Politics and Modern History

Politics and modern history together provide one of the most searching frameworks available for understanding how the contemporary world came to be and how it functions. History traces the events, forces and decisions that shaped the modern era; politics analyses the systems, ideologies and institutions through which power is exercised and contested. At the University of Manchester, where this combination has been taught for decades, the two disciplines are woven together so that you understand not just what happened and what political arrangements exist, but how one has shaped and continues to shape the other.

You will study the historical development of the modern world from the eighteenth or nineteenth century to the present, examining revolutions, empires, wars, decolonisation, social movements and the transformation of economies and societies. Alongside this, you will engage with the key concepts of political science, including democratic theory, comparative politics, international relations, political economy and political thought. The programme at Manchester is particularly strong in its integration of historical evidence and political analysis, asking you to bring both kinds of thinking to bear on the same problems rather than treating them as separate exercises.

A typical tariff of around 152 points is expected for entry.

Graduates from politics and modern history degrees enter careers across a wide spectrum: journalism, the civil service, think-tanks, political organisations, international bodies, the charity sector, law, teaching and finance all recruit heavily from this combination. The research, writing and analytical skills the degree develops are broadly applicable, and many graduates go on to postgraduate study in politics, international relations, history or law, including conversion courses for those who decide to qualify professionally.