History and Politics

History and politics form one of the most natural and productive combinations in the humanities. History gives you the long view, the ability to trace how institutions, societies, and ideas have changed over time, and to understand the deep roots of the present. Politics gives you the analytical tools to understand power, governance, ideology, and decision-making, both in the contemporary world and across time.

Studied together, the two subjects enrich each other: history tests political theories against the messy reality of the past, while political analysis makes sense of historical change and conflict.

At Goldsmiths, this programme brings together the distinctive strengths of both disciplines in an intellectually demanding and genuinely interdisciplinary environment. You will study historical periods and political themes that range across centuries and across different regions of the world, developing a comparative and contextual understanding of political life that goes well beyond the present day. You will engage with historical methodology alongside political theory, learning to handle primary sources, to construct arguments from evidence, and to evaluate competing interpretations.

Goldsmiths has a particular reputation for critical thinking and intellectual independence, and the programme reflects that ethos. You will be encouraged to make connections across disciplines and to develop your own analytical perspective.

This programme is offered on a part-time basis, making it well suited to students who are balancing study with other commitments. Graduates of history and politics programmes go on to a wide range of careers, including roles in government, public policy, journalism, law, international organisations, the civil service, research, education, and the third sector. The combination of analytical rigour, broad contextual knowledge, and strong written communication that the programme develops is genuinely versatile and highly transferable across professional fields.

Further postgraduate study in history, political science, international relations, or public policy is also a natural pathway for graduates who want to specialise further.