History

History is the discipline that asks how we came to be where we are, and it does so by teaching you to think carefully about evidence, argument, and the stories we tell about the past. Studying history at university is quite different from encountering it at school. You will engage with primary sources in their original context, grapple with historians who disagree profoundly about the same events, and learn to construct your own interpretations based on evidence rather than received accounts.

The discipline trains skills of reading, analysis, and persuasive writing that are genuinely transferable across professional life.

At the University of Northampton, this programme is offered on a part-time basis, which makes it particularly suitable for those who are balancing study with work, family commitments, or other responsibilities. The part-time route typically extends the duration of the degree to allow you to engage fully with the material without the intensity of full-time study. You will explore historical periods and themes drawn from British, European, and world history, developing your understanding of how societies, economies, political systems, and cultures have changed over time.

Seminar discussion is central to the programme, and you will be expected to develop and defend interpretations, not just to absorb information.

Northampton's approach to history reflects the university's commitment to widening participation and supporting students from a range of backgrounds. The part-time structure is designed to be genuinely manageable, and the teaching team takes seriously the different experiences and prior knowledge that students bring to the subject.

Graduates of history degrees work in education, heritage and museums, the civil service, journalism, law, publishing, and a wide range of other fields. The analytical and communication skills the degree develops are valued by employers who want people who can manage complexity, evaluate evidence, and write clearly. Postgraduate study in history, archival studies, heritage management, or related disciplines is a natural next step for those who wish to pursue the subject further.