History and Politics

History and politics together examine how the world came to be as it is and how it is governed and contested in the present. History develops the skills of interpreting sources, understanding causation, recognising contingency and building evidence-based arguments about how and why events unfolded as they did. Politics examines power: how it is organised, how it is exercised, how it is legitimised, and how citizens, parties, states and international institutions contend over it.

The two disciplines reinforce each other constantly, because political analysis without historical understanding is shallow, and historical study without political insight misses much of what drove events.

At the University of the Highlands and Islands you will study history and politics over four years of full-time study, developing a broad understanding of political theory, comparative politics, international relations and the historical processes that have shaped current political arrangements. The programme provides a particularly relevant vantage point on Scottish, British and Northern European history and politics, and the distinctive location and ethos of the university are reflected in the perspectives and sources you engage with. The typical tariff of 104 reflects a programme that welcomes students with genuine intellectual curiosity and a commitment to developing their analytical and writing skills across two demanding but accessible disciplines.

Graduates of history and politics programmes work in the civil service, local government, international organisations, political research, journalism, think tanks, the voluntary and community sector, education and law. The combination of historical awareness, political literacy and strong analytical writing is valued across a wide range of graduate roles. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in history, political science, international relations, public policy or law, using their undergraduate formation as the foundation for specialist or professional study.

The ability to read complex material critically, build evidence-based arguments and communicate clearly is among the most durable of graduate attributes.