History

History is not simply the study of the past. It is a discipline that asks how we know what we know about the past, what evidence has survived and why, how it should be interpreted, and what relationship the past bears to the present. It develops the capacity to work with incomplete and contested evidence, to construct arguments that are honest about their limitations, and to understand that the world as it is was not inevitable but the product of contingent choices, events, and structures.

These are intellectual habits of considerable and lasting value.

At Nottingham this four-year programme begins with a foundation year for students whose prior qualifications need to be developed before the main history degree begins. The foundation year provides the academic skills and contextual knowledge that university-level historical study requires, ensuring you are well prepared for the rigour of the degree that follows. The main programme engages you with a wide range of historical periods and places, from medieval to modern, from European to global, developing your skills in reading primary sources, evaluating historical arguments, and producing well-researched and clearly written work.

The degree includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study history in a different national academic context and to develop a more genuinely international perspective on the past.

History graduates pursue careers in education, the civil service, law, journalism, publishing, heritage and museum work, archiving, public affairs, research, and the voluntary sector. The analytical and communication skills the degree develops are broadly transferable, and history graduates are consistently valued by employers who need people who can research complex problems and communicate their findings clearly. Many students continue to postgraduate study in history, law, education, or a range of related humanities fields.