History and Politics
VL22Understanding the past is crucial to facing the political challenges of the future. Our History and Politics degree challenges you to interpret the history of societies and political cultures critically and imaginatively. Studying these two complementary subjects together will not only help you understand how the world works but why it works that way.
Course overview
This versatile programme examines compelling global issues such as the world economy, religions, environmentalism and international relations, covering Britain, Western Europe, the USA, Eastern Europe and East Asia.
As well gaining a firm academic grounding in the workings of history and politics, you select modules from a stimulating range of global concerns and historic periods. The course culminates with a written project, bringing together the skills you acquire over three years of study.
In Year 1, you assess a variety of historical periods and cultures around the world, including Asia, Europe and America. Politics topics include international relations and political philosophies. You also examine contemporary issues in global studies such as America’s role as a hegemonic power and current and future challenges to its pre-eminence.
You choose from a range of optional modules in Year 2, focusing on reading original documents and giving oral presentations. Optional History modules focus on global issues in the modern world based around cultures, societies or themes.
Study in Year 3 is more in-depth – you complete a supervised dissertation. In History, you can explore topics such as genocide and the Holocaust. The Politics modules deepen study of contemporary issues, debates and controversies.
Our tutors pride themselves on the quality of their teaching and their commitment to developing your academic potential as an individual.
History and Politics students garner a range of transferable skills which can be applied to a variety of rewarding careers. These skills include: effective research methods, clarity of expression, critical thinking and the capacity for argument and debate.
Our graduates pursue careers in heritage and museums, politics, journalism, nongovernment organisations (NGOs), charities, interest groups and lobbying, consultancy, the civil and foreign service and teaching.
Some of our graduates go on to postgraduate study at Winchester or elsewhere; there is a clear pathway from graduation to our existing MAs in Politics and International Relations and in History.
Find out more about the Department for Applied Social Science, Forensics and Politics
What you need to know
Course start date
September
Location
On campus
Course length
- 3 years full-time
- 6 years part-time
Apply
VL22
Typical offer
104 -120 points
Fees
From £9,250 pa
Course features
- Develop an informed awareness of the contemporary world and a clear understanding of the historical roots of its ideas and problems, as well as its social, economic and political structures
- Our accessible and committed staff teach and research across a wide range of topics, from medieval to modern periods and across all the continents
- Develop a range of transferable skills that can be applied to a variety of rewarding careers
- Visit and engage with historic and political sites and communities, both nationally and internationally; recent fields trips have included Washington DC and Auschwitz
Course details
Our aim is to shape 'confident learners' by enabling you to develop the skills needed to excel in your studies here and as well as onto further studies or the employment market.
You are taught primarily through a combination of lectures and seminars, allowing opportunities to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups.
In addition to the formally scheduled contact time such as lectures and seminars etc., you are encouraged to access academic support from staff within the course team and the wide range of services available to you within the University.
Independent learning
Over the duration of your course, you will be expected to develop independent and critical learning, progressively building confidence and expertise through independent and collaborative research, problem-solving and analysis with the support of staff. You take responsibility for your own learning and are encouraged to make use of the wide range of available learning resources available.
Overall workload
Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity.
While your actual contact hours may depend on the optional modules you select, the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each level of the course.
Year 1 (Level 4): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 192 hours
- Independent learning: 1008 hours
Year 2 (Level 5): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 204 hours
- Independent learning: 996 hours
Year 3 (Level 6): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 168 hours
- Independent learning: 1032 hours
*Please note these are indicative hours for the course.
Teaching Hours
All class based teaching takes places between 9am – 6pm, Monday to Friday during term time. Wednesday afternoons are kept free from timetabled teaching for personal study time and for sports clubs and societies to train, meet and play matches. There may be some occasional learning opportunities (for example, an evening guest lecturer or performance) that take places outside of these hours for which you will be given forewarning.
Assessment
Our validated courses adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, oral presentations, source-based critical commentaries, reflective journals, seminar response papers, written exams and supervised independent work, including a dissertation in Year 3.
We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day or Open Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.
Percentage of the course assessed by coursework
The assessment balance between examination and coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by different assessment modes is as follows:
Year 1 (Level 4)*:
- 72% coursework
- 25% written exams
- 3% practical exams
Year 2 (Level 5)*:
- 79% coursework
- 13% written exams
- 8% practical exams
Year 3 (Level 6)*:
- 85% coursework
- 15% written exams
- 0% practical exams
*Please note these are indicative percentages and modes for the programme.
Feedback
We are committed to providing timely and appropriate feedback to you on your academic progress and achievement in order to enable you to reflect on your progress and plan your academic and skills development effectively. You are also encouraged to seek additional feedback from your course tutors.
