop library, individual and collaborative workspaces, and a shared kitchen
  • library services and study space at the Adsetts Learning Centre
  • a range of digital collections to enhance your learning and support your research
  • taught sessions in dedicated computer suites
  • an Online Learning Platform to support your learning

Media Gallery

Entry requirements

All students

UCAS points

  • 112-120

This must include at least two A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example:

  • BBB-BBC at A Level.
  • DMM in BTEC Extended Diploma.
  • Merit overall from a T Level Qualification.
  • A combination of qualifications, which may include AS Levels, EPQ and general studies

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.

GCSE

  • English Language or English Literature at grade C or 4

• Access - at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2 from a relevant Open College Network accredited course.

If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent

We also consider other qualifications from the UCAS tariff. Applicants with alternative qualifications or a combination of qualifications and work experience will also be considered. We welcome applications from people of any age. Please contact us for further advice.

Meeting the qualifications on the entry criteria does not guarantee you a place. You should ensure that you submit a personal statement and reference as these will also be considered as part of the selection process. Guidelines on personal statements and references can be found on the UCAS website.

Additional information for EU/International students

If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.

For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.


Modules

Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Common People? Local Voices, Global Histories
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Empires: Expansion, Decline, Legacy
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Sex, Gender And Sexuality In History
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
The Global Age Of Revolutions
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Elective modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Empires And Encounters
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Foreign Language (French, Spanish, Italian)
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(50%) , Practical(50%)
Year 2

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Applied History
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Bodies: Shaping Societies
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Moving People: History Across Borders
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Popular Movements And The Fight For Rights
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Elective modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Study Abroad - Creative Industries
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Year 3

Optional modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Placement Year
Credits -
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Final year

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Black History Matters
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Defending Democracy
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
History Research Project
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Sex, War And Liberation
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.

International students

Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

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Financial support for home/EU students

How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.

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Additional course costs

The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

General course additional costs

Additional costs for Sheffield Creative Industries Institute (PDF, 153.7KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.

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Financial support for home/EU students

How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.

Learn more
 

How do I apply?

Apply now via UCAS

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Why not come to our next open day? Open days are the perfect place to talk to staff and students, visit our campuses and get all the information you need. Alternatively, feel free to ask us a question.

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Why choose us?

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Teaching

We are Gold rated in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) for the outstanding quality of our teaching and student outcomes

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Accommodation

We guarantee to find you an affordable place to live that’s close to campus and comes with all bills included

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Employment

95% of our UK graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes Survey)

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