Overview

The BA (Hons) History at the University of Exeter explores the development of societies, cultures, ideas and institutions across different periods and regions. The course combines the study of historical change with critical examination of sources and interpretations, helping students understand how the past has shaped the modern world and how historians construct knowledge about it.

What You'll Learn

• Medieval, early modern and modern history across different geographical and cultural contexts.

• Political, social, economic, religious and cultural developments and their connections.

• Historical themes including power, resistance, empire, nationalism, gender, conflict and social change.

• Primary sources such as letters, diaries, official records, literature, art and material culture.

• Historiographical approaches and different ways scholars interpret historical events.

• Research methods, source evaluation and approaches to independent historical investigation.

• Digital approaches to history, including the use of collections, archives and databases.

• Academic writing, critical reading, argument development and presentation of historical ideas. 

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to investigate historical questions using a range of primary and secondary evidence and assess the reliability, limitations and significance of different sources. They will understand how political, social, economic and cultural factors interact to produce historical change and will be able to compare contrasting interpretations of the past. Students will develop skills in independent research, critical analysis and historiographical evaluation, enabling them to construct coherent arguments supported by relevant evidence. They will also be able to communicate complex historical ideas clearly and use appropriate research and analytical methods to produce well-supported conclusions about the past.