Overview

Understanding the past, across continents and centuries, gives real insight into the forces shaping the present, from politics and protest to identity and global change. The BA (Hons) History at the University of Bristol offers a genuinely broad curriculum, taught by specialists covering all seven continents and spanning more than 1,500 years, from medieval and early modern history through to contemporary global topics. Students build their own path through the degree, choosing from a wide range of units on social, cultural, political and environmental history each year. The course suits students who want real flexibility to pursue their own historical interests while developing the evidence-based analysis and research skills valued across many careers.

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What You'll Learn

• Major themes in medieval, early modern, modern and contemporary history

• A broad, globally focused curriculum spanning social, cultural, political, environmental and global histories

• Optional first-year units on topics such as democracy and protest, slavery, and gender in the modern world

• Specialist second- and third-year units shaped by staff research, covering areas from medieval kingship to modern political culture

• Skills in interpreting historical evidence and understanding context

• Constructing robust historical analyses and arguments

• Communicating ideas clearly through varied forms of assessment

• Independent research culminating in original work on a topic of your choosing

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to interpret and evaluate a wide range of historical evidence, drawing on debates and perspectives spanning multiple continents and time periods. They will be equipped to construct well-supported historical arguments, understanding how social, cultural, political and environmental contexts shape events. Through varied assessment formats and independent research, students will develop strong project-design, analytical and persuasive communication skills. Graduates will leave with the ability to interpret complex evidence and communicate ideas clearly, skills well suited to further study or a wide range of careers in government, education, business, law and the creative industries.