History

History at university is far more than learning what happened in the past. It is about developing the analytical skills to interrogate evidence, question received narratives, and construct interpretations of how and why events unfolded as they did. A history degree teaches you to read carefully, write clearly, and think rigorously, making it one of the most versatile qualifications in the humanities and one that opens a wide range of professional doors.

The part-time History programme at the University of Derby, which includes a foundation year, is designed to be flexible and accessible. Studying part time allows you to balance your academic work with other commitments, and the foundation year ensures that students who need to build their academic skills and confidence have the opportunity to do so before progressing to the main degree. The programme's approach is both intellectually rigorous and community-facing: you will use your research and creative skills to interpret the past for the benefit of the wider community.

Students have worked with Derby Museums on questions of how the past is communicated to a wider public, and have engaged with projects at heritage sites concerned with British imperial history, raising searching questions about ownership, identity, and the significance of heritage today. These applied dimensions sit alongside the scholarly foundations of the degree.

The programme also includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement options, which together provide significant opportunities for professional and international experience at different stages of your studies. The breadth of these opportunities makes the programme particularly rich for those who want both academic depth and practical engagement with history in the world.

Graduates from history programmes go on to careers in heritage, education, the civil service, journalism, publishing, archiving, law, and a wide range of public and private sector roles. Postgraduate study in history, public history, archival studies, or museum studies is a common next step.