History with Foundation

History at degree level is one of the most enduringly valuable of the humanities disciplines, training you to think critically about evidence, to construct sustained arguments from complex material, and to understand how the present has been shaped by specific pasts. It challenges assumptions about inevitability, shows how things could have been otherwise, and develops a scepticism about received narratives that is applicable far beyond the study of the past itself.

At the University of Plymouth, this four-year full-time History degree with a foundation year provides a supported entry into the subject for students who are returning to education, building on an emerging interest, or who need additional preparation before engaging with the main degree programme. The foundation element introduces the academic and organisational skills needed to succeed at university level, building confidence and independence as you transition into higher education. The main degree includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement, giving you substantial professional experience and the opportunity to engage with history and historical thinking in international contexts.

The combination of supported entry and extensive practical and international experience makes this a well-rounded programme for students coming from a range of starting points.

History graduates move into careers across a wide range of sectors. The civil service, journalism, law, education, heritage, publishing, archiving, museum work, and public affairs are among the most common destinations. The ability to handle large volumes of complex information, to write clearly and persuasively, and to construct evidence-based arguments is valued across virtually any knowledge-intensive profession.

Many graduates also use a history degree as preparation for postgraduate study in history, law, archives, museum studies, journalism, or public policy, or for a professional qualification in teaching or another field.