History

History is the discipline that interrogates how the past was experienced, recorded, and interpreted, and asks what it means for who we are today. It teaches you to weigh evidence critically, to understand the limits of sources, to appreciate how people in very different times and places understood their world, and to construct arguments that are grounded in evidence rather than assumption. These capacities for critical thinking and rigorous analysis are among the most transferable any degree can offer.

This three-year, full-time programme at the London School of Economics is distinctive for its strongly international perspective. Spanning the fifteenth century to the present day, you will study political, economic, social, and cultural developments that have shaped states and societies, paying serious attention to the relationships between them and to the global processes that have connected different parts of the world. The option of a year abroad allows you to experience a different academic environment and to pursue historical questions in contexts beyond the UK.

The course is taught by scholars whose research spans multiple continents and periods, giving you access to genuinely cutting-edge historical thinking.

History graduates are widely sought after because of the analytical, research, and communication skills the degree develops. Common career paths include law, journalism, politics, the civil service, public policy, international organisations, business, and the cultural and heritage sector. The combination of historical knowledge and critical method also provides excellent preparation for further academic study at Masters or doctoral level, and many LSE History graduates go on to research careers in universities and think-tanks around the world.