Education and humanities
History
BA
Overview
History is the study of change over time using evidence, argument and context. It trains you to read sources carefully and to write a case. It is a common subject degree for teaching, and a possible background for museums, archives, law and policy, all of which have their own further training. Students who enjoy it like a question that cannot be settled by a single document.
You want to study the past through evidence and argument.
Archaeology is more material and fieldwork-based. Politics is about political ideas and institutions.
People who like reading, writing and unsettled questions.
What you will study
Universities do not teach the same modules. The lists below are a general shape, not a syllabus.
Year 1
- Sources and methods
- A range of periods
Later years
- Special subjects
- Dissertation
Skills
Useful before you start
- Reading
- Essay writing
Developed during the degree
- Source criticism
- Argument
- Long-form writing
Teaching and assessment
Teaching often includes Lectures, Seminars.
Assessment often includes Essays, Exams, Dissertation.
Typical weekly commitment
Estimate.
Entry requirements
Indicative patterns from published UK admissions information. Not an offer. Actual requirements vary by course, university and year. Pearson Edexcel International A Level and Cambridge International A Level are not treated as the same qualification as GCE A level.
Indicative requirements by qualification
The A-level band is the catalogue reference. IB and American lines come from the named university guides under the table. They are not a conversion every university uses, and they are not an offer.
| Qualification | Indicative requirements |
|---|---|
| A Levels | BBC–ABB. History is often preferred, not always required. |
| IB Diploma | UCL publishes 34 points for ABB. The other end of this band is not in that table. A required A-level subject must be Higher Level in UCL's rule. Each Higher Level subject in that table is at least 5. UCL equates A* to 7, A to 6 and B to 5. This is one university's table. |
| American curriculum | That Manchester guide gives AP 5, 4, 4 for ABB. The other end of this band is not in the guide. Bristol publishes a GPA of 3.2, or 3.4 for competitive courses, and does not use one AP pattern for every degree. |
- University College London: Undergraduate entry requirements. Retrieved 2026-10-14. Not a universal rule.
- University of Manchester, School of Social Sciences: Americas country guide. Retrieved 2026-10-14. Not a universal rule.
- University of Manchester, Civil Engineering: USA country entry requirements. Retrieved 2026-10-14. Not a universal rule.
- University of Bristol: USA international qualifications. Retrieved 2026-10-14. Not a universal rule.
A-level subjects
History is often preferred, not always required.
Often recommended: History.
Useful preparation: English Literature, Politics.
GCSE and IGCSE
English at GCSE or IGCSE is commonly expected. Other subject grades vary. No single national threshold is stored.
Indicative only.
Other ways in
- Museum, archive and law careers need further professional training.
Admissions tests and extra requirements
No admissions test is stored as usual for this course. A university can still set one for a particular year.
Course costs
For many standard full-time courses in England, the home-fee maximum in 2026 to 2027 is Up to £9,790. This is the maximum standard full-time fee published for approved English providers with a TEF award and an access and participation plan. It is not the fee a named university charges, and it does not decide whether you pay home or international fees.
Clinical, laboratory and studio courses are not given a different home-fee figure here, because the regulated maximum is not the same thing as an international or clinical fee.
International tuition is set by each university and is not stored here. Clinical courses are often much higher than classroom-based courses. A school in Qatar does not decide home-fee status.
Source: Changes to tuition fees: 2026 to 2027 academic year. Retrieved 2026-10-14. Living costs, field trips and professional fees are not included.
Where you could study
UK degrees in this subject are numerous. This page does not list every university, because a list without a checked entry requirement would look more certain than it is.
No individual UK course page is stored yet for this subject. Use the university site.
No overseas course has been checked for this subject yet.
Where could this degree take you?
Secondary school teacher
Common route
A common subject degree for history teaching. QTS is additional.
Museum curator
Alternative route
A possible first degree. Postgraduate museum studies is often expected.
Archivist
Alternative route
History is a recognised background. The professional archives qualification is postgraduate.
Librarian
Alternative route
Any degree can precede postgraduate library training.
Archaeologist
Related, but not enough on its own
Useful context. Field archaeology expects archaeological methods.
Explore your pathway
A course sits between school subjects and a career. It does not guarantee either admission or a job.