Modules
Please note the modules listed are correct at the time of publishing. The University cannot guarantee the availability of all modules listed and modules may be subject to change. The University will notify applicants of any changes made to the core modules listed. For further information please refer to winchester.ac.uk/termsandconditions
Modules
This module introduces significant themes, theoretical perspectives and concepts in Political Studies, and aims to develop an initial understanding of the methodologies and practices of the discipline where it comes into contact with related subject areas such as international relations, economics, the environment, race and religion. This module covers the theory and practice of politics in terms of examining different political systems such as representative, parliamentary democracy, authoritarianism, etc. and global governance, the role of interest groups, public policy, human rights, security studies, international economic relations, geopolitics, and global challenges to give a grounding in how political processes work. The course then goes on to examine the philosophical underpinnings of differing systems of government by looking at ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism, communism and socialism that originated in the Western world and comparing and contrasting systems of government elsewhere in the world where such beliefs have been used, adapted/rejected.
This module traces political power and control within society by looking at for example, the topics of feminism, racism and other issues, such as misopedy. Starting from a historical context, we trace how modern manifestations of hatred and discrimination have invisibly embedded themselves into our political landscape. From a critical perspective, this module will explore the disadvantaged and disenfranchised segments of the political world and raise questions of accountability and responsibilities to represent their voices.
This module introduces students to the core skills required to study history successfully at degree level. History makes sense of the past by analysing surviving evidence. Such evidence is either secondary, which requires in-depth critical reading, or primary or original, which demands critical contextualisation and analysis. All such evidence has uses to the historian, not necessarily obvious, and all contains partiality, which historians are trained to overcome. Working in small groups with one staff member per group, there will be a balance between developing awareness of these overarching core skills (such as conducting research and mastering referencing conventions) and a case study where students work on academic reading connected to a particular topic. This intensive small group environment will help students adjust to the university environment and provide a venue for delivering other transitional and transferrable skills.
This module introduces significant themes, theoretical perspectives and concepts in Political Studies, and aims to develop an initial understanding of the methodologies and practices of the discipline where it comes into contact with related subject areas such as international relations, economics, the environment, race and religion. This module covers the theory and practice of politics in terms of examining different political systems such as representative, parliamentary democracy, authoritarianism, etc. and global governance, the role of interest groups, public policy, human rights, security studies, international economic relations, geopolitics, and global challenges to give a grounding in how political processes work. The course then goes on to examine the philosophical underpinnings of differing systems of government by looking at ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism, communism and socialism that originated in the Western world and comparing and contrasting systems of government elsewhere in the world where such beliefs have been used, adapted/rejected.
This module surveys the events of 9/11 and the subsequent ‘War on Terror’ declared against the so-called ‘axis of evil’ by President George W. Bush from a range of perspectives in order to assess the foreign policy, political and geo-strategic dimensions of the struggle. Basic topics will include definitions and types of terrorism, American imperialism, the rise of neo-conservatism in the USA, reactions to 9/11 in a variety of countries, strategies in fighting and preventing terror, as well as the impact of terror on communities. Throughout this module, the concern will be how the War on Terror has developed and mutated, and, indeed, whether such a ‘war’ can ever be ‘won.’ This will include an examination of the roots of 9/11, public consent and dissent in the aftermath of 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq, America’s relations with allies and international organisations, the conduct of the War on Terror in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the potential consequences for America and the world in terms of the legacies of the War on Terror.
- Introductory Study: Early Medieval Britain 400-1066 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: The United Kingdom in the 20th Century 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: The United States 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: Early Modern Europe 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: Europe 1300-1500 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: English History 1272-1500 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: British History 1660-1832 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: Twentieth Century Europe 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: Victorian Britain 1815-1914 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: East Asia 1900-present 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: The Classical World 500-31BC 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: Roman Britain 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: The Roman Empire 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: Tudor and Early Stuart England 1500-1660 15 Credits
- Introductory Module: Rise and Fall of Modern Empires, 1783-1997 15 Credits
- Introductory Module : Barbarians, Byzantines and Beyond (400-1050CE) 15 Credits
- Introductory Module: Europe and the Americas (1763-1914) 15 Credits
- Introductory Module: Uniting the Kingdom? Britain, 1660-1837 15 Credits
Optional
This module introduces significant themes, theoretical perspectives and concepts in Political Studies, and aims to develop an initial understanding of the methodologies and practices of the discipline where it comes into contact with related subject areas such as international relations, economics, the environment, race and religion. This module covers the theory and practice of politics in terms of examining different political systems such as representative, parliamentary democracy, authoritarianism, etc. and global governance, the role of interest groups, public policy, human rights, security studies, international economic relations, geopolitics, and global challenges to give a grounding in how political processes work. The course then goes on to examine the philosophical underpinnings of differing systems of government by looking at ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism, communism and socialism that originated in the Western world and comparing and contrasting systems of government elsewhere in the world where such beliefs have been used, adapted/rejected.
