Modern History

Modern history, broadly understood as the period from roughly the sixteenth century to the recent past, is where the contemporary world took shape. The political systems we live under, the economic structures that organise our lives, the conflicts and movements that have defined national and international relations, all of these have their roots in the period that modern historians study. Engaging seriously with this past is not merely an academic exercise; it develops the critical faculties, the contextual understanding and the ability to handle complex evidence that are essential for thinking clearly about the present.

At the University of East Anglia, this three-year full-time programme will develop your skills as a historian through engagement with a broad range of topics, periods and approaches. You will study the history of Britain, Europe and the wider world, examining political, social, cultural and economic dimensions of the past. You will work with primary sources, learning to assess evidence critically and to construct well-argued historical interpretations.

You will also encounter historiography, the history of historical thinking, and come to understand how the discipline's questions and methods have changed over time.

History graduates are consistently among the most sought-after by employers who value graduates who can research, analyse and communicate well. Careers in the civil service, journalism, publishing, law, politics, education, heritage, museums, archives and the third sector are all common destinations. Many graduates also move into management, consulting and a wide range of other sectors where the skills developed through historical study are transferable.

Postgraduate study in history, international relations, politics, law or education is also a natural pathway, and the research skills developed at undergraduate level provide a strong foundation for it.