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History and Politics

Entry Year: 2025

2 study options

History and Politics BA (Hons)

Key information

Degree
BA (Hons)
Duration
3 years
Start
September 2025
UCAS code
LV21
Institution code
Q50
Typical A-Level offer
Grades ABB at A-Level. Excludes General Studies and Critical Thinking.
Full entry requirements (including contextual admissions)
Home fees
£9,250
Overseas fees
£25,000
Funding information
Paying your fees

History and Politics with Year Abroad BA (Hons)

Key information

Degree
BA (Hons)
Duration
4 years
Start
September 2025
UCAS code
LV20
Institution code
Q50
Typical A-Level offer
Grades ABB at A-Level. Excludes General Studies and Critical Thinking.
Full entry requirements (including contextual admissions)
Home fees
£9,250
Overseas fees
£25,000
Funding information
Paying your fees

Year abroad cost

Finances for studying abroad on exchange

View details

Overview

Are you interested in the evolution of political ideas and institutions, and the history behind the world's major powers?

Taught by experts from the Schools of History and Politics and International Relations, our joint honours degree in History and Politics examines the close links between these two disciplines.

This degree is designed to help you understand the modern world and uncover the history of political thought. You'll get an excellent grounding in both history and politics - covering a variety of historical periods, regions and ideas, as well as political theory, ideas and ideologies, and government and institutions.

You can choose from a range of option modules in both subjects, giving you the opportunity to explore specialist areas as diverse as colonisation in African history, the Russian Tsars and Bolsheviks, Britain in the Second World War, building the American Nation, comparative European politics, and the twenty-first century War on Terror.

Structure

You can complete your History and Politics degree in three or four years.

Year 1

Compulsory

  • History in Practice
  • Thinking Politically: Introduction to Concepts, Theories and Ideologies

Choose from: 

  • Unravelling Britain: British History since 1801
  • Global Encounters: Conquest and Culture in World History
  • Latin for Historians I

Remaining choices from:

  • Background to British Politics
  • Building the American Nation 1756-1900
  • Controversies of Science and Technology in the Making of the Modern World
  • Europe 1000-1500: The Middle Ages and their legacy
  • Europe in a Global Context since 1800
  • Global Histories
  • Reformation to Revolution: Europe and the World 1500-1800
  • Screening History: Representing the Past in the Contemporary Historical Film
  • The Foundations of Modern Thought: Introduction to Intellectual History
  • Political Analysis
  • Introduction to International Relations
  • Politics in Action

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Year 2

Compulsory

  • History Research Project

Choose one from

  • History of Modern Political Thought
  • History of Western Political Thought
  • Modern Political Thought 1

Choose from over 30 modules, such as

  • A Century of Extremes: Germany 1890 - 1990
  • Human Rights in History: Origins, Foundations, Prospects
  • Modernity: Theories of State, Economy and Society
  • Political Research
  • Politics of International Law
  • Race in the United States: Plantation Slavery to #BlackLivesMatter
  • The American Century: The History of the United States, 1900-200
  • US Politics
  • War in World Politics
  • Totalitarianism: Authoritarian Politics in History and Theory, 1920 to the present
  • The Soviet Union: Red Flag Unfurled, 1917-1991
  • Globalisation: Capitalists, Colonisers
  • Crises in the Long Twentieth Century

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Year 3

Compulsory

  • Either a History special subject and dissertation or the Dissertation in Politics / International Relations

Special subjects may include

  • Global History of Pandemics from Plague to Coronavirus
  • Making Thatcher's Britain: the Thatcher Revolution, 1975-1997
  • The Kennedy Years
  • The War on Terror

Choose from over 20 modules, such as

  • Africa and International Politics
  • American Politics, Carceral State and Social Movements
  • Gender and Politics
  • Global Politics of Health and Disease
  • Latin American Politics
  • Parliamentary Studies
  • Political Violence and Liberal Modernity
  • Politics of South Asia
  • Populism: A Global Perspective
  • Race and Racism in World Politics 
  • Cold War America, 1945-1975
  • The Modern Caribbean: Migration, Radicalism and Revolt
  • Inner City: Race, Representation and Renewal in Urban Britain, 1968 to the Present
  • The Bear Hug: Belarus and Ukraine in the Soviet Empire, 1917-1991
  • Counterrevolutions: Mass Politics and the Birth of the Modern Right, 1790-1870

 

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Study options

Apply for this degree with any of the following options. Take care to use the correct UCAS code - it may not be possible to change your selection later.

Year abroad

Go global and study abroad as part of your degree – apply for our History and Politics BA with a Year Abroad. Queen Mary has links with universities in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia (partnerships vary for each degree programme).

Find out more about study abroad opportunities at Queen Mary and what the progression requirements are.

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Testimonial

The variety of modules offered was the main reason I chose Queen Mary. Within my degree I want to fully enjoy the modules, to be engaged to the highest level. I think the more you enjoy something the better you will do.

Adam Omar, History and Politics (2024)

Teaching

Teaching and learning

You'll receive approximately two hours of weekly contact time per module, typically comprising a one-hour lecture followed by a one-hour seminar. Formal teaching is supplemented by one-to-one discussions in staff office hours and feedback sessions.

For every hour spent in class, you'll complete a further two to three hours of independent study. This time is spent reading, preparing for study sessions, working on projects and revising for exams.

Assessment

Assessment is designed around a series of programme-level essays. These are based around your teaching and learning in modules, along with additional support outside modules. You choose which modules to write essays on, and deadlines are spaced so you can receive feedback on each essay before writing the next one.