This module traces political power and control within society by looking at for example, the topics of feminism, racism and other issues, such as misopedy. Starting from a historical context, we trace how modern manifestations of hatred and discrimination have invisibly embedded themselves into our political landscape. From a critical perspective, this module will explore the disadvantaged and disenfranchised segments of the political world and raise questions of accountability and responsibilities to represent their voices.
This module introduces students to the core skills required to study history successfully at degree level. History makes sense of the past by analysing surviving evidence. Such evidence is either secondary, which requires in-depth critical reading, or primary or original, which demands critical contextualisation and analysis. All such evidence has uses to the historian, not necessarily obvious, and all contains partiality, which historians are trained to overcome. Working in small groups with one staff member per group, there will be a balance between developing awareness of these overarching core skills (such as conducting research and mastering referencing conventions) and a case study where students work on academic reading connected to a particular topic. This intensive small group environment will help students adjust to the university environment and provide a venue for delivering other transitional and transferrable skills.
This module introduces significant themes, theoretical perspectives and concepts in Political Studies, and aims to develop an initial understanding of the methodologies and practices of the discipline where it comes into contact with related subject areas such as international relations, economics, the environment, race and religion. This module covers the theory and practice of politics in terms of examining different political systems such as representative, parliamentary democracy, authoritarianism, etc. and global governance, the role of interest groups, public policy, human rights, security studies, international economic relations, geopolitics, and global challenges to give a grounding in how political processes work. The course then goes on to examine the philosophical underpinnings of differing systems of government by looking at ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism, communism and socialism that originated in the Western world and comparing and contrasting systems of government elsewhere in the world where such beliefs have been used, adapted/rejected.
This module surveys the events of 9/11 and the subsequent ‘War on Terror’ declared against the so-called ‘axis of evil’ by President George W. Bush from a range of perspectives in order to assess the foreign policy, political and geo-strategic dimensions of the struggle. Basic topics will include definitions and types of terrorism, American imperialism, the rise of neo-conservatism in the USA, reactions to 9/11 in a variety of countries, strategies in fighting and preventing terror, as well as the impact of terror on communities. Throughout this module, the concern will be how the War on Terror has developed and mutated, and, indeed, whether such a ‘war’ can ever be ‘won.’ This will include an examination of the roots of 9/11, public consent and dissent in the aftermath of 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq, America’s relations with allies and international organisations, the conduct of the War on Terror in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the potential consequences for America and the world in terms of the legacies of the War on Terror.
- Introductory Study: Early Medieval Britain 400-1066 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: The United Kingdom in the 20th Century 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: The United States 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: Early Modern Europe 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: Europe 1300-1500 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: English History 1272-1500 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: British History 1660-1832 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: Twentieth Century Europe 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: Victorian Britain 1815-1914 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: East Asia 1900-present 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: The Classical World 500-31BC 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: Roman Britain 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: The Roman Empire 15 Credits
- Introductory Study: Tudor and Early Stuart England 1500-1660 15 Credits
- Introductory Module: Rise and Fall of Modern Empires, 1783-1997 15 Credits
- Introductory Module : Barbarians, Byzantines and Beyond (400-1050CE) 15 Credits
- Introductory Module: Europe and the Americas (1763-1914) 15 Credits
- Introductory Module: Uniting the Kingdom? Britain, 1660-1837 15 Credits
Modules
This module focuses on the key underpinnings to international institutions and the on-going debates that seek to reform them. Including the United Nations and other post-WWII institutions, the module covers a range of international institutions and non-government organisations that have a role in politics and global studies. The module will assess the ideology behind international institutions and their relationship with the state (and other actors) and the degree of cooperation, collaboration and harmonisation (or otherwise) that exists between various bodies in a global setting.
History in Practice I introduces students to some of the most influential and significant developments that have shaped the ways in which historians think and write about the past. It examines the changing meaning and construction of history from Herodotus to the twenty-first century, as well as how recent theoretical developments – such as post-modernity, gender studies, and post-colonialism – have challenged our understandings of the Ancient, Medieval and Modern periods. It provides students with an opportunity to think reflexively about the nature of the historical enterprise, encouraging them to draw on the content of their other second-year modules. In this, students will consider their own identity as a historian, and how this will inform their work through the rest of their degree.
