Modern History and Politics

Modern history and politics are disciplines that belong together. The political world we inhabit today, its institutions, its conflicts, its ideologies, was shaped by events of the past century and a half, and understanding that world requires both the close reading of historical evidence and the conceptual tools that political science provides. A degree combining both fields equips you to move between them fluently, using historical perspective to enrich political analysis and political theory to sharpen your reading of the past.

At the University of Southampton, this part-time programme gives you the opportunity to study at degree level while managing other commitments. You will explore contemporary issues such as international security, migration, and globalisation, and you will develop the skills to make sense of past events, ideas, and problems in ways that illuminate the present. The combination of historical and political study builds the analytical and research skills that are central to both disciplines, including the ability to assess evidence critically, construct well-reasoned arguments, and understand how societies organise themselves and make collective decisions.

Southampton's strong research culture in both departments means you will be taught by academics who are actively engaged with the questions the degree raises.

The skills that modern history and politics develop together are highly transferable. Graduates pursue careers in government, the civil service, journalism, NGOs, international organisations, policy analysis, research, and education, among many other fields. The degree's emphasis on understanding how institutions work, how ideas develop over time, and how political systems respond to social pressures is relevant to almost any career where you need to understand the world as it actually is, rather than as simplified models suggest it should be.

Those who wish to continue studying will find the combination provides excellent preparation for postgraduate work in history, politics, international relations, or public policy.