In addition, module-level assessment can involve a wide range of assessment activities, including source analyses, book reviews, blog posts, learning logs, and presentations.

In your final year you’ll work on a dissertation worth 25% of your final year mark, researching a specialised area of history that particularly interests you.

Resources and facilities

The Schools offer excellent resources to aid your studies, including:

  • membership to the Queen Mary library, the University of London Library at Senate House, and reading access to other college libraries within the University of London
  • the Queen Mary History Journal, a major scholarly publication written, produced and edited entirely by students
  • a central London location offering ready access to a wealth of world-class libraries, archives, museums and galleries
  • a vibrant History Society
  • events throughout the year such as public debates, film nights and book launches which attract diverse audiences and offer networking opportunities
  • the Mile End Institute, a major policy centre that specialises in contemporary British politics, featuring regular high-profile speakers.

Entry requirements

A-LevelGrades ABB at A-Level. Excludes General Studies and Critical Thinking.
IBInternational Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum of 32 points overall, including 6,5,5 from three Higher Level subjects.
BTECSee our detailed subject and grade requirements
Access HEWe consider applications from students with the Access to Higher Education Diploma. The minimum academic requirement is to achieve 60 credits overall with 45 credits at Level 3, of which 15 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. This must include at least 6 Level 3 credits in History modules at Distinction.
GCSEMinimum five GCSE passes including English at grade C or 4.
EPQ

Alternative offers may be made to applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification.

For further information please visit: qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry/epq

Contextualised admissions

Our standard contextual offer: BBC at A-Level.

Our enhanced contextual offer: BCC at A-Level.

More information on our contextual offer criteria can be found on our contextualised admissions page.

Please note that General Studies and Critical Thinking are excluded from any A-Level offer and cannot be considered.

A-LevelGrades ABB at A-Level. Excludes General Studies and Critical Thinking.
IBInternational Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum of 32 points overall, including 6,5,5 from three Higher Level subjects.
BTECSee our detailed subject and grade requirements
Access HEWe consider applications from students with the Access to Higher Education Diploma. The minimum academic requirement is to achieve 60 credits overall with 45 credits at Level 3, of which 15 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. This must include at least 6 Level 3 credits in History modules at Distinction.
GCSEMinimum five GCSE passes including English at grade C or 4.
EPQAlternative offers may be made to applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification. For further information please visit: qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry/epq
Contextualised admissionsOur standard contextual offer: BBC at A-Level.

Our enhanced contextual offer: BCC at A-Level.

More information on our contextual offer criteria can be found on our contextualised admissions page.

Please note that General Studies and Critical Thinking are excluded from any A-Level offer and cannot be considered.

Non-UK students

We accept a wide range of European and international qualifications in addition to A-levels, the International Baccalaureate and BTEC qualifications. Please visit International Admissions for full details.

If your qualifications are not accepted for direct entry onto this degree, consider applying for a foundation programme.

English language

Find out more about our English language entry requirements, including the types of test we accept and the scores needed for entry to the programme.

You may also be able to meet the English language requirement for your programme by joining a summer pre-sessional programme before starting your degree.

Further information

See our general undergraduate entry requirements.

Funding

Loans and grants

UK students accepted onto this course are eligible to apply for tuition fee and maintenance loans from Student Finance England or other government bodies.

Scholarships and bursaries

Queen Mary offers a generous package of scholarships and bursaries, which currently benefits around 50 per cent of our undergraduates.

Scholarships are available for home, EU and international students. Specific funding is also available for students from the local area. International students may be eligible for a fee reduction. We offer means-tested funding, as well as subject-specific funding for many degrees.

Find out what scholarships and bursaries are available to you.

Support from Queen Mary

We offer specialist support on all financial and welfare issues through our Advice and Counselling Service, which you can access as soon as you have applied for a place at Queen Mary.

Take a look at our Student Advice Guides which cover ways to finance your degree, including:

  • additional sources of funding
  • planning your budget and cutting costs
  • part-time and vacation work
  • money for lone parents.

Careers

Our History and Politics graduates are highly employable, with invaluable political knowledge and research, analytical and communication skills that open doors to a huge variety of roles. They move into domestic and international careers in areas such as government, policy research, education, journalism, publishing, media and business.

Recent History and Politics graduates have been hired by:

  • Four Communications
  • Members of Parliament
  • the NHS
  • The Times
  • Warrener Stewart Chartered Accountants.

Career support

While studying with the School of History and the School of Politics and International Relations you'll have access to bespoke careers support every step of your degree, including one-to-one academic guidance.

The annual ‘History Futures’ alumni event will give you the opportunity to meet with former students, and discover how their studies have helped them progress their career.

Our careers team can also offer:

  • specialist advice on choosing a career path
  • support with finding work experience, internships and graduate jobs
  • feedback on CVs, cover letters and application forms
  • interview coaching.

Learn more about career support and development at Queen Mary.

 

Data for these courses

History and Politics - BA (Hons)

History and Politics with Year Abroad - BA (Hons)

The Discover Uni dataset (formerly Unistats)

About the Schools

School of History

The School of History is one of the top 100 in the World according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021. Our staff are at the forefront of research in their respective fields - world-leading scholars engaged in innovative teaching and bringing history to the wider public on TV and radio. 

School of Politics and International Relations

We’re a growing School invested in high-quality teaching, and we pride ourselves on our friendly and informal approach. Our London location is home to the nation’s Parliament, political think tanks and economic powerhouses, we host high-profile speakers, and we offer students regular contact with Westminster, Whitehall and the third sector.

Our staff are active researchers with diverse interests, from British politics to the Middle East, which is reflected in our teaching and the breadth of our programmes.

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