- Theme Study: American Slavery 15 Credits
- Theme Study: Women in History 15 Credits
- Theme Study: 'Subordinate Independence': Japan's Relationship with the US 1945-present 15 Credits
- Theme Study: Dreams and Nightmares: Britain in 20th Century Europe 15 Credits
- Theme Study: Genocide: Mass Violence and the Making and Breaking of Empire 15 Credits
- Theme Study: Gender in Europe and North America, c. 1500-1914 15 Credits
- Theme Study: Anti-Imperialism 15 Credits
- Theme Study: Political Violence in Twentieth-Century Europe 15 Credits
- Theme Study: Culture, Society and Economy in Early Modern England 15 Credits
- Theme Study: The Atlantic World, c.1700-1850 15 Credits
- Theme Study: History's Eye - Photography and Conflict, Ethnography and Society 15 Credits
- Theme Study: Dreams and Nightmares: Britain in 20th Century Europe 15 Credits
- Civilisation Study: The American South 1865-1970 30 Credits
- Civilisation Study: The Third Reich 30 Credits
- Civilisation Study: Victorian Culture and Society 30 Credits
- Civilisation Study: Imperial Japan 30 Credits
- Civilisation Study: From Austerity to Affluence: Post-war Britain 30 Credits
- Civilisation Study: Edwardian Britain 30 Credits
- Civilisation Study: Imperial Russia 1825-1914 30 Credits
- Civilisation Study: Georgian England 30 Credits
- Civilisation Study: Nazism and the Holocaust 30 Credits
- Civilisation Study: The British Raj, from the 'Indian Mutiny' To Gandhi - 1857-1947 30 Credits
- Civilisation Study: The Global Hispanic World (1760s-1960s) 30 Credits
- Civilisation Study: From Slavery to Freedom: The Caribbean 1763-1838 30 Credits
- Volunteer Placement or Field Trip
- Political and Religious Themes in the Near and Middle East 15 Credits
- US Foreign Policy Institutions and Concepts 15 Credits
- Discourses of War 15 Credits
- The War on Terror and the Axis of Evil and Beyond 15 Credits
- Security Studies: Theory and Practice 15 Credits
- The Modern American Presidency 15 Credits
- Christianity and Politics 15 Credits
- Research Methods 15 Credits
Modules
- Depth Study: America 1919-1941
- Depth Study: The French Revolution 1786-1795
- Depth Study: The United States and the Cold War 1945-63 30 Credits
- Depth Study: Japan in War and Occupation 1937-52 30 Credits
- Depth Study: The Home Front: Britain 1939-1945 30 Credits
- Depth Study: The Holocaust in History and Memory 30 Credits
- Depth Study: Society, Culture and Everyday Life in Russia: 1928-1985 30 Credits
- Depth Study: Interwar Britain 30 Credits
- Depth Study: The French in North Africa: the Maghreb, 1830-1914 and 1914-Present 30 Credits
- Depth Study: Genocide in History and Memory I & II 30 Credits
- Depth Study: 'The Flag That Sets Us Free'? Britain, Empire and Anti-Slavery, 1787-1838 and 1838-1926 30 Credits
- Depth Study: The Age of Speed: Time, Travel and the Media I (18th-19thc.) and II (19th-20th C.) 30 Credits
Optional
- Depth Study: America 1919-1941
- Depth Study: The French Revolution 1786-1795
- Depth Study: The United States and the Cold War 1945-63 30 Credits
- Depth Study: Japan in War and Occupation 1937-52 30 Credits
- Depth Study: The Home Front: Britain 1939-1945 30 Credits
- Depth Study: The Holocaust in History and Memory 30 Credits
- Depth Study: Society, Culture and Everyday Life in Russia: 1928-1985 30 Credits
- Depth Study: Interwar Britain 30 Credits
- Depth Study: The French in North Africa: the Maghreb, 1830-1914 and 1914-Present 30 Credits
- Depth Study: Genocide in History and Memory I & II 30 Credits
- Depth Study: 'The Flag That Sets Us Free'? Britain, Empire and Anti-Slavery, 1787-1838 and 1838-1926 30 Credits
- Depth Study: The Age of Speed: Time, Travel and the Media I (18th-19thc.) and II (19th-20th C.) 30 Credits
Entry requirements
Our offers are typically made using UCAS tariff points to allow you to include a range of level 3 qualifications and as a guide, the requirements for this course are equivalent to:
- A-Levels: BCC-BBB from 3 A Levels or equivalent grade combinations (e.g. BBB is comparable to ABC in terms of tariff points)
- BTEC/CTEC: DMM from BTEC or Cambridge Technical (CTEC) qualifications
- International Baccalaureate: To include a minimum of 2 Higher Level certificates at grade H4
- T Level: Merit in a T Level
Additionally, we accept tariff points achieved for many other qualifications, such as the Access to Higher Education Diploma, Scottish Highers, UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma and WJEC Applied Certificate/Diploma, to name a few. We also accept tariff points from smaller level 3 qualifications, up to a maximum of 32, from qualifications like the Extended Project (EP/EPQ), music or dance qualifications. To find out more about UCAS tariff points, including what your qualifications are worth, please visit UCAS.
In addition to level 3 study, the following GCSE’s are required:
GCSE English Language at grade 4 or C, or higher. Functional Skills at level 2 is accepted as an alternative, however Key Skills qualifications are not. If you hold another qualification, please get in touch and we will advise further.
If you will be over the age of 21 years of age at the beginning of your undergraduate study, you will be considered as a mature student. This means our offer may be different and any work or life experiences you have will be considered together with any qualifications you hold. UCAS have further information about studying as a mature student on their website which may be of interest.
If English is not your first language, a formal English language test will most likely be required and you will need to achieve the following:
- IELTS Academic at 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all four components (for year 1 entry)
- We also accept other English language qualifications, such as IELTS Indicator, Pearson PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and TOEFL iBT
If you are living outside of the UK or Europe, you can find out more about how to join this course by emailing our International Recruitment Team at International@winchester.ac.uk or calling +44 (0)1962 827023.
2024 Course Tuition Fees
| UK / Channel Islands / Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland |
International |
|
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Year 2 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Year 3 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Total | £27,750 | £50,100 |
| Optional Sandwich Year* | £1,850 | £3,340 |
| Total with Sandwich Year | £29,600 | £53,440 |
Additional tuition fee information
If you are a UK student starting your degree in September 2024, the first year will cost you £9,250**. Based on this fee level, the indicative fees for a three-year degree would be £27,750 for UK students.
Remember, you don’t have to pay any of this upfront if you are able to get a tuition fee loan from the UK Government to cover the full cost of your fees each year.
UK Part-Time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £77.08 and a 15 credit module is £1,156. Part-time students can take up to a maximum 90 credits per year, so the maximum fee in a given year will be the government permitted maximum fee of £6,935.
International part-time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £139.14 and a 15 credit module is £2,087.
* Please note that not all courses offer an optional sandwich year.
**The University of Winchester will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year.
Additional costs
As one of our students all of your teaching and assessments are included in your tuition fees, including, lectures/guest lectures and tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions and specialist teaching facilities. You will also have access to a wide range of student support and IT services.
There might be additional costs you may encounter whilst studying. The following highlights the mandatory and optional costs for this course:
Optional
Core texts
Multiple copies of core text are held within the library and e-books are identified where possible, however some students prefer to purchase their own copies. Core texts can be bought second hand, or as ebook which can often reduce the cost. Indicative cost is £150 per academic year.
Field trips
Students will have the option to attend a week-long History field trip in Year 2. Costs will vary depending on location, however indicative cost based on previous trips, overseas trips have cost between £300 and £700.
Travel
Students working on dissertations in Year 3 as full-time students may incur costs (mainly travel) of visiting archives, dependent upon the specific nature of the dissertation and availability of online resources for a specific subject. This would typically involve either travel to a local archive (e.g. Southampton, Portsmouth or further afield if the student chooses to study a locality away from Winchester) or a national archive, usually in London (TNA, British Library, Women's Library, etc.). Cost varies depending on the individual student's research project.
Placement and volunteering
Both the History Work Placement and Volunteering Placement consist of approximately 12 visits and students are required to cover the cost of travel to their placement. Both opportunities are optional modules. Cost varies depending on the individual student's research project.
SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES AND AWARDS
We have a variety of scholarship and bursaries available to support you financially with the cost of your course. To see if you’re eligible, please see our Scholarships and Awards.
CAREER PROSPECTS
Graduates pursue careers working in museums and heritage sites and seek employment working in civil and foreign service or local, regional and national Government, charities, lobbyists and think- tanks.
The University of Winchester ranks in the top 10 in the UK for graduates in employment or further study according to the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023, HESA.
Pre-approved for a Masters
If you study a Bachelor Honours degrees with us, you will be pre-approved to start a Masters degree at Winchester. To be eligible, you will need to apply by the end of March in the final year of your degree and meet the entry requirements of your chosen Masters degree.
OUR CAREERS SERVICE
“My degree has helped me in what I want to achieve next, not just the course content but the skills I learnt, such as debating, learning to compromise and working with other people while listening to their opinions and experiences